Karnataka High Court
Shri Chandrashekar S/O Narayan Bhat vs The Deputy Forest Conservator on 5 October, 2023
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NC: 2023:KHC-D:11779
WP No. 105594 of 2023
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA, DHARWAD BENCH
DATED THIS THE 5TH DAY OF OCTOBER, 2023
BEFORE
THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE SACHIN SHANKAR MAGADUM
WRIT PETITION NO.105594 OF 2023 (GM-FOR)
BETWEEN:
SHRI CHANDRASHEKAR S/O. NARAYAN BHAT,
AGE: 67 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE,
R/O: SADASHIVALLI GRAM,
TARGOD VILLAGE, SIRSI TALUK,
NORTH CANARA, DIST: 581402.
...PETITIONER
(BY SRI M.B. KANAVI & KUM. VEENA DYAMANNAVAR, ADVOCATES)
AND:
1. THE DEPUTY FOREST CONSERVATOR,
SIRSI SUB-DIVISION,
SIRSI-581401.
2. THE ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER,
SIRSI SUB-DIVISION,
Digitally signed
by SIRSI-581401.
MOHANKUMAR
MOHANKUMAR B SHELAR
B SHELAR
...RESPONDENTS
Date:
2023.10.12
11:35:47 +0530
(BY SRI SHIVAPRABHU S. HIREMATH, AGA FOR R1 & R2)
THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLE 226 OF THE
CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO ISSUE A WRIT A MANDAMUS
DIRECTING THE RESPONDENT AUTHORITIES TO CONSIDER THE
REPRESENTATION DATED. 20.04.2022, SUBMITTED BY THE
PETITIONER FOR CONTINUING HIS NAME IN RTC COLUMN OF THE
BETTA LAND IN SURVEY NO. 187 IN SADASHIVALLI VILLAGE TO THE
EXTENT OF 1 ACRE 07 GUNTAS VIDE ANEXURE-J.
THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY HEARING,
THIS DAY, THE COURT MADE THE FOLLOWING:
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NC: 2023:KHC-D:11779
WP No. 105594 of 2023
ORDER
The captioned writ petition is filed by the petitioner feeling aggrieved by the fresh katha issued by the Tahasildar, wherein Betta privilege held by the petitioner is deleted and the extent is not reflected in the RTC extract vide Annexure-H. Petitioner has knocked the doors of the writ Court apprehending that by deletion in the impugned records of rights vide Annexure-H, the petitioner's rights over Betta land are withdrawn by the respondent.
2. The petitioner is seeking privileged cultivator rights over the betta land bearing Sy. No.187 to an extent of 1 acre 7 guntas, which is totally measuring 6 acres 3 guntas.
3. Heard learned counsel appearing for the petitioner and learned AGA. Perused the materials placed on record.
4. Though the learned AGA has seriously disputed the petitioner's claim over the Betta land, I am of the view that his statement runs contrary to the adjudication made by the jurisdictional Tahasildar, which is evident vide Annexure-D. -3- NC: 2023:KHC-D:11779 WP No. 105594 of 2023 The relevant portion of the order of the Tahasildar reads as under;
"It is also required to be observed the applicability of section 131 (f) of the Karnataka Forest Manual is to be looked into" JA§ÄzÁV ¤jÃPÀu ë É ªÀiÁrgÀÄvÁÛg.É ªÀiÁqÀ®Ä F »£É߯ÉAiÀÄ°è ¥ÀºÀt «ZÁgÀuÉ ªÀiÁqÀ¯ÁV ¸Àzg À À, PÀ£ÁðlPÀ ¥sÁgɸÀÖ ªÀiÁå£ÀÄåªÀ¯ï ¨ÉlÖ ¦æ«°d¸ï gÀÆ®ìz° À è, ¨ÉlÖ ªÉʪÁlÄzÁgÀjUÉ ¹Ã«ÄvÀ PÉÃë vÀæz° À è ¸ÁUÀĪÀ½ ªÀiÁqÀ®Ä ¸ÀªÀ®vÀÄÛ ¤ÃrgÀĪÀÅzÀÄ ¸À൪ ÀÖ ÁUÀÄvÀz Û .É ªÀÄvÀÄÛ CfðzÁgÀgÀÄ ¸ÀºÀ ¸Àª® À wÛ£À ¤AiÀĪÀiÁªÀ½UÀ¼° À è CªÀPÁ±À ¤ÃrzÀ UÀjµÀÖ PÉÃë vÀ« æ ÄwAiÉƼÀUÉ ¸ÁUÀĪÀ½ ªÀiÁqÀÄwÛzÁÝg.É PÁgÀt ¸À¢A æ iÀĪÀgÀÄ CwPÀª æ ÀÄt ¸ÁUÀĪÀ½zÁgÀgÁVgÀzÉ ¸Àª® À wÛ£À ¸ÁUÀĪÀ½zÁgÀ (privileged cultivator) CAvÁ UÀ» æ ¹§ºÀÄzÁVzÉ.
