Sri Ganapathi M Vs Chief Secretary — Writ and Judicial Review | Karnataka HC (2025)

Sri Ganapathi M Vs Chief Secretary — Writ and Judicial Review | Karnataka HC (2025)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Writ of Certiorari ordered; the order dated 09.08.2021 passed by the District Level Committee (fourth respondent) vide Annexure-AB is quashed; if the Government has any grievance it may act in accordance with law.

Issue for consideration

Whether the cancellation order dated 09.08.2021 (Annexure-AB), passed without giving the petitioner an opportunity of hearing, is opposed to the principles of natural justice. +2 more

Court's answer

The petitioner was not given an opportunity of hearing before cancellation; therefore the cancellation order dated 09.08.2021 is opposed to the principles of natural justice and bad in law.

Ratio / Principle

Since the question of the grant of forest rights was pending adjudication in (PIL) W.P.No.7719/2021 and there was no interim order or direction in the PIL, the Government could not have proceeded by forming a committee or passing an order for cancellation of the petitioner's forest rights.

Key takeaways

The respondents did not adhere to Rule 12A(3) of the Act; consequently the cancellation of the grant order dated 09.08.2021 is unsustainable in law and liable to be quashed.ratio¶51

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Forest Rights — Scheduled Tribes & Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 — grant of forest rights (8 Acres 20 Guntas) by District Level Committee on 20.10.2015 — subsequent cancellation by order dated 09.08.2021 (Annexure-AB) without notice or opportunity of hearing to the grantee — grant simultaneously under adjudication in (PIL) W.P.No.7719/2021 with no interim order — held: Government could not have proceeded to cancel by forming a committee while the PIL pended; cancellation opposed to principles of natural justice; respondents failed to adhere to Rule 12A(3) of the Act; cancellation unsustainable in law — Writ of Certiorari issued, Annexure-AB quashed, Government left free to act in accordance with law — writ petition disposed of (High Court of Karnataka, Jyoti Mulimani J., 13.02.2025).

NC: 2025:KHC:6578 WP No. 16634 of 2021

1 -

IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU

DATED THIS THE 13^TH DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2025

BEFORE

THE HON'BLE MS. JUSTICE JYOTI MULIMANI WRIT PETITION NO. 16634 OF 2021 (GM-RES)

BETWEEN:

SRI GANAPATHI.M AGED 43 YEARS, S/O MANJAPPA GOWDA, R/AT THIPPANAJADDU, MALANDUR VILLAGE AND POST, SAGARA TALUK, SHIMOGGA DIST-577 401.

…PETITIONER

(BY SRI. P.P.HEGDE., SENIOR ADVOCATE FOR SRI. VENKATESH SOMAREDDI., ADVOCATE) AND:

CHIEF SECRETARY

Digitally signed by PREMCHANDRA M R Location: High Court of Karnataka

TO THE GOVERNMENT OF KARNATAKA, VIDHANA SOUDHA, BANGALORE-560 001.

STATE OF KARNATAKA

DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL WELFARE, REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY, AMBEDKAR VEEDHI, BANGALORE-560 001.

DEPUTY COMMISSIONER CUM CHAIRPERSON DISTRICT LEVEL COMMITTEE, (CONSTITUTED UNDER RULE-7 OF THE SCHEDULE TRIBES AND OTHER TRADITIONAL FOREST DWELLERS

2 -

NC: 2025:KHC:6578 WP No. 16634 of 2021

(RECOGNITION OF FOREST RIGHTS) RULES, 2007) SHIMOGGA DISTRICT-577 401.

DISTRICT LEVEL COMMITTEE, (CONSTITUTED UNDER RULE 7 OF THE SCHEDULE TRIBES AND OTHER TRADITIONAL FOREST DWELLERS (RECOGNITION OF FOREST RIGHTS) RULES, 2007) SHIMOGGA DISTRICT-577 401. REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY.

ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER CUM CHAIRPERSON, SUB-DIVISIONAL LEVEL COMMITTEE, (CONSTITUTED UNDER RULER-5 OF THE SCHEDULE TRIBES AND OTHER TRADITIONAL FOREST DWELLERS (RECOGNITION OF FOREST RIGHTS) RULES, 2007) SAGARA TALUK, SHIMOGGA DISTRICT-577 401.

SUB-DIVISIONAL LEVEL COMMITTEE (CONSTITUTED UNDER RULER 5 OF THE SCHEDULE TRIBES AND OTHER TRADITIONAL FOREST DWELLERS (RECOGNITION OF FOREST RIGHTS) RULES, 2007) SAGARA TALUK, SHIMOGGA DISTRICT-577 401. REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY.

DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, PRUTHVI MANSION, 100 FEET ROAD, VINOB NAGAR, SHIMOGGA-577 201.

DEPUTY CONSERVATOR OF FOREST, SAGARA SUB-DIVISION, SAGARA, SHIMOGGA-577 401.

…RESPONDENTS

(BY SRI. MAHANTESH SHETTAR., AGA FOR R1 TO 3, 5, 7 & 8; R4 & 6-SERVED AND UNREPRESENTED)

3 -

NC: 2025:KHC:6578 WP No. 16634 of 2021

THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA, SEEKING CERTAIN RELIEFS.

