Disposed

Mr John Bosco v. State of Karnataka

Karnataka HC7 Jan 2026WP/38545/2025

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

The High Court of Karnataka disposed of a writ petition filed to quash a Tahsildar's endorsement declining to collect land revenue arrears. Relying on a prior judgment, the Court held that there is no time limit for collecting such arrears and directed the Tahsildar to collect dues and cancel the forfeiture within two weeks.

What did the court decide?

Directed the respondent Tahsildar to collect land revenue arrears and pass an order of cancellation of forfeiture (pada) within two weeks.

Mr John Bosco Vs State of Karnataka — Land Acquisition | Karnataka HC (2026)

¶1

¶2

NC: 2026:KHC:702 WP No. 38545 of 2025

¶3

HC-KAR

¶4

IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU

¶5

DATED THIS THE 7^TH DAY OF JANUARY, 2026

¶6

BEFORE

¶7

THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE R DEVDAS WRIT PETITION NO. 38545 OF 2025 (KLR-RR/SUR)

¶8

BETWEEN:

¶9

MR. JOHN BOSCO S/O LATE TANGARAJU AGED ABOUT 45 YEARS, R/AT MAROHALLI VILAGE, KASABA HOBLI, NELAMANGALA TALUK - 562 123.

¶10

…PETITIONER

¶11

(BY SRI. MALLIKARJUN N.K, ADVOCATE FOR

¶12

SRI. SAMPATH A, ADVOCATE)

¶13

AND:

¶14

STATE OF KARNATAKA

¶15

Digitally signed by SHARADAVANI B

¶16

Location: High Court of Karnataka

¶17

REPTD. BY ITS SECRETARY DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE

¶18

M.S. BUILDING, DR. AMBEDKAR VEEDI, BENGALURU - 560 001.

¶19

TAHSILDAR NELAMANGALA TALUK, NELAMANGALA - 562 123.

¶20

…RESPONDENTS

¶21

(BY SRI. NAVYA SHEKHAR, AGA)

¶22

THIS WP IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO QUASH THE

¶23

2 - NC: 2026:KHC:702 WP No. 38545 of 2025

¶24

HC-KAR

¶25

ENDORSEMENT DATED 13.06.2024 MADE ON THE LETTER DATED 13.06.2024 BY THE R2 TAHSILDHAR VIDE ANNX-A AND ETC.,

¶26

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

¶27

CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE R DEVDAS

¶28

ORAL ORDER

¶29

Learned Additional Government Advocate takes

¶30

notice for both the respondents.

¶31

Learned counsel for petitioner submits that the respondent No.2-Tahsildar has made an endorsement on the application filed by the petitioner seeking restoration of pada in respect of 4 guntas of land in Survey No.47/1 of Marohalli Village, Kasba Hobli, Nelamangala Taluk, stating that the time has lapsed.

¶32

This Court earlier has dealt with similar situations where an endorsement was issued by the Tahasildar declining to collect the arrears of land revenue and had passed orders of cancellation of forfeiture (PADA).

¶33

3 - NC: 2026:KHC:702 WP No. 38545 of 2025

¶34

HC-KAR

¶35

This Court while analyzing the provisions contained in Section 163 of the Karnataka Land Revenue Act and the Rules therein, including Rule 119, held in W.P. No.19639/2021 dated 05.09.2022 that there is no time limit fixed in Section 163 for collection of arrears of land revenue in the normal circumstances. Having noticed the provisions contained in Section 163, this Court has held that second proviso to Section 163 of the Act clearly animates the wisdom of the legislature that in the normal circumstances where there is arrears of land revenue which may not exceed few tens of rupees having regard to the fact that the land revenue which is fixed at a very minimal rate such as Rs.1/-, Rs.2/- etc., annually, it is impossible that arrears of land revenue would exceed Rs.10,000/- as provided in the second proviso. Having regard to this aspect this Court has already concluded that the respondent authorities, i.e, the Deputy Commissioner and the delegated authority, i.e., the Tahasildar are duty bound to collect the arrears of land revenue and pass

¶36

¶37

NC: 2026:KHC:702 WP No. 38545 of 2025

¶38

HC-KAR

¶39

orders of cancellation or forfeiture since it is not disputed that the petitioner continues to be in occupation of the land in question.

¶40

Consequently, the writ petition is disposed of with a direction to the respondent-Tahasildar, Nelamangala Taluk, to determine and collect the arrears of land revenue as found in the check-list and formally pass an order of cancellation of forfeiture (SARKARI PADA). The petitioner shall be permitted to pay the arrears of land revenue accordingly within a period of two weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. The Tahsildar shall collect the arrears of land revenue accordingly and pass necessary orders of cancellation of forfeiture (SARKARI PADA) as expeditiously as possible and at any rate within

¶41

a period of two weeks from the date of receipt of the arrears of land revenue at the hands of the petitioner in accordance with law.

¶42

Ordered accordingly.

¶43

NC: 2026:KHC:702 WP No. 38545 of 2025

¶44

¶45

HC-KAR

¶46

Learned AGA is permitted to file Memo of Appearance

¶47

within a period of four weeks from today.

¶48

Sd/(R DEVDAS) JUDGE

¶49

¶50

List No.: 1 Sl No.: 6

Mr John Bosco v. State of Karnataka

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

Mr John Bosco v. State of Karnataka

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

What the court decided

A compact analysis

Issues for consideration

Cases cited

Statutes considered

Parties & counsel

Coram

Case details

Similar cases

Sri. Sudhakara Marakala Vs the Deputy Commissioner

Chikkamuniyappa Vs State of Karnataka

Sri Muniyellappa S v Vs the State of Karnataka

Sri C a Krishnamurthy Vs the Principal Secretary

Smt Rathnamma Vs the Principal Secretary

Sri. Rangadamaiah @ Rangadamappa Vs Sri Abbanna