C®èzÃÉ CfðzÁgÀgÀÄ 1965 jAzÀ®Æ ¸Àzg À À d«ÄãÀ£ÀÄß F ªÀgU É Æ À ¤gÀAvÀgª À ÁV ¸ÁUÀĪÀ½ ªÀiÁqÀÄvÁÛ §A¢zÁÝgÉ ºÁUÀÆ 1997gÀªg À U É ÀÆ ¸À¢A æ iÀĪÀgÀ ºÉ¸g À ÀÄ ¤gÀAvÀgª À ÁV zÁR¯ÁUÀÄvÁÛ §A¢gÀÄvÀz Û .É ªÀÄvÀÄÛ ¸À¢A æ iÀĪÀg£ À ÀÄß ¸ÁUÀĪÀ½ ªÀiÁqÀzA À vÉ MPÀ̯© É â¹zÀÄÝ ¸ÀºÀ EgÀĪÀÅ¢®è. ºÁUÀÆ CfðzÁgÀgÀÄ ¸Àzg À À d«ÄãÀ£ÀÄß ¨ÉlÖ ¦æ«¯ÉÃeï ¤AiÀĪÀiÁªÀ½ SÁAiÀÄAvÀjÃPÀ ªÀÄAdÆgÀ ªÀiÁqÀ®Ä ¸ÀºÀ PÉÆÃjzÁÝg.É PÁgÀt ªÀÄÄA¢£À ªÀÄÄPÀÛ DzÉñÀ DUÀĪÀªg À U É É zÁªÁ D¹ÛAiÀÄ ¸ÁUÀĪÀ½zÁgÀgÀ PÁ®AzÀ°è CfðzÁgÀgÀ ºÉ¸g À £ À ÀÄß ¸ÁUÀĪÀ½zÁgÀ CAvÁ HfðvÀ EqÀĪÀÅzÀÄ ¸ÀÆPÀª Û ¤ É ¸ÀÄvÀÛz.É DzÀÝjAzÀ F PɼV À £ÀAvÉ D¹ÛAiÀÄ DzÉñÀ ªÀiÁrzÉ.
DzÉñÀ ¥À¸ æ ÁÛª£ À A É iÀÄ°è «ªÀj¹zÀ PÁgÀtUÀ½UÁV ¸ÀzÁ²ªÀ½î UÁæªÀÄzÀ ¨ÉlÖ ¸À.£ÀA. 187gÀ°è 1-7-0 PÉÃë vÀPæ ÉÌ CfðzÁgÀ ZÀAzÀ± æ ÃÉ RgÀ £ÁgÁAiÀÄt ¨sÀlÖ -4- NC: 2023:KHC-D:11779 WP No. 105594 of 2023 EªÀg£ À ÀÄß ¸ÁUÀĪÀ½zÁgÀ JAvÁ PÁ®A £ÀA. 12gÀ°è £ÀªÀÄÆ¢¹ HfðvÀPÌÉ vÀgÀĪÀAvÉ F ªÀÄÆ®PÀ DzÉò¹zÉ.
F DzÉñÀª£ À ÀÄß EAzÀÄ ¢£ÁAPÀ: 6-8-2008 gÀAzÀÄ §»gÀAUÀ £ÁåAiÀiÁ®AiÀÄzÀ°è WÉÆö¸À¯ÁVzÉ."
5. On examining the above culled out portion, there is no doubt that the petitioner has rights over the Betta land bearing Sy. No.187 to an extent of 1 acre 7 guntas. Though the petitioner's claim is found in the cultivator's column and his right of privilege over the Betta land to an extent of 1 acre 7 guntas was indicated in the previous records of rights pursuant to the order passed by the jurisdictional Tahasildar, however, the records of rights issued for the year 2022-23, the extent of the land over which the petitioner has privilege is deleted.
6. If these significant details are looked into, then I am of the view that unilaterally deletion of the extent of the land held by the petitioner has caused serious prejudice to the petitioner's privilege over the Betta land to an extent of 1 acre 7 guntas. The said deletion is also found to be bad in law as the said exercise is done without notifying the petitioner. -5-
NC: 2023:KHC-D:11779 WP No. 105594 of 2023
7. Therefore, I am of the view that this is a fit case to issue mandamus to respondent No.2 to consider the representation submitted by the petitioner vide Annexure-J. The petitioner's right over the Betta land also needs to be examined in terms of the Rule 131-F(xii)(f) of the Karnataka Forest Manual, which is produced at Annexure-G to the writ petition.
8. For the reasons stated supra, I pass the following;
ORDER
(i) The writ petition is allowed.
(ii) Respondent No.2 is hereby directed to consider the representation dated 20.04.2022 submitted by the petitioner as per Annexure-J and pass appropriate orders in accordance with law.
(iii) Respondent No.2 shall also take cognizance of the order passed by the Tahasildar vide Annexure-D while deciding the representation submitted by the petitioner as per Annexure-J. Sd/-
JUDGE NBM List No.: 1 Sl No.: 8