THIS WRIT PETITION IS LISTED FOR PRELIMINARY HEARING IN 'B' GROUP, THIS DAY, AN ORDER IS MADE AS UNDER:

ORAL ORDER

Sri.P.P.Hegde., Senior counsel on behalf of Sri.Venkatesh Somareddi., for the petitioner and Sri.Mahantesh Shettar., AGA for respondents 1 to 3, 5, 7 and 8 have appeared in person.

Notice to the respondents was ordered on 14.09.2021. A perusal of the office note depicts that respondents 4 and 6 are served and unrepresented. They have neither engaged the services of an advocate not conducted the case as a party in person.

2. The brief facts are these:

It is stated that the family of the Petitioner has been residing in the lands mentioned in Sy. No.155 of Malandur Village, Adur Minor Forest, Sagara Taluk since approximately more than 500 years. It is said that the ancestors of the petitioner's have developed the above said lands since more than 500 years. It is also said that the ancestors of the

4 -

NC: 2025:KHC:6578 WP No. 16634 of 2021

petitioner constructed a temple along with a big pool around 400 years ago in the vicinity of the said lands and the family members of the petitioner have been looking after the affairs of

the said temple ever since. The ancestors of the petitioner have been in possession of the said land and they have developed the said land. After coming into force of the Scheduled Tribes & Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006, the Petitioner had filed an application before the Grama Sabha seeking granting of forest rights of the said land to an extent of 8 Acres in Sy.No.155 of Malandur Village, Sagara Taluk and 10 guntas in Sy.No.157 of Malandur Village, Sagara Taluk. The enquiry was conducted by the Grama Sabha and a spot mahazar dated 19.11.2014 was also conducted by taking statements of the elders in and around the area of the said land. The mahazar was forwarded and approved by both Sub-Divisional Level Committee and District Level Committee and as per grant order dated 20.10.2015, the forest rights of the said land to an extent of 8 Acres and 20 Guntas was granted to the Petitioner by the District Level Committee. It is stated that absolutely there is no illegality whatsoever in granting the forest rights of said land to the Petitioner.

5 -

NC: 2025:KHC:6578 WP No. 16634 of 2021

As the matter stood thus, one A.G.Yogendra challenged the said grant order through a Public Interest Litigation in W.P No.7719/2021 and the same is pending. The Petitioner after the service of notice in the said case (PIL), has appeared through his counsel. It is stated that there is no interim order or any other direction in the said case. However, on 23.06.2021 respondents 3, 7 and 8 constituted themselves as District Level Committee and issued notice to the petitioner alleging illegalities in the grant order and sought reply from the petitioner. The Petitioner submitted his reply dated 03.07.2021 stating that he will defend the PIL. On 01.07.2021, Respondent No.2 - Social Welfare Department wrote letter to the District Social welfare Department of Shimogga stating that the order of grant passed by the District Level Committee under Section 6(6) of the Act is final and binding and further opined that to consider the same, fresh Grama Sabha has to be set up. However, on 28.07.2021, the Respondent No.6 - Sub-Divisional Level Committee meeting was conducted by Respondent No.5 and others and in the said proceedings it is stated that the grant in favour of Petitioner is not in accordance with the law and hence submitted the file to the District Level Committee -

6 -

NC: 2025:KHC:6578 WP No. 16634 of 2021

Respondent No.4. It is contended that there was no notice whatsoever was given to the Petitioner prior to the meeting and copy was never furnished before holding any meeting by Respondent No.6 - Sub-Divisional Committee. Thereafter, the District Level Committee comprising Respondents 3, 7 and 8 have conducted the meeting on 09.08.2021 and in the said meeting the impugned order dated 09.08.2021 came to passed by the District Level Committee - Respondent No.4 cancelling the grant of forest rights issued in favour of the Petitioner vide Annexure 'AB'. Hence, the petitioner is before this Court.

Counsel for the respective parties urged several contentions. Heard the arguments and perused the Writ papers with care.

The facts are sufficiently stated and they do not require reiteration. The petitioner contends that by way of grant order, forest rights were grant to him in the year 2015. However, the same has been cancelled vide order dated:09.08.2021 without hearing him. The principal ground on which this Court is asked to quash Annexure-AB i.e., the cancellation order is opposed to the principles of natural justice. It is pivotal to note that the grant order is questioned before

7 -

NC: 2025:KHC:6578 WP No. 16634 of 2021

this Court and the question of the grant of forest rights of the petitioner is pending adjudication in (PIL) W.P.No.7719/2021. Moreover, there is no interim order or direction in the PIL. Hence, the Government could not have proceeded with the matter either by forming a committee or passing an order for cancellation of petitioner's forest rights. Furthermore, the petitioner was not given an opportunity and hence, the cancellation order is opposed to the principles of natural justice and bad in law.

The provisions of the Scheduled Tribes & Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006 is a Central Act, it prescribes certain procedures for the recognition/ grant of the forest rights. However, the respondents have not adhere to Rule 12A (3) of the Act. Hence, the cancellation of grant order dated:09.08.2021 is unsustainable law. Therefore, this Court deems it proper to quash the same.

The Writ of Certiorari is ordered. The order

dated:09.08.2021 passed by the District Level Committee - the fourth respondent vide Annexure-AB is quashed. If at all the

8 -

NC: 2025:KHC:6578 WP No. 16634 of 2021

Government has any grievance, they may act in accordance with the law.

Resultantly, the Writ Petition is disposed of .

Sd/(JYOTI MULIMANI) JUDGE

MRP List No.: 2 Sl No.: 41