- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:17180 WP No. 6921 of 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 26TH DAY OF MARCH, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE R DEVDAS WRIT PETITION NO. 6921 OF 2026 (SC-ST) BETWEEN: P BABU S/O CHIKKANNA PATHRI, AGED ABOUT 77 YEARS, R/AT CHAITHRA MAHAL, SOOTERPET, 3RD CROSS RIGHT, JEPPINAMOGARU VILLAGE, MANGALURU 575002. …PETITIONER (BY SRI. NARASIMHA RAJESH K S., ADVOCATE) AND: 1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA REP. BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY, DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE, VIDHANA SOUDHA, DR. B.R. AMBEDKAR VEEDHI, BENGALURU - 560001. Digitally signed by CHAITHANYA K Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:17180 WP No. 6921 of 2026 2. THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER DAKSHINA KANNADA DISTRICT, MANGALURU-575001. 3. THE ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER AND SUB-DIVISIONAL MAGISTRATE MANGALURU SUB-DIVISION, DAKSHINA KANNADA DISTRICT - 575001. 4. THE TAHSILDAR, MULKY TALUK, DAKSHINA KANNADA DISTRICT – 574154. …RESPONDENTS (BY SMT. B.P.RADH., AGA) THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO ISSUE A WRIT OF CERTIORARI OR ANY OTHER APPROPRIATE WRIT, ORDER OR DIRECTION, QUASHING THE FINAL ORDER DATED 24.11.2025 PASSED BY THE 3RD RESPONDENT IN PTCL/CR/06/2021, MARKED AT ANNEXURE-E, AS BEING ILLEGAL, WITHOUT JURISDICTION AND CONTRARY TO THE PROVISIONS OF THE KARNATAKA SCHEDULED CASTES AND SCHEDULED TRIBES (PROHIBITION OF TRANSFER OF CERTAIN LANDS) ACT, 1978, AND ETC., THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR ORDERS, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:17180 WP No. 6921 of 2026 CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE R DEVDAS ORAL ORDER Learned Additional Government Advocate accepts notice for the respondents. 2. Learned Additional Government Advocate raises a preliminary objection that the order impugned is passed by the Assistant Commissioner under Section 5 of the Karnataka Scheduled Caste / Scheduled Tribe (Prohibition of Transfer of Certain Lands) Act, 1978 (for short ‘the PTCL Act’), and there is an alternative efficacious remedy available for the petitioner in the form of Section 5A of the PTCL Act to file an appeal before the Deputy Commissioner. 3. Accepting the submission of the learned Additional Government Advocate, the petition - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:17180 WP No. 6921 of 2026 stands disposed off, reserving liberty to the petitioner to approach the Deputy Commissioner. Sd/- (R DEVDAS) JUDGE SSB