- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:17606 WP No. 9903 of 2025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 27TH DAY OF MARCH, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE R DEVDAS WRIT PETITION NO. 9903 OF 2025 (KLR-RES) BETWEEN: SRI. HANUMANTHE GOWDA S/O LATE CHENNEGOWDA AGED ABOUT 61 YEARS, R/AT DASARA KOPPALU GRAMA, KASABA HOBLI HASSAN TALUK AND DISTRICT- 573219 …PETITIONER (BY SRI. AMAR GOWDA K.S., ADVOCATE FOR SRI. AKARSH KUMAR GOWDA., ADVOCATE) AND: 1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE, REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY, VIDHANA SOUDA, DR AMBEDKAR VEEDI, BENGALURU - 560001 2. THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER HASSAN DISTRICT, KARNATAKA- 573201 3. THE THASILDAR HASSAN TALUK, HASSAN DISTRICT, KARNATAKA -573201 Digitally signed by JUANITA THEJESWINI Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:17606 WP No. 9903 of 2025 4. THE ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER HASSAN TALUK AND HASSAN DISTRICT KARNATAKA-573201 5. THE REVENUE INSPECTOR HASSAN TALUK, HASSAN DISTRICT-573201 …RESPONDENTS (BY SMT. B.P.RADHA, AGA) THIS W.P. IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO DIRECT THE R2 TO R4 TO GRANT 5 ACRES OF LAND SITUATED IN SY NO. 20 OF BANDIHALLI VILLAGE, SHANTHIGRAMA HOBLI, HASSAN TALUK, HASSAN DISTRICT BY CONSIDERING THE REPRESENTATION OF THE PETITIONER DTD 31.01.2018 VIDE ANNX-C., AND ETC. THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR ORDERS, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE R DEVDAS ORAL ORDER The prayer in the writ petition is to issue a writ of mandamus directing the respondent authorities to consider the application seeking grant of the land under ex- servicemen quota. - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:17606 WP No. 9903 of 2025 2. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the petitioner is an ex-serviceman and he has given an application dated 31.01.2018 seeking grant of agricultural land, more particularly, in Sy.No.20 of Bandihalli village, Shanthigrama Hobli, Hassan Taluk and District. Learned counsel for the petitioner further submits that it would suffice if a direction is issued to the respondent-authorities to consider the application in accordance with law and pass necessary orders. 3. Learned Additional Government Advocate submits that recently there has been an amendment to Rule 8 of the Karnataka Land Grant Rules stating that wherever agricultural lands are not available for being granted to ex- servicemen, only a residential site will be allotted. 4. On hearing the learned counsel for the petitioner, learned Additional Government Advocate and on perusing the petition papers, this Court is of the considered opinion that the respondent authorities are required to consider the application filed by the petitioner. If the petitioner - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:17606 WP No. 9903 of 2025 fulfills all the requirement of law and there is no impediment, only then he would be entitled for grant of agricultural land. Further, as stated by the learned Additional Government Advocate, if there is an amendment brought to the Karnataka Land Grant Rules and if it is found that agricultural lands are not available to be granted in favour of the petitioner in Shanthigrama Hobli of Hassan Taluk and District, then the authorities shall take into consideration the relevant provisions and then dispose of the applications of the petitioner in accordance with law. However, in the present writ petition an endorsement was issued at Annexure –K dated 11.11.2024 by the Tahasildar, Hassan Taluk stating that the application filed by the petitioner will be considered in accordance with the seniority of the applications. This Court does not find any infirmity in the endorsement issued by the Tahasildar. 5. Consequently, the writ petition stands disposed of with a direction to the 2nd respondent-Deputy - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:17606 WP No. 9903 of 2025 Commissioner, Hassan District to secure a report at the hands of the 3rd respondent-Tahsildar and consider the application filed by the petitioner and pass orders in accordance with law, as expeditiously as possible and at any rate within a period of three months from the date of receipt of copy of this order. Ordered accordingly. Sd/- (R DEVDAS) JUDGE BVK List No.: 1 Sl No.: 51