Land grab case: No coercive steps against Kumaraswamy till March 27, Karnataka HC to govt

Mangalore Today News Network

Bengaluru, March 25, 2025: The High Court of Karnataka on Monday directed the revenue authorities not to take any coercive steps until March 27 with regard to the alleged encroachment of government gomala land by Union H D Kumaraswamy at Kethiganahalli in Bidadi hobli, Ramanagara district.

Justice N S Sanjay Gowda passed the order on a petition filed by Kumaraswamy challenging the eviction notice issued by the tahsildar for clearings from government gomala land.

As per the petition, the Ramanagara tahsildar issued a notice to Kumaraswamy on March 11, 2025, stating that a re-survey would be conducted of the land in survey numbers 7, 8 and 9 at Kethiganahalli on March 15. On the day of the survey, officials orally informed that the survey was being conducted in view of the directions issued in the pending civil contempt proceedings before a division bench of the high court.

Kumaraswamy claimed that on March 22, 2025, he moved the Supreme Court challenging the orders passed in the contempt petition.

According to him, after the re-survey, an eviction notice was issued on March 18, 2025, under Section 104 of the Karnataka Land Revenue Act. It is stated that Kumaraswamy has been the absolute owner of these lands since October 25, 1985, after acquiring these lands under various sale deeds. Certain other lands were gifted to him by his mother-in-law Savithramma.

Kumaraswamy further stated that similar proceedings initiated in respect of the very lands in the past were dropped after necessary documents were produced. It is claimed that the notice issued by the tahsildar is without jurisdiction and authority of law. The authorities have not given any opportunity with regard to the reports prepared in respect of three properties mentioned in the notice, the petition said.