The Commissioner v. Smt. Byramma

Order dated

22.01.2020 passed in W.P.No.201108/2018 (LA-RES) and Rajisa s/o Nabisa Doddamani and Others v. The General Manager and Another, by Order dated

01.02.2019 passed in W.P.No.201101-105/2018 (LA-RES), directed the grant of compensation at the same rates in respect of 28 guntas of 'A' kharab land in possession of the writ petitioners. This Court in Sadashivaiah and Others v. State of Karnataka

and Others, reported in ILR 2003 KAR 5088 has clearly held as follows: <31. The words Phut Kharab, therefore, mean and have reference to a land which is included in an assessed survey number but which is unfit for cultivation. After coming into the force of the Karnataka Land Revenue Act, 1964 the word phut Kharab has been defined under Rule 21 (2) as under:- <during the process of classification, land included as un-arable shall be treated as <Pot Kharab=. Pot Kharab land may be classified as follows. (a) That which is classified as unfit for agriculture at the time of survey including the farm buildings or threshing flours of the holder; (b) That which is not assessed because, (i) it is reserved or assigned for public purpose; (ii) it is occupied by a road or recognized footpath or by a tank or stream used by persons other than the holders for irrigation, drinking or domestic purpose; (iii) used as burial ground or cremation ground; (iv) assigned for villager potteries.

¶32Therefore, it becomes clear if the land falls within the category of 21(2)(a) it is not a government land, it belongs to the ownership of the petitioners. If it falls under 21(2)(b) then it belongs to the government and the petitioners cannot have a claim over the said land. However, when the petitioners claim that the said land falls within 21(2)(a) and therefore they are entitled to the compensation LAO proceeds on the assumption that

it falls within Section 22(1)(b) and therefore they are not entitled to compensation as it belongs to the government and accordingly he has declined to pass any award. It is not in dispute that before arriving at such a conclusion the LAO has not given an opportunity to the petitioners in the enquiry under Section 11 of the Act to substantiate their contention. Without any such enquiry, without affording an opportunity to the petitioners he proceeds on the assumption that the said Kharab land falls within 22(1)(b) and therefore petitioners have no claim, as such he has declined to pass the award. On that ground also, the impugned orders passed by the LAO cannot be sustained and is liable to be set aside.=

¶11Having considered the contentions advanced, we notice that the contentions raised by the appellants have been considered by the learned Single Judge. It was found that the respondents were admittedly in possession of the entire extent of the land including the kharab lands. Relying on the decisions of this Court, the learned Single Judge directed grant of compensation in respect of 'A' kharab lands.

¶12We are of the opinion that the circulars relied upon by the learned counsel appearing for the appellants

being much later in point of time, cannot have any application in the instant case. We find no grounds to interfere with the finding of the learned Single Judge, which is supported by the earlier judgments in this intra Court appeal. The appeal is therefore fails and same is accordingly, dismissed. Pending applications, if any, also stand disposed of.

