- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:4572 WP No. 36146 of 2025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 28TH DAY OF JANUARY, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE R DEVDAS WRIT PETITION NO. 36146 OF 2025 (KLR-RES) BETWEEN: 1. SRI. V G NAGARJUNA REDDY @ V G NAGARAUN S/O GOVINDA REDDY AGED ABOUT 50 YEARS 2. SRI. MARUTHI REDDY S/O LATE G NARAYANA REDDY AGED ABOUT 56 YEARS BOTH ARE R/AT VALLURU VILLAGE NAGAMADIKE HOBLI, PAVAGADA TALUK, TUMKURU DISTRICT. …PETITIONERS (BY SRI. CHANDRA SHEKAR R.,ADVOCATE) AND: 1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE, BY ITS SECRETARY, VIDHANA SOUDHA, BENGALURU 560001. 2. THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER GUBBI VEERANNA KALAMANDIRA BALANAKATTE, TUMKUR DISTRICT 572101. 3. THE ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER MADHUGIRI SUB -DIVISION, Digitally signed by SHARADAVANI B Location: High Court of Karnataka - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:4572 WP No. 36146 of 2025 MADHUGIRI TUMKURU DISTRICT, PAVAGADA - 572 175. 4. THE TAHSILDAR PAVAGADA TALUK, PAVAGADA - 561 202. …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI.V.SESHU, HCGP) THIS WP IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO DIRECT THE RESPONDENTS 2 TO 4 TO CONSIDER THE REPRESENTATIONS OF THE PETITIONERS VIDE L, M AND N DATED 1ST MARCH 2025, 7TH MARCH 2025 AND 21ST MAY 2025 AND DIRECT THE RESPONDENTS 2 TO 3 TO RESTORE THE PADA AND ENTER THE NAMES OF THE PETITIONERS IN THE REVENUE RECORD. THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR ORDERS, 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. The grievance of the petitioners is in respect of the land measuring 04 acres and 22 guntas in Sy.No.9/2 situated at Vallur Village, Nagalamadike Hobli, Pavagada Taluk, Tumkur District, which was granted in favour of Ramanna alias Ramareddy, son of Hanumanna and Smt.Salakka W/o. Potha Reddy in the year 1926-27 and their names were entered in the - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:4572 WP No. 36146 of 2025 revenue records. However, somewhere in the year 1975-76 their names were not continued in the RTC extracts and it is shown as 'SARKARI PADA' and forfeiture of the lands were done pursuant to the khathedars failing to pay the land revenue. Therefore, they gave representations dated 01.03.2025 (Annexure-L) to the Tahsildar and again on 07.03.2025 and 21.05.2025 (Annexures- M and N), both to the Assistant Commissioner and to the Deputy Commissioner for removal of the entry of ‘SARKARI PADA' and to enter the name of Ramanna alias Ramareddy and subsequently, to enter the name of the petitioners, being their legal heirs, in the RTC. 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 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 - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:4572 WP No. 36146 of 2025 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 respondent-Tahsildar, Pavagada Taluk, to look into the grant made in favour of Ramanna alias Ramareddy in the year 1926-27. If it is found that the same was made, the Tahsildar shall verify the grant register and check all relevant records to satisfy himself of the same. Thereafter he shall inform the petitioners 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 petitioners are called upon to pay the arrears of land revenue, they shall pay the same and after payment of the arrears of land revenue, the forfeiture clause - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:4572 WP No. 36146 of 2025 shall be removed and the name Ramanna, shall be entered in the revenue records. Thereafter, the Tahsildar shall find out if the petitioners are the legal heir of Ramanna, and if it is so, the name of the petitioners shall be entered along with all others concerned in respect of the land measuring 04 acres 22 guntas in Sy.No.9/2 situated at Vallur Village, Nagalamadike Hobli, Pavagada Taluk, Tumkur District, in column No.9 of the RTC within a period of two months from the date of payment of the arrears of land revenue, in accordance with law. 5. Learned High Court Government Pleader is permitted to file memo of appearance within a period of four weeks from today. Sd/- (R DEVDAS) JUDGE GPG List No.: 1 Sl No.: 42