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[Cites 3, Cited by 0]

Karnataka High Court

Smt Shwetha D Rao vs State Of Karnataka on 4 March, 2026

Author: R Devdas

Bench: R Devdas

                                              -1-
                                                           NC: 2026:KHC:13201
                                                         WP No. 9521 of 2021
                                                    C/W WP No. 22812 of 2023
                                                         WP No. 2548 of 2024
                   HC-KAR




                        IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU

                            DATED THIS THE 4TH DAY OF MARCH, 2026

                                            BEFORE
                              THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE R DEVDAS
                          WRIT PETITION NO. 9521 OF 2021 (KLR-RES)
                                             C/W
                          WRIT PETITION NO. 22812 OF 2023 (KLR-RES)
                          WRIT PETITION NO. 2548 OF 2024 (KLR-RES)

                   IN WP No. 9521/2021

                   BETWEEN:

                   SMT. SHWETHA D.RAO
                   AGED ABOUT 41 YEARS,
                   D/O DEVADAS RAO,
                   NO.831, 13TH CROSS ROAD,
                   MAHALAKSHMI LAYOUT
                   BANGALORE - 560 086.
                   REP. BY GPA MRS. G PRATHIMA PAI
Digitally signed                                                ...PETITIONER
by JUANITA         (BY SMT. POONAM PATIL, ADVOCATE)
THEJESWINI
Location: HIGH     AND:
COURT OF
KARNATAKA          1.    THE SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT
                         REVENUE DEPARTMENT,
                         GOVERNMENT OF KARNATAKA ,
                         M.S.BUILIDING, VIDHANA VEEDI,
                         BANGALORE - 560 001

                   2.    THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER
                         BANGALORE URBAN DISTRICT,
                         K.G.ROAD, BANGALORE-560001.
                            -2-
                                          NC: 2026:KHC:13201
                                       WP No. 9521 of 2021
                                  C/W WP No. 22812 of 2023
                                       WP No. 2548 of 2024
HC-KAR




3.   THE ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER
     BANGALORE SUB-DIVISION,
     BANGALORE SOUTH TALUK,
     K.G.ROAD, BANGALORE - 560 001.

4.   THE TAHSILDAR
     BANGALORE SOUTH TALUK,
     K.G.ROAD, BANGALORE - 560 001.

5.  THE KARNATAKA SLUM DEVELOPMENT BOARD
    NO.5, ABHAYA COMLEX. 3RD FLOOR,
    RISALDAR STREET, SESHADRIPURAM,
    BANGALORE - 560 020
    RE BY ITS COMMISSIONER.
                                      ...RESPONDENTS
(BY SMT. B.P. RADHA, AGA FOR R1 TO R4
    SRI. B.B. PATIL, ADVOCATE FOR R5)

      THIS WP IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF
THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO-DIRECT R2, 3 AND
4 SURVEYING THE LAND TO AN EXTENT OF 4 ACRE 30 GUNTAS
IN SY.NO.26    OF   MALIGONDANAHALLI      VILLAGE,   KENGERI
HOBLI,   BANGALORE    SOUTH      TALUK,   HOLDING     PODING
OPERATION     AND   PREPARING    AKARBAND     AS     PER   THE
ANNEXURE-G AND G1 DATED 23.10.2019.

IN WP NO. 22812/2023

BETWEEN:

SMT SHWETHA D RAO
AGED 41 YEARS
D/O DEVADAS RAO
NO.831, 13TH CROSS ROAD
MAHALAKSHMI LAYOUT
                            -3-
                                        NC: 2026:KHC:13201
                                      WP No. 9521 of 2021
                                 C/W WP No. 22812 of 2023
                                      WP No. 2548 of 2024
HC-KAR




BANGALORE - 560 086
REP BY GPA HOLDER MRS G PRATHIMA PAI
AGED ABOUT 59 YEARS
W/O. K.S. PRABHU
R/AT NO.199, 17TH CROSS
M.C. LAYOUT, VIJAYANAGAR
BENGALURU - 560 040.
                                         ...PETITIONER
(BY SMT. POONAM S. PATIL, ADVOCATE)

AND:

