- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:9361 WP No. 38637 of 2025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 16TH DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE R DEVDAS WRIT PETITION NO. 38637 OF 2025 (LR) BETWEEN: SMT. DEVAMATHE, W/O LATE HANUMEGOWDA, AGED ABOUT 65 YEARS, R/AT HEBBALAKOPPALU VILLAGE, HEBBALU POST AND HOBLI, K.R NAGARA HOBLI, K R NAGARA TALUK, MYSURU-571602. …PETITIONER (BY SRI. SANDESH T.B., ADVOCATE) AND: 1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA, REP. BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY, DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE, VIDHANAN SOUDHA BENGALURU-560001. 2. ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER, HUNASURU SUB DIVISION, HUNASURU MYSURU DISTRICT-571105. 3. THE TAHASILDAR, K.R NAGARA KR NAGARA TALUK Digitally signed by JUANITA THEJESWINI Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:9361 WP No. 38637 of 2025 MYSURU DISTRICT-571602. …RESPONDENTS (BY SMT. NAVYA SHEKHAR., AGA) THIS W.P. IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 & 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO CALL FOR THE RECORDS AND QUASH IMPUGNED ORDER PASSED IN L.R.F. 135/14-15 DTD. 24.10.2016 BY THE R-2 IS PRODUCED HEREWITH AS ANNX-D.GRANT AN INTERIM ORDER TO STAY, STAYING THE IMPUGNED ORDER PASSED IN L.R.F.135/14-15 DTD. 24.10.2016 BY THE R-2 UNDER ANNX-D WHICH IS NECESSARY IN THE INTEREST OF JUSTICE AND EQUITY. THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR ORDERS, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE R DEVDAS ORAL ORDER Learned Additional Government Advocate takes notice for the respondents. 2. This writ petition is filed by the petitioner being aggrieved of the order dated 24.10.2016 passed by the 2nd respondent – Assistant Commissioner in LRF:135/14-15 in terms of Sections 79A and B of the Karnataka Land Reforms Act, 1961. - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:9361 WP No. 38637 of 2025 3. Learned Counsel for the petitioner submits that this is a case where the impugned order of forfeiture has been passed by the Assistant Commissioner without notice to the petitioner. It is further submitted that under similar circumstances, a co-ordinate Bench of this Court in W.P.No.7821/2021 has passed an order dated 16.08.2021 remanding the matter back to the Assistant Commissioner for fresh consideration after affording an opportunity of hearing to the aggrieved person. 4. Learned Additional Government Advocate points out from the impugned order that notice was indeed issued to the petitioner and in spite of notice having been issued, the petitioner did not appear before the Assistant Commissioner. 5. Admittedly, as on the date of the Karnataka Land Reforms (Second Amendment) Act, 2020, no proceedings were pending before any court/authority. - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:9361 WP No. 38637 of 2025 6. This Court had several occasions to consider such cases, where writ petitions are filed long after the provisions contained in Sections 79A, 79B and 79C were omitted from the statute book in terms of the Karnataka Land Reforms (Second Amendment) Act, 2020. It is the consistent opinion of this Court that if at any rate, the Assistant Commissioner, after forfeiting the land has not disposed of the same in accordance with law then the benefit of the saving clause contained in Section 12 of the Amending Act is required to be given to such petitioners. The Assistant Commissioner is therefore, required to ascertain, whether the declared excess lands or forfeited lands still remain with the State Government or has been granted to third parties. If the lands have been granted to third party, then sub-section(1) of Section 12 of the amending Act will apply to say that the proceedings have reached finality. Or otherwise, sub-section (2) of Section 12 of the Amending Act will apply and all further - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:9361 WP No. 38637 of 2025 proceedings shall be declared as abated by the Assistant Commissioner. 7. Having considered the submission of the learned Counsels and on perusing the judgment of the co-ordinate Bench in W.P.No.7821/2021, this Court finds that facts and circumstances in both these matters are quite similar and therefore, the benefit of the decision of the co- ordinate bench should also enure to the petitioner herein. 8. Accordingly, this Court proceeds to pass the following: ORDER i) The writ petition is disposed of. ii) The matter is remanded back to the respondent-Assistant Commissioner to consider the case of the petitioner including the consequences of the subsequent amendment brought to the provisions of Sections 79A and 79B of the Karnataka - 6 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:9361 WP No. 38637 of 2025 Land Reforms Act, 1961 in Karnataka (Second Amendment) Act No.56 of 2020. iii) If revenue entries have been altered pursuant to the impugned order dated 24.10.2016, the same shall be restored in favour of the petitioner. iv) The petitioner shall appear before the respondent-Assistant Commissioner on 2nd March 2026, without waiting for further notice from the Assistant Commissioner. Ordered accordingly. 8. Learned Additional Government Advocate is permitted to file his memo of appearance within a period of four weeks from today. Sd/- (R DEVDAS) JUDGE JT/- CT: JL