- 1 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010098482021 NC: 2026:KHC:51966 WP NO.12842 OF 2021 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 21ST DAY OF SEPTEMBER, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE E.S. INDIRESH WRIT PETITION NO.12842 OF 2021 (LR) BETWEEN: SRI. ANJANEYASWAMY TEMPLE, REP. BY SRI. K.G. JAYASHEELAN, S/O K.T. GANGAPPA, AGED ABOUT 66 YEARS, SECRETARY, DEVANGA SANGHA LTD., KUDOOR VILLAGE, MAGADI TALUK, RAMANAGARA DISTRICT – 561 101. …PETITIONER (BY SRI. C.R. BHASKAR, ADVOCATE) AND: 1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA REP. BY LAND REFORMS COMMISSIONER, VIDHANA SOUDHA, BENGALURU - 01. 2. DEPUTY COMMISSIONER RAMANAGARA DISTRICT, RAMANAGARA - 562 159. 3. GANGADHARAIAH @ SHAMANNA SINCE DIED, BY HIS LEGAL REPRESENTATIVE. 3(a). SRI. VIJAYAKUMAR S/O KRISHNAMURTHY, AGE: MAJOR, R/OF KUDUR VILLAGE, MAGADI TALUK, RAMANAGARA DISTRICT - 561 101. Digitally signed by CHAYA S A Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010098482021 NC: 2026:KHC:51966 WP NO.12842 OF 2021 4. SRI. CHIKKANNA S/O HUCHAPPA, AGE: MAJOR, R/O KUDUR VILLAGE, MAGADI TALUK, RAMANAGARA DISTRICT - 561 101. 5. SRI. K.H. HONNAGANGAIAH DIRECTOR, DEVENGA SANGHA LTD., KUDUR VILLAGE, MAGADI TALUK, RAMANAGAR DISTRICT - 561 101. 6. SRI. H.S. PRAKASH S/O LATE HANUMAIAH, AGED ABOUT 49 YEARS, R/OF SRIGIRI PURA VILLAGE, KUDUR HOBLI, MAGADI TALUK, RAMANAGAR DISTRICT - 561 101. 7. SMT. GEETHA P.S. W/O SRI. GANGADHARA S.G., AGED ABOUT 24 YEARS, R/AT 266, 8TH CROSS, BEHIND KUVEMPU COLLEGE, MALLASANDRA, DASARAHALLI, BENGALURU - 560 057. 8. SRI. NATARAJ S/O KRISHNAPPA, AGED ABOUT 40 YEARS, R/O 2ND ‘B’ BLOCK, KUDUR, KUDUR HOBLI, MAGADI TALUK, RAMANAGAR DISTRICT – 561 101. 9. SMT. RAMEEZA BEGUM W/O SRI. MOHAMMED MUSTHAQ, AGED ABOUT 44 YEARS, R/OF THORE RAMANAHALLI VILLAGE, KUDUR HOBLI, MAGADI TALUK, RAMANAGARA DISTRICT – 561 101. - 3 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010098482021 NC: 2026:KHC:51966 WP NO.12842 OF 2021 10. SMT. LAKSHMAMMA W/O SRI. RAJANNA, AGED ABOUT 42 YEARS, R/OF KUMBARARA BEEDHI, KUDUR VILLAGE, KUDUR KASABA, MAGADI TALUK, RAMANAGARA DISTRICT - 561 101. …RESPONDENTS (BY SMT. SHARADA H.V., AGA FOR R1 AND 2; SRI B.T. INDUSHEKAR, ADVOCATE FOR R3(a) & R4; SRI. RAHUL S. REDDY, ADVOCATE FOR R6; SRI. T.N. VISHWANATH, ADVOCATE FOR R7, R9 AND R10; SRI. RANJIT GOTUR, ADVOCATE FOR R8; NOTICE TO R5 IS DISPENSED WITH) THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA, PRAYING TO SET- ASIDE/QUASH THE ORDER DATED 16TH JANUARY, 2020 PASSED BY THE RESPONDENT NO.2-DEPUTY COMMISSIONER IN CASE NO.LRF/INM/07/2007-08 VIDE ANNEXURE-A AND ALL FURTHER TRANSACTION TAKEN PLACE SUBSEQUENT TO PASSING OF ORDER DATED 29TH SEPTEMBER, 2015; AND ETC. THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR FINAL HEARING, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE E.S. INDIRESH ORAL ORDER In this petition, the petitioner is challenging the order dated 16th January, 2020 (Annexure-A) passed by the respondent No.2-Deputy Commissioner in Case No.LRF/INM/7/2007-08. - 4 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010098482021 NC: 2026:KHC:51966 WP NO.12842 OF 2021 2. Heard Sri. C.R. Bhaskar, learned counsel appearing for the petitioner; Smt. Sharada H.V., learned Additional Government Advocate appearing for respondents 1 and 2; Sri. B.T. Indushekar, learned counsel appearing for respondents 3(a) and respondent No.4; Sri. Rahul S. Reddy, learned counsel appearing for respondent No.6; Sri. T.N. Vishwanath, learned counsel appearing for respondents 7, 9 and 10; and Sri. Ranjith Gotur, learned counsel appearing for the respondent No.8. 3. Sri. T.N. Vishwanath, learned counsel appearing for respondents 7, 9 and 10 raised preliminary objection that the writ petition is not maintainable as the petitioner is having an efficacious remedy to challenge the impugned order passed by the respondent No.2-Deputy Commissioner by approaching the Karnataka Appellate Tribunal. Accordingly, he sought for dismissal of the petition. In this regard, he places reliance on the judgment of Hon’ble Supreme Court in the case of M.B. RAMACHANDRAN vs. GORAMMA AND OTHERS reported in (2005) 10 SCC 25. 4. Sri. C.R. Bhaskar, learned counsel appearing for the petitioner submitted that the petitioner-Temple is being - 5 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010098482021 NC: 2026:KHC:51966 WP NO.12842 OF 2021 represented by the Secretary of Devanga Sangha and therefore, contended that, they can pursue remedy before this Court in view of the fact that, there is a violation of principles of natural justice. 5. Having taken note of the submission made by learned counsel appearing for the parties, on careful perusal of order passed by Hon’ble Supreme Court in the case of M.B. RAMACHANDRAN (supra), I am of the view that the petitioner is having an efficacious remedy to challenge the impugned order passed by the respondent No.2-Deputy Commissioner before the Karnataka Appellate Tribunal. Accordingly, reserving liberty to the petitioner to approach the Karnataka Appellate Tribunal, Writ Petition is disposed of. It is made clear that, all contentions of the parties are kept open. SD/- (E.S. INDIRESH) JUDGE ARK List No.: 1 Sl No.: 64