1.   STATE OF KARNATAKA
     REP BY SECRETARY
     REVENUE DEPARTMENT
     BANGALORE - 560 001

2.   THE DEPUTY COMMISIONER
     BANGALORE URBAN
     K G ROAD, BANGALORE - 560 001

3.   TAHSILDAR
     BANGALORE SOUTH TALUK
     K G ROAD, BANGALORE - 560 001

4.   KARNTAKA SLUM DEVLEOPMENT BOARD
     NO.55, 3RD FLOOR, ABHAYA COMPLEX
     RISALDAR STREET, BANGALORE - 560 020
     REP BY ITS COMMISSIONER
                                      ...RESPONDENTS

(BY SRI. SHAMANTH NAIK, HCGP FOR R1 TO R3
    SRI. B.B. PATIL, ADVOCATE FOR R4)

    THIS WP IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF
THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO QUASHING THE
ORDER BEARING NO. LND (S) CR 585/17-18 DTD 22.02.18
ISSUED BY THE R2 VIDE ANNEXURE-A, QUASHING THE
                           -4-
                                        NC: 2026:KHC:13201
                                      WP No. 9521 of 2021
                                 C/W WP No. 22812 of 2023
                                      WP No. 2548 of 2024
HC-KAR




ORDER BEARING NO.LND(K)CR 87/16-17 DTD 27.09.18
ISSUED BY THE R3 VIDE ANNEXURE-B AND ETC.

IN WP NO. 2548/2024

BETWEEN:

SMT. SHWETHA D RAO
AGED 43 YEARS,
D/O DEVADAS RAO
NO.831, 13TH CROSS ROAD
MAHALAKSHMI LAYOUT,
BANGALORE - 560 086
REPRESENTED BY GPA HOLDER
MRS. G PRATHIMA PAI
AGED ABOUT 59 YEARS,
W/O K S PRABHU
R/AT NO.199, 17TH CROSS,
M.C. LAYOUT, VIJAYANAGAR,
BANGALORE - 560040.
                                         ...PETITIONER
(BY SRI. C.N. MAHADESWARAN, ADVOCATE)

AND:

1.   STATE OF KARNATAKA
     REPRESENTED BY SECRETARY,
     REVENUE DEPARTMENT,
     BANGALORE - 560 001.

2.  THE SPECIAL DEPUTY COMMISSIONER,
    BANGALORE URBAN DISTRICT
    BANGALORE SOUTH SUB DIVISION
    K.G.ROAD, BANGALORE - 560 001.
                                      ...RESPONDENTS
(BY SRI. SESHU V., HCGP FOR R1 TO R2
    SRI. B.B. PATIL, ADVOCATE FOR IMPLEADING
    APPLICANT IN I.A.NO.2/2024)
                                -5-
                                              NC: 2026:KHC:13201
                                          WP No. 9521 of 2021
                                     C/W WP No. 22812 of 2023
                                          WP No. 2548 of 2024
HC-KAR




    THIS WP IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF
THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO PROHIBITION
PROHIBITING      THE    RESPONDENT           NO.     2      FROM
PROCEEDINGS WITH THE PROCEEDINGS IN CASE NO.
RRT(S)CR 107 /2013-14 IN SO FAR AS THE PETITIONER IS
CONCERNED AND ETC.

     THESE    PETITIONS,   COMING       ON    FOR    PRELIMINARY
HEARING, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER:


CORAM:    HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE R DEVDAS


                   ORAL COMMON ORDER

     These three writ petitions are filed by the same petitioner

and the disputes involved in all three writ petitions are also

connected to each other and therefore, these three writ

petitions are clubbed together, heard and are being disposed of

by this common order.


     2.    The    petitioner    filed   a     writ       petition   in

W.P.No.1870/2010 seeking a direction to the respondent

authorities for effecting measurements, mapping of sub-division

and apportionment of assessment in respect of the sub-

divisions and further for mutations as contemplated under Rule

72 of the Karnataka Land Revenue Rules, 1966, with respect to
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                                              WP No. 9521 of 2021
                                         C/W WP No. 22812 of 2023
                                              WP No. 2548 of 2024
HC-KAR




the land purchased by the petitioner under a registered sale

deed dated 21.07.2003, measuring 4 acres 30 guntas in Survey

No.26 of Maligondanahalli Village, Kengeri Hobli, Bangalore

South Taluk. During the course of the said writ petition, it was

stated on behalf of the respondent authorities that they are

unable to proceed with the survey and phodi proceedings due

to non-availability of the records in the office of the Tahsildar.

This Court held that the revenue authorities cannot decline to

conduct the phodi on the ground that the records are not

available.    Nevertheless, this Court directed the respondent

authorities to do everything possible to retrieve the file.

