- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:4080 WP No. 1382 of 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 23RD DAY OF JANUARY, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE R DEVDAS WRIT PETITION NO. 1382 OF 2026 (KLR-RES) BETWEEN: SRI P R NAGARAJU SON OF (LATE) P.L. RAMA RAO, C/O. SUPRIYA P.N, AGED ABOUT 66 YEARS, R/A NO.E-72, KANNAMANGALA VILLAGE, BIDARAHALLI HOBLI, KADUGODI, BENGALURU EAST TALUK AND DISTRICT KARNATAKA-560067. …PETITIONER (BY SRI. N BYREGOWDA., ADVOCATE) AND: 1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE ROOM NO.505, 5TH FLOOR GATE-3, M.S. BUILDING DR. AMBEDKAR VEEDHI BENGALURU-560 001 REP. BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY. 2. THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER TUMAKURU DISTRICT TUMAKURU-572 101. Digitally signed by DHARMALINGAM Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:4080 WP No. 1382 of 2026 3. THE ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER TUMAKURU SUB-DIVISION TUMAKURU-572 101. 4. THE TAHSILDAR MADHUGIRI TALUK, TUMAKURU DISTRICT-572 130. …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI.SHAMANTH NAIK., HCGP) THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 & 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO DIRECT THE R-4 THASILDAR TO RESTORE THE REVENUE ENTRIES IN FAVOUR OF PETITIONER WHO BEING THE LEGAL HEIRS OF DECEASED LAKSHMINARASAIAH IN RESPECT OF LAND BEARING SURVEY NO. 17/1 (NEW NO. 17/5) MEASURING 30 GUNTAS SITUATED AT POLLENAHALLI VILLAGE, KODIGEHALLI HOBLI, MADHUGIRI TALUK, TUMAKURU DISTRICT AS PER REPRESENTATION DTD. 15.10.2025 VIDE ANNX-M. THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY HEARING, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE R DEVDAS ORAL ORDER Learned High Court Government Pleader takes notice for all the respondents. 2. It is the case of the petitioner is that his grandfather-late.Lakshminarasaiah @ Lakshminarasappa had purchased land measuring 30 Guntas in Sy.No.17/1 (New Sy.No.17/5) situated at Pollenahalli village, - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:4080 WP No. 1382 of 2026 Kodigehalli Hobli, Madhugiri Taluk, Tumakuru District under a registered sale deed dated 17.03.1990. Subsequent to which, the name of the purchaser was entered in the revenue records and continued in the revenue records. The grievance of the petitioner is that without there being any order for non-payment of land revenue, ‘PADA’ (forfeited land) was entered in column No.9 of the RTC and other revenue records from the year 1982-83 in respect of the land in quetion. Therefore, the petitioner has given representation at Annexure-M dated 15.10.2025 to the respondent-Tahsildar for removal of the entry ‘PADA' from the RTC and other revenue records. 3. This Court, in the case of Shivanna Vs. Deputy Commissioner in W.P.No.19639/2021 dated 05.09.2022 has held that having regard to Section 163 of the Karnataka Land Revenue Act, 1964, and Rule 119 of the Karnataka Land Revenue Rules, 1966, that in normal circumstances where there are arrears of land revenue, it is not the intention of the Government to forfeit - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:4080 WP No. 1382 of 2026 agricultural lands. The provisions are clearly directed towards the other cases where charges are created by orders passed by Courts of law and other competent authorities where the parties are in default for payment and the Courts and authorities deem it fit to direct recovery of such debts to be collected as arrears of land revenue. In all other cases, in terms of the amended provision, which came into effect from 01.04.1988. The government has granted relaxation and enabled the revenue authorities to accept the application for cancellation of forfeiture even in cases where the land was sold and purchased on account of the government dues, but which were not disposed of otherwise. 4. Consequently, the writ petition is disposed of with a direction to the 4th respondent-Tahsildar, Madhugiri Taluk, to inform the petitioner of the arrears of land revenue within a period of four weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. If the petitioner is called upon to pay the arrears of land revenue, he shall pay the - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:4080 WP No. 1382 of 2026 same and after payment of the arrears of land revenue, the forfeiture clause shall be removed and the name of the legal heirs of the purchaser- late.Lakshminarasaiah @ Lakshminarasappa, shall be entered in the revenue records within a period of two months from the date of payment of the arrears of land revenue if any. 5. 5. Learned Additional Government Advocate is permitted to file memo of appearance within a period of four weeks from today. Sd/- (R DEVDAS) JUDGE DL CT: JL