Ambuja W/O H Krishnappa v. the State of Karnataka

Karnataka HC9 Sept 2025WP/102496/2024

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

Keywords: land grant; Form No. 1 application; Scheduled Caste landless applicant; 4 acres 50 cents; Gunasagara village; Kudligi; Vijayanagara; Tahasildar; Consultative Committee (Land Grant); mandamus; duty to consider representation and pass order within reasonable time; twelve weeks deadline; Order 226 and 227 of the Constitution of India; KLR-LG; Justice Suraj Govindaraj; Dharwad Bench; writ petition allowed 2025.

What did the court decide?

Writ petition allowed; Respondent No. 4 directed to consider and pass appropriate orders on the application dated 25.06.2021 submitted in Form No. 1, strictly in accordance with law, within twelve weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of the order. ¶¶35

Ambuja W/O H Krishnappa Vs the State of Karnataka — Writ and Judicial Review | Karnataka HC (2025)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

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Issue for consideration

Whether the respondent authorities were bound to consider and pass orders on the petitioner's application dated 25.06.2021 (Form No. 1) seeking grant of 4 acres and 50 cents of land, which had been received but not acted upon.

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Court's answer

Whenever a representation is submitted by a citizen to an authority, it is the duty of such authority to consider the same in accordance with law, either by accepting or rejecting the request, and to pass an appropriate order within a reasonable period of time.

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Ratio / Principle

Respondent No. 4 (Tahasildar and Secretary, Consultative Committee (Land Grant), Kudligi) is directed to consider and pass appropriate orders on the application dated 25.06.2021 submitted in Form No. 1, strictly in accordance with law.

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Key takeaways

The orders on the application are to be passed within a period of twelve weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of the order.ratio¶¶40

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Writ Petition (KLR-LG) No. 102496 of 2024, High Court of Karnataka, Dharwad Bench (Justice Suraj Govindaraj), decided 09-09-2025: The petitioner, a Scheduled Caste landless agriculturist, applied on 25.06.2021 in Form No. 1 for grant of 4 acres and 50 cents of land; the authorities received the application but passed no order. The Court held that whenever a citizen submits a representation to an authority, the authority is duty-bound to consider it in accordance with law, either by accepting or rejecting it, and to pass an appropriate order within a reasonable period of time. The writ petition was allowed and Respondent No. 4 (Tahasildar and Secretary, Consultative Committee (Land Grant), Kudligi) was directed to consider and pass appropriate orders on the application strictly in accordance with law within twelve weeks from receipt of a copy of the order.

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NC: 2025:KHC-D:11616 WP No. 102496 of 2024

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HC-KAR

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IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA,AT DHARWAD DATED THIS THE 9^TH DAY OF SEPTEMBER, 2025

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BEFORE

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THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SURAJ GOVINDARAJ

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WRIT PETITION NO. 102496 OF 2024 (KLR-LG)

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BETWEEN:

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AMBUJA W/O. H. KRISHNAPPA, AGE: 50 YEARS, OCC. AGRICULTURIST, R/O. GUNASAGARA VILLAGE, TQ. KUDLIGI, DIST. VIJAYANAGARA-583126.

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…PETITIONER

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(BY SRIYUTHS. PUNEET I. BADIGER AND SADANAND M.K, ADVOCATES)

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AND:

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Digitally signed by SAROJA HANGARAKI Location: High Court of Karnataka, Dharwad Bench, Dharwad

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THE STATE OF KARNATAKA REPRESENTED BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY, REVENUE DEPARTMENT, M.S. BUILDING, VIDHANA VEEDHI, BENGALURU-560001.

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THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER VIJAYANAGARA-583201.

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THE ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER VIJAYANAGARA-583201.

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THE TAHASILDAR AND SECRETARY CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE (LAND GRANT) KUDLIGI-583135.

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…RESPONDENTS

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(BY SRI. T.HANUMAREDDY, AGA FOR R1 TO R4)

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2 - NC: 2025:KHC-D:11616 WP No. 102496 of 2024

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HC-KAR

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THIS WP IS FILED UNDER ORDER 226 AND 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA, PRAYING TO 1. ISSUE A WRIT IN THE NATURE OF MANDAMUS OR DIRECTION OR ORDER, DIRECTING THE RESPONDENT AUTHORITIES TO CONSIDER THE APPLICATION DATED. 25-06-2021 VIDE ANNEXURE-A, IN THE INTEREST OF JUSTICE AND ETC.,

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

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ORAL ORDER

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(PER: THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SURAJ GOVINDARAJ)

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The petitioner is before this Court seeking for the following reliefs:

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1. Issue a Writ in the nature of Mandamus or direction or order, directing the respondent authorities to consider the application dated. 25-06-2021 vide Annexure-A, in the interest of justice.

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2. Issue any other suitable Writ order of direction as this Hon’ble deems fit under the facts and circumstances, in the interest of justice and equity.

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The short grievance of the petitioner is that, being a Scheduled Caste and landless person, she submitted an application in Form No. 1 on 25.06.2021, seeking grant of 4 acres and 50 cents of land. Although the

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3 - NC: 2025:KHC-D:11616 WP No. 102496 of 2024

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HC-KAR

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said application was received by the respondents, it has not been acted upon, and no order has been passed.

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It is well-settled that whenever a representation is submitted by a citizen to an authority, it is the duty of such authority to consider the same in accordance with law either by accepting or rejecting the request and to pass an appropriate order within a reasonable period of time. Since the authorities have failed to do so in this case, the following order is passed:

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ORDER

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i. The writ petition is allowed.

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ii. Respondent No. 4 is directed to consider and pass appropriate orders on the application dated 25.06.2021, submitted in Form No. 1, strictly in accordance with

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NC: 2025:KHC-D:11616 WP No. 102496 of 2024

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HC-KAR

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law, within a period of twelve weeks from

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the date of receipt of a copy of this order.

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Sd/(SURAJ GOVINDARAJ) JUDGE

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