Nevertheless, in spite of best efforts, if the file is not traced,

they are directed to build up a parallel file as per the procedure

in vogue. Further, the Tahsildar, Bangalore South Taluk was

directed     to   consider   the   petitioner's   representation   for

surveying the land, holding the phodi operation and preparing

the akarband, etc., in accordance with law. It was directed that

the entire exercise should be completed within four months

from the date of the order.
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                                          WP No. 9521 of 2021
                                     C/W WP No. 22812 of 2023
                                          WP No. 2548 of 2024
HC-KAR




      3. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that after

such order was passed by this Court, since there was

interference at the hands of one Sri.R.Ravikumar, the petitioner

approached the Tahsildar. The Tahsildar passed an order in

proceedings bearing No.TQ.PR.1/2010-11 stating that after

verification of the records, it is found that in survey No.26 of

Marigondanahalli, which was earlier an Inam village, had a total

extent of 56.18 hectares and the Special Deputy Commissioner

for Inams abolition had passed various orders re-granting lands

to various persons. One such grantee was late Sri.Muniyappa.

The petitioner herein purchased the lands in question from the

children of Sri.Muniyappa. However, it was found that the

respondent    therein,   namely,     Sri.R.Ravikumar   also   had

purchased the lands in the same survey number from a

different grantee. It was later identified that the two lands are

separate and the identification of the two lands was also made

and accordingly, the matter was disposed of, with a direction to

proceed to conduct the phodi in favour of the petitioner in

terms of the boundaries found in the sale deed belonging to the

petitioner.
                                      -8-
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                                                WP No. 9521 of 2021
                                           C/W WP No. 22812 of 2023
                                                WP No. 2548 of 2024
HC-KAR




       4.     Nevertheless, when the phodi proceedings were not

completed, the petitioner initiated contempt proceedings in

CCC.No.1263/2010. During the course of the proceedings,

since it was submitted on behalf of the respondent authorities,

that   notices     for    the    survey    have   been   issued       to   the

neighbouring landowners, the contempt proceedings were

accordingly closed, recording the submission made on behalf of

the respondent authorities that the phodi proceedings will be

conducted subsequent to the adjoining landowners being

served      with   the    notices.   Nevertheless,      when    the    phodi

proceedings        were    not    completed,      one    more     contempt

proceeding was initiated in CCC.No.600/2012 and during the

course of the said proceedings, an affidavit was filed by the

then Tahsildar. In paragraph No.7 of the affidavit filed by the

Tahsildar, it was stated that on 20.10.2012, in the presence of

the landowners, a survey was conducted and in terms of the

boundaries shown in the sale deed belonging to the petitioner,

the land claimed by the petitioner was identified, and a

mahazar was drawn in the presence of the local villagers.

Accordingly, the phodi proceedings were concluded in terms of

the sketch appended to the affidavit.
                                -9-
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                                          WP No. 9521 of 2021
                                     C/W WP No. 22812 of 2023
                                          WP No. 2548 of 2024
HC-KAR




     5.    Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that

although it is true that such an affidavit was filed before the

Hon'ble Division Bench, nevertheless, it is the contention of the

petitioner that after the phodi proceedings were concluded, a

new number was not assigned to the land belonging to the

petitioner. In that view of the matter, the writ petition in

W.P.No.9521/2021 is filed by the petitioner with a prayer to

issue a writ of mandamus directing the respondent authorities

to survey the land belonging to the petitioner, hold a phodi

operation, prepare an akarband as per Annexures-G and G1

dated 23.10.2019. During the pendency of the said writ

petition, it came to the knowledge of the petitioner that the

respondent- Deputy Commissioner, Bangalore Urban District,

had passed an order on 22.02.2018 granting 5 acres of land in

Survey No.26 in favour of respondent No.5-The Karnataka

Slum Development Board for establishing a layout under the

'Ashraya scheme' for distribution of sites in favour of deserving

persons. On the basis of the said order, passed by the Deputy

Commissioner, respondent No.5-Board put up a notice board on

the land in question saying that the land belongs to respondent

No.5-Board in terms of the orders passed by the Deputy
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                                               C/W WP No. 22812 of 2023
                                                    WP No. 2548 of 2024
HC-KAR




Commissioner. Therefore, the petitioner filed writ petition

No.22812/2023 raising a challenge to the order passed by the

Deputy Commissioner along with the order of possession at

Annexure-B.


