- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:2809 WP No. 37822 of 2025 C/W WP No. 36601 of 2025 WP No. 37918 of 2025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 19TH DAY OF JANUARY, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE R DEVDAS WRIT PETITION NO.37822 OF 2025 (KLR-RES) C/W WRIT PETITION NO.36601 OF 2025 (KLR-RES) WRIT PETITION NO.37918 OF 2025 (KLR-RES) IN W.P. NO.37822/2025 BETWEEN: BASAVARAJA S/O MARAPPA, AGED ABOUT 38 YEARS, R/O T.N. KOTE VILLAGE, PARASHURAMPURA HOBLI, CHALLAKERE TALUK-577 522. …PETITIONER (BY SRI R. SHASHIDHARA, ADVOCATE) AND: 1. THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER, CHITRADURGA DISTRICT, CHITRADURGA-577 501. 2. THE ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER, CHITRADURGA SUB DIVISION, CHITRDURGA-577 501. 3. THE TAHSILDAR, CHALLAKERE TALUK, CHALLAKERE-577 522. …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI SHAMANTH NAIK, HCGP) THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 & 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO QUASHING THE EVICTION NOTICE NO.L.N.D:C.R:181/2025-26 DATED 10.11.2025 Digitally signed by KRISHNAPPA LAXMI YASHODA Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:2809 WP No. 37822 of 2025 C/W WP No. 36601 of 2025 WP No. 37918 of 2025 VIDE ANNEXURE-C ISSUED BY RESPONDENT NO.3 TO THIS WRIT PETITION AND ETC. IN W.P. NO.36601/2025 BETWEEN: SANNA NINGAPPA S/O THIMMAPPA, AGED ABOUT 62 YEARS, R/O T.N. KOTE VILLAGE, PARASHURAMPURA HOBLI, CHALLAKERE TALUK-577 522. ...PETITIONER (BY SRI R. SHASHIDHARA, ADVOCATE) AND: 1. THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER, CHITRADURGA DISTRICT, CHITRADURGA-577 501. 2. THE ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER, CHITRADURGA SUB DIVISION, CHITRDURGA-577 501. 3. THE TAHSILDAR, CHALLAKERE TALUK, CHALLAKERE-577 522. ...RESPONDENTS (BY SRI SESHU V., HCGP) THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 & 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO QUASHING THE EVICTION NOTICE NO.L.N.D:C.R:181/2025-26 DATED 10.11.2025 VIDE ANNEXURE-D TO THIS WRIT PETITION AND ETC. IN W.P. NO.37918/2025 BETWEEN: THIPPESWAMY S/O KUDURAPPA, AGED ABOUT 59 YEARS, - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:2809 WP No. 37822 of 2025 C/W WP No. 36601 of 2025 WP No. 37918 of 2025 R/O T.N. KOTE VILLAGE, PARASHURAMPURA HOBLI, CHALLAKERE TALUK-577 522. ...PETITIONER (BY SRI R. SHASHIDHARA, ADVOCATE) AND: 1. THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER CHITRADURGA DISTRICT, CHITRADURGA-577 501. 2. THE ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER CHITRADURGA SUB DIVISION, CHITRDURGA-577 501. 3. THE TAHSILDAR CHALLAKERE TALUK, CHALLAKERE-577 522. ...RESPONDENTS (BY SRI SHAMANTH NAIK, HCGP) THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 & 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO QUASH THE EVICTION NOTICE NO.L.N.D:C.R:181/2025-26 DATED 10.11.2025 VIDE ANNEXURE-C TO THIS WRIT PETITION AND ETC. THESE PETITIONS COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY HEARING IN ‘B’ GROUP, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE R DEVDAS ORAL ORDER The grievance of the petitioners is directed towards the eviction notices dated 10.11.2025 issued by the respondent – Tahsildar, Challakere Taluk, directing the petitioners to evict themselves from the lands in question - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:2809 WP No. 37822 of 2025 C/W WP No. 36601 of 2025 WP No. 37918 of 2025 as mentioned in the eviction notices, on the ground that the said lands are Government lands and the petitioners are in unauthorised occupation of the same. 2. Learned counsel submits that the petitioners had filed applications in Form No.57 seeking regularisation of unauthorised occupation of their respective lands that are subject matter of these writ petitions and even before the said applications have been considered, the Tahsildar has issued such notices to the petitioners. 3. Today, learned High Court Government Pleader has furnished copies of orders said to have been passed by the Deputy Commissioner, Chitradurga District on 01.01.2025 rejecting all the applications filed in Survey No.70/1 & 71/1 on the ground that the recommendation of the Tahsildar is to reject these applications. 4. Learned counsel for the petitioners submit that in the impugned eviction notices dated 10.11.2025, there is no reference to the orders passed by the Deputy - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:2809 WP No. 37822 of 2025 C/W WP No. 36601 of 2025 WP No. 37918 of 2025 Commissioner on 01.01.2025 rejecting the applications. This would clearly show that no such orders were passed on 01.01.2025 and only to overcome the queries at the hands of this Court such an order has been prepared. Even otherwise, it is submitted that if the instructions of the learned High Court Government Pleader is that the lands in question are earmarked for grazing and the same cannot be reduced, it would be contrary to the provisions of law and the law declared by this Court in W.P.No.25148/2025. 5. There is substance in the submission made by the learned counsel for petitioners. This Court in W.P.No.25148/2025 has held as under; “3. Further, from a plain reading of Rule 97(4) of the Karnataka Land Revenue Rules, 1966, it is evident, that it is the Deputy Commissioner who is required to determine the extent of land necessary to be set apart for free pasturage in any village. However, having regard to the proviso to sub-Rule 4, it is submitted that no such permission shall be necessary where the reduction below the prescribed - 6 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:2809 WP No. 37822 of 2025 C/W WP No. 36601 of 2025 WP No. 37918 of 2025 limit is for the purpose of (iii) regularisation of unauthorised cultivation under Chapter XIII-A. When the rule itself prescribes that in the matter of regularization of unauthorized occupation, there cannot be rejection of the application on the ground that the extent of gomal available for pasturage is either insufficient or sufficient for the pasturage, having regard to the number of cattle heads in the village, the rule prescribes that in the matter of regularization of unauthorised occupation, the permission of the Deputy Commissioner is not necessary for further reduction, and the Tahsildar could not have taken a decision to reject the application on the said ground.” 6. Consequently, the writ petitions are allowed. The impugned eviction notices dated 10.11.2025 are hereby quashed and set aside. If an order is passed by the Deputy Commissioner on 01.01.2025, which is today served on the learned counsel for the petitioners, such an order is also quashed and set aside. Having regard to the law laid down by this Court, the Tahsildar, Challakere Taluk is hereby directed to place the applications filed by the petitioners along with his recommendation before the - 7 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:2809 WP No. 37822 of 2025 C/W WP No. 36601 of 2025 WP No. 37918 of 2025 Committee for Regularisation of Unauthorised Occupation as expeditiously as possible and at any rate within a period of six weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. The Committee shall thereafter consider the applications and pass orders in accordance with law as expeditiously as possible and at any rate within a period of three months from the date when the application is placed before the Committee at the hands of the Tahsildar. Sd/- (R DEVDAS) JUDGE KLY