- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:14617 WP No. 18360 of 2025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 11TH DAY OF MARCH, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE R DEVDAS WRIT PETITION NO. 18360 OF 2025 (KLR-RES) BETWEEN: B. J. NANJAPPA S/O. LATE JAVARAPPA AGED 70 YEARS R/AT. BANAVARA VILLAGE GONIMARUR POST SOMWARPET TALUK KODAGU DISTRICT-571236 …PETITIONER (BY SRI. KARUMBAIAH T.A., ADVOCATE) AND: 1. STATE OF KARNATAKA REVENUE DEPARTMENT M.S. BUILDING DR. B.R. AMBEDKAR ROAD BANGALORE-560 001 REP. BY THE PRINCIPAL SECRETARY. 2. THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER KODAGU DISTRICT, MADIKERI, KODAGU-571201. 3. THE TAHSILDAR SOMWARPET TALUK Digitally signed by JUANITA THEJESWINI Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:14617 WP No. 18360 of 2025 SOMWARPET, KODAGU DISTRICT-571221. 4. THE RANGE FOREST OFFICER SOMWARPET RANGE SOMWARPET KODAGU DISTRICT-571221. …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI.SHAMANTH NAIK., HCGP) THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 & 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO DIRECTING THE RESPONDENTS 2 AND 3 TO GRANT 10 CENTS OF LAND OUT OF 2.65 ACRES IN BANAVARA VILLAGE, SOMWARPET TALUK, KODAGU DISTRICT IN FAVOUR OF THE PETITONER AND TO ISSUE HAKKUPATRA WITHIN A SPECIFIED PERIOD AND ETC., THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY HEARING, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE R DEVDAS ORAL ORDER The petitioner filed an application on 16.08.2021 seeking regularisation of unauthorised occupation of 10 cents of land out of 2 acres and 65 cents in - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:14617 WP No. 18360 of 2025 Sy.No.20/2 of Banavara Village, Somwarpete Taluk, Kodagu District. 2. The prayer in the writ petition is to issue a writ of mandamus directing the respondent-Tahsildar to consider the application and pass necessary orders and issue Hakkupatra within a specified period. 3. However, today the learned High Court Government Pleader has furnished copy of the endorsement dated 03.03.2026 issued by the Tahsildar, Somwarpet Taluk rejecting the application of the petitioner on the ground that the Range Forest Officer, Somwarpet Division, has made a communication dated 13.08.2025 stating that the land in question falls within the Nidtha reserved forest and therefore the land cannot be granted to the petitioner. Copy of the same is served on the learned Counsel for the petitioner. - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:14617 WP No. 18360 of 2025 4. In view of the subsequent developments, the writ petition stands disposed of while reserving liberty to the petitioner to raise a challenge to the endorsement issued by the respondent-Tahsildar. Sd/- (R DEVDAS) JUDGE JT/- CT: JL