        6.         Learned counsel submits that interim orders have

been passed in the said petition directing respondent No.5-

Board        not    to   continue   with   its   construction.   Thereafter,

proceedings          were     initiated    by    the   respondent-Deputy

Commissioner suo motu in exercise of powers conferred under

Section 136(3) of the Karnataka Land Revenue Act, 1964, in

case No.RRT(S)CR.107/2013-14. At this juncture, it is clarified

by the learned Additional Government Advocate that the

proceedings were initiated in the year 2013-14 and not in the

year 2024 as claimed by the petitioner.


        7.         Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that in

the light of the facts narrated hereinabove, and in the light of

the law laid down by this Court in the matter of the exercise of

suo motu powers by the Deputy Commissioner/Special Deputy

Commissioners invoking Section 136(3) of the Act, more

particularly, in the case of SMT.PYARI MA AND OTHERS VS.
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                                               WP No. 9521 of 2021
                                          C/W WP No. 22812 of 2023
                                               WP No. 2548 of 2024
HC-KAR




THE      STATE     OF     KARNATAKA            AND     OTHERS        in

W.P.No.22426/2021 decided on 12.01.2022, that such

initiation of proceedings for cancellation of grants or for

cancellation of the revenue entries, on the ground that the

entries are fraudulent, is required to be conducted within a

reasonable time from the date when which the entries were

made in the revenue records.


      8.     Learned counsel submits that this Court has taken

note of at least two judgments of the Hon'ble Supreme Court in

the   case   of   MOHAMAD        KAVI       MOHAMAD       AMIN      VS.

FATMABAI IBRAHIM reported in (1997) 6 SCC 71 AND

JOINT      COLLECTOR        RANGA         REDDY      DISTRICT       VS.

D.NARASING RAO AND OTHERS reported in (2015) 3 SCC

695 and paragraph No.25 of the decision in Joint Collector

has been extracted in the said judgment as follows:


             "The legal position is fairly well settled by a long
      line of decisions of this Court which have laid down that
      even when there is no period of limitation prescribed for
      the exercise of any power, revisional or otherwise, such
      power must be exercised within a reasonable period.
      This is so even in cases where allegations of fraud have
      necessitated the exercise of any corrective power. We
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                                         C/W WP No. 22812 of 2023
                                              WP No. 2548 of 2024
HC-KAR



     may briefly refer to some of the decisions only to bring
     home the point that the absence of a stipulated period
     of limitation makes little or no difference insofar as the
     exercise of the power is concerned which ought to be
     permissible only when the power is invoked within a
     reasonable period."
           Even in respect of the revisional jurisdiction, it
     was held that delayed exercise of revisional jurisdiction
     is frowned upon because if actions or transactions were
     to remain forever open to challenge, it will mean
     avoidable and endless uncertainly in human affairs,
     which is not the policy of law.       Because, even when
     there is no period of limitation prescribed for exercise of
     such powers, the intervening delay, may have led to
     creation of third-party rights, that cannot be trampled
     by a belated exercise of a discretionary power especially
     when no cogent explanation for the delay is in sight.
     Rule of law it is said must run closely with the rule of
     life. Even in cases where the orders sought to be revised
     are fraudulent, the exercise of power must be within a
     reasonable period of the discovery of fraud.        Simply
     describing an act or transaction to be fraudulent will not
     extend the time for its correction to infinity; for
     otherwise the exercise of revisional power would itself
     be tantamount to a fraud upon the statute that vests
     such power in an authority. "


     9.    Learned counsel submits that thereafter several

judgments have been passed by this Court on the same lines as
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                                        C/W WP No. 22812 of 2023
                                             WP No. 2548 of 2024
HC-KAR