Sd/- (ANU SIVARAMAN) JUDGE

Sd/- (TARA VITASTA GANJU) JUDGE

PN

( IN(THE(HIGH(COURT(OF(KARNATAKA(AT(BENGALURU( TH DATED(THIS(THE(17 (DAY(OF(MARCH,(2026( PRESENT( THE(HON'BLE(MRS.(JUSTICE(ANU(SIVARAMAN( (AND(( (THE(HON'BLE(MS.(JUSTICE(TARA(VITASTA(GANJU( WRIT(APPEAL(NO.1221(OF(2023((LA-KIADB)( ( BETWEEN:( , 1,.,, THE,COMMISSIONER, KARNATAKA,HOUSING,BOARD,(KHB), KAVERI,BHAVAN, BENGALURU-560,009, , 2,.,, THE,SPECIAL,LAND,ACQUISTION,OFFICER, KARNATAKA,HOUSING,BOARD, KAVERI,BHAVAN, BENGALURU-560,009, ...APPELLANTS, , (BY,SRI.,H.L.,PRADEEP,KUMAR,,ADVOCATE), , AND:( , 1,.,,SMT.,BYRAMMA, AGED,ABOUT,53,YEARS, WIFE,OF,LATE,KARAGAPPA, , 2,.,,SMT.,RUDHRAMBIKA, AGED,ABOUT,34,YEARS, D/O,LATE,SRI.,KARAGAPPA, , 3,.,,SMT.,GOWRI, AGED,ABOUT,32,YEARS, D/O,LATE,SRI.,KARAGAPPA, , , ,,( ( 4,.,,SRI.,RUDRESH,K., AGED,ABOUT,30,YEARS, SON,OF,LATE,SRI.,KARAGAPPA, , RESPONDENTS,No.1,TO,4,ARE, R/AT.,KAKARAMANAHALLI, BIDADI,HOBLI, RAMANAGARA,TALUK-562,109, , 5,.,,THE,STATE,OF,KARNATAKA, DEPARTMENT,OF,REVENUE, M.S.,BUILDING,, DR.,AMBEDKAR,VEEDHI, BENGALURU-560,001, REP.,BY,ITS,PRINCIPAL,SECRETARY, ...RESPONDENTS, , (BY,SRI.,K.S.,UDAY,,ADVOCATE,FOR,R1,TO,R4;, ,,,,,,SMT.,SAVITHRAMMA,,AGA,FOR,R5), , THIS, WRIT, APPEAL, IS, FILED, U/S, 4, OF, THE, KARNATAKA, HIGH,COURT,ACT,,1961,,PRAYING,TO,(a).,CALL,FOR,RECORDS, PERTAINING,TO,W.P.,No.,3866/2021,(LA-KHB),(b).,SET,ASIDE, THE, IMPUGNED, ORDER, DATED, 02.11.2022, PASSED, BY, THE, LEARNED,SINGLE,JUDGE,IN,W.P.,No.3866/2021,(LA-KHB),AND, ETC., , THIS,WRIT,APPEAL,HAVING,BEEN,HEARD,AND,RESERVED, FOR, JUDGMENT, ON, 03.03.2026, AND, COMING, ON, FOR, PRONOUNCEMENT,OF,JUDGMENT,THIS,DAY,,ANU(SIVARAMAN( J.,(PRONOUNCED,THE,FOLLOWING:, , CORAM:, HON'BLE,MRS.,JUSTICE,ANU,SIVARAMAN, ,and,, HON'BLE,MS.,JUSTICE,TARA,VITASTA,GANJU, ( CAV JUDGMENT (PER: HON'BLE MRS. JUSTICE ANU SIVARAMAN) This writ appeal is preferred against the Order dated 02.11.2022, passed by the learned Single Judge in W.P.No.3866/2021 (LA-KHB). 2. We have heard Shri. H.L. Pradeep Kumar, learned counsel appearing for the appellants, Shri. K.S. Uday, learned counsel appearing for respondents No.1 to 4 and Smt. Savithramma, learned Additional Government Advocate appearing for respondent No.5. 3. After considering the contentions of the parties and relying on the judgments of this Court on the point, the learned Single Judge directed the appellants to pay compensation in respect of 28 guntas of 'A' kharab land in Sy.No.5, situated at Kakaramanahalli Village, Bidadi Hobli, Ramanagara Taluk. 4. The learned counsel appearing for the appellants submits that the land owner had accepted the compensation under a consent award in respect of the acquired land, without claiming any compensation for the kharab land. It is further contended that there is a clear indication that there was no grant of the kharab land in favour of the respondents. Relying on the Government Circulars of 2018 and 2025, the learned counsel appearing for the appellants seeks to contend that both 'A' and 'B' kharab lands are government lands and that no compensation is payable in respect of government lands to persons claiming to be in occupation of such lands. 5. Learned counsel appearing for the appellants has placed reliance on the following decisions:- • State of Karnataka and Another v Sangappa Dyavappa Biradar and Others, reported in (2005) 4 SCC 264; • The Special Land Acquisition Officer and Another v. Lakshmanbabu Gayakwad and Others, reported in ILR 2006 KAR 4563; • The Special Land Acquisition Officer, Upper Krishna Project Bagalkot v. Sharanabasappa and Another, reported in ILR 2017 KAR 1003; and • A.K. Eramma w/o A.K. Siddappa and Others v. The State of Karnataka and Others, by Order dated 02.09.2013 passed in Writ Appeal Nos.31085-86/2013 (LA-RES); 6. The learned counsel appearing for the respondents, on the other hand, contends that the respondents are admittedly the registered occupants in respect of the kharab lands as well. It is contended that the acquisition notified was in respect of 8 acres and 24 guntas of land, out of which, 28 guntas were