in the case of Pyari Ma, setting aside or quashing such

proceedings initiated by the Deputy Commissioners/Special

Deputy Commissioners invoking Section 136(3) of the Act on

the   ground    of   the    proceedings     being   initiated   after

unreasonable delay. The cases referred to are writ petition in

W.P.No.41881/2019,             NAGARATHNAMMA.S                  AND

ANOTHER VS. STATE OF KARNATAKA AND OTHERS,

SMT.N.REVATHI         AND       OTHERS        VS.     ASSISTANT

COMMISSIONER,         BANGALORE          SOUTH      SUB-DIVISION

AND CONNECTED MATTERS in W.P.No.25877/2017 dated

07.02.2022 and       SMT.S.NAGALAKSHMI VS. THE DEPUTY

COMMISSIONER,          CHIKKABALLAPURA              DISTRICT       in

W.P.No.56799/2018 dated 14.01.2022.                 It is submitted

that the State Government has not challenged any of the

orders passed by this Court and therefore, the decision

rendered by this Court has attained finality. In this background,

learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the third petition

filed by the petitioner in W.P.No.2548/2024 should be allowed

by quashing the proceedings in case No.RRT(S)CR.107/2013-

14 initiated by the respondent, Special Deputy Commissioner,

Bangalore Urban District.
                               - 14 -
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                                            WP No. 9521 of 2021
                                       C/W WP No. 22812 of 2023
                                            WP No. 2548 of 2024
HC-KAR




     10.   Learned counsel would further submit that having

regard to the facts narrated hereinabove, since it is clear that

the land belonging to the petitioner, it cannot be granted to any

other person, the orders passed by the Deputy Commissioner in

which is under challenge in W.P.No. 22812/2023, should also

be quashed.


     11.   Learned Additional Government Advocate submits

that the proceedings were initiated by the Special Deputy

Commissioner invoking the powers conferred under Section

136(3) in the year 2013-14 and not in the year 2024, as

contended by the petitioner. Learned Additional Government

Advocate submits on instructions that the total extent of land in

Survey No.26 is 136 acres 16 guntas in terms of the akarband

and in terms of the claims of various persons, the total extent

of land would be 262 acres 21½ guntas.        In that view of the

matter, proceedings have been initiated by the Special Deputy

Commissioner to cancel the revenue entries made in favour of

the original grantee Sri.Muniyappa, since according to the

respondent authorities no such grant was made in favour of

Sri.Muniyappa.
                               - 15 -
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                                             WP No. 9521 of 2021
                                        C/W WP No. 22812 of 2023
                                             WP No. 2548 of 2024
HC-KAR




     12.   Learned    counsel      Sri.B.B.Patil,      appearing     for

respondent No.5-Board submits that the board is in occupation

of the lands granted by the Deputy Commissioner. It is not the

intention of respondent No.5-Board to usurp or encroach upon

the lands belonging to the petitioner. Constructions have

already commenced, but in terms of the interim directions

given by this Court, the constructions have been held up.

Learned counsel would therefore submit that the lands granted

by the Deputy Commissioner in favour of the respondent No.5-

Board have to be identified and if respondent No.5-Board is put

in possession of the said lands granted to the Deputy

Commissioner, it would protect the interest of the Board.


     13.   Heard   the   learned       counsel   for   the   petitioner,

learned Additional Government Advocate for the respondent

authorities, Sri.B.B.Patil, learned counsel for respondent No.5-

Board and perused the petition papers.


     14.   Having regard to the undisputed facts narrated

hereinabove, this Court is of the considered opinion that

initiation of proceedings at the hands of the Special Deputy

Commissioner to cancel the entries made in the revenue
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                                              WP No. 2548 of 2024
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records in the year 1964 cannot be permitted at this juncture,

even if it is true that the proceedings were initiated in the year

2013-14, having regard to the law laid down by this Court in

the cases cited hereinabove. Moreover, third party rights have

been created and at this stage, if such proceedings are

permitted to be initiated and the earlier revenue entries are

permitted to be cancelled, it will be clearly in prejudice of the

rights of the petitioner who purchased the property in question

in the year 2003, and the name of the petitioner was also

entered in the revenue records pursuant to the registered sale

deed.


        15.   Having regard to the said position, what remains to

be   considered     is   the   orders     passed    by   the   Deputy

Commissioner granting lands in favour of respondent No.5-

Board. The rights of the petitioner cannot be prejudiced, since

the government or the competent authority cannot grant land

belonging to a private individual in favour of respondent No.5-

Board. In that regard, this Court finds that a sketch appended

to the affidavit filed at the hands of the Tahsildar before the

Hon'ble Division Bench in the contempt proceedings would
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become a relevant record for the identification of the land

belonging to the petitioner. This Court also finds that during the

course of the proceedings in W.P.No.9521/2021, directions

were issued to the respondent authorities to file a report along

with a sketch showing the total extent of land in Survey No.26

and the lands allotted by the Deputy Commissioner/State

Government to various entities in Survey No.26. Accordingly,

Annexure-AD has been produced by the petitioner in W.P.No.

22812/2023, where the lands granted to respondent No.5 is

identified as 4A and 4B in the sketch. What is further required

to be done to redress the grievance of the petitioner is to

identify the lands belonging to the petitioner in terms of the

phodi sketch filed along with the affidavit of the Tahsildar

before the Hon'ble Division Bench in CCC.No.1263/2010, which

has been produced as Annexure-R4 along with the statement of

objections   filed   at   the   hands      of   the   respondent-State

Government, which is also filed as Annexure-P. The respondent

Tahsildar along with the jurisdictional-Assistant Director of Land

Records are required to proceed to identify the lands belonging

to the petitioner in terms of the phodi sketch as stated

hereinabove and find out as to whether the lands belonging to
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                                           C/W WP No. 22812 of 2023
                                                WP No. 2548 of 2024
HC-KAR




the petitioner would overlap the lands granted in favour of

respondent No.5-Board. If it is found that the land granted in

favour of respondent No.5-Board overlaps the land belonging to

the   petitioner,   then   the    order     passed    by    the    Deputy

Commissioner will stand quashed. On the other hand, if the two

lands are found to be identified in different places, then the

order passed by the Deputy Commissioner in favour of the

respondent No.5-Board shall remain undisturbed.


      16.     Consequently, this Court proceeds to pass the

following order:

                                 ORDER

i. W.P.No.9521/2021 is partly allowed while directing the respondents-Tahsildar, Assistant Director of Land Records and the Deputy Commissioner to assign a new number to the land belonging to the petitioner in terms of the phodi already conducted.

      ii.    W.P.No.2548/2024 is allowed while quashing
             all    further      proceedings          in        case
             No.RRT(S)CR:107/2013-14          initiated    by    the

respondent-Special Deputy Commissioner. iii. In so far as W.P.No.22812/2023 is concerned, the respondent-Tahsildar, jurisdictional

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NC: 2026:KHC:13201 WP No. 9521 of 2021 C/W WP No. 22812 of 2023 WP No. 2548 of 2024 HC-KAR Assistant Director of Land Records shall proceed to identify the lands belonging to the petitioner in terms of the phodi sketch found at Annexure-P in W.P.No.22812/2023.

17. It is clarified that this is a sketch appended to the affidavit filed by the then Tahsildar, who clearly stated that the phodi proceedings are concluded in terms of the sketch appended to the affidavit in CCC.No.600/2012.

18. Similarly, the lands granted in favour of respondent No.5-Board which has been identified in terms of Annexure-AD in W.P.No.22812/2023, shall also be identified, and the two sketches shall be superimposed to find out whether the lands belonging to the petitioner and the lands granted to respondent No.5-Board overlap each other or not.

19. If it is found that the lands belonging to the petitioner and the land granted to respondent No.5-Board do not overlap each other, then respondent No.5-Board is free to proceed with its activities and simultaneously, the grant order passed by the Deputy Commissioner in favour of respondent No.5-Board shall remain undisturbed.

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20. On the other hand, if it is found that the lands belonging to the petitioner and lands granted to respondent No.5-Board overlap each other, then the lands granted in favour of respondent No. 5-Board in terms of order dated 22.02.2018 passed by the Deputy Commissioner shall stand quashed and set aside. The construction put up by respondent No.5-Board in such a situation is found to be on the lands belonging to the petitioner, respondent No.5-Board shall remove all such construction and ensure that the vacant possession is handed over to the petitioner, failing which, the petitioner can also remove the construction and encroachment and recover the cost from respondent No.5-Board. It is needless to observe that the Deputy Commissioner or the respondent-state is free to identify any other land to be granted in favour of respondent No.5-Board.

21. The entire exercise shall be completed as expeditiously as possible and at any rate within a period of two months from the date of receipt of copy of this order.

22. For that purpose, the petitioner and the competent Officer from respondent No.5-Board are directed to be present

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NC: 2026:KHC:13201 WP No. 9521 of 2021 C/W WP No. 22812 of 2023 WP No. 2548 of 2024 HC-KAR at the spot on 12.03.2026 at 11.00 a.m. to enable the Tahsildar and the jurisdictional Assistant Director of Land Records to conduct a survey and identify the properties.

23. Needless to observe that till the Tahsildar and the Assistant Director of Land Records prepare a report identifying the two lands, respondent No.5-Board shall not proceed with the construction or any other activity.

All pending I.As stand disposed of accordingly.

Sd/-

(R DEVDAS) JUDGE rv/GPG