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IN THE HIGH COURT OF AT

DATED THIS THE 22 ND DAY OF APRIL, 2014

BEFORE

THE HON’BLE MR.JUSTICE B.S.PATIL

W.P.No.12023/2014 C/W. W.P.Nos.12429/2014, 12436-12437/2014, 12520/2014 & 12687/2014 (GM-RES)

IN W.P.No.12023/2014

BETWEEN

SMT LAKSHMIDEVI W/O R.C.APPAJI GOWDA, AGED ABOUT 50 YEARS, R/O NO.135, ASHIRVADA NILAYA, 3RD CROSS, ROAD, ADARSHA NAGARA, TOWN, MALUR-563 130. ... PETITIONER

(By Sri.B SATHISH, ADV. )

AND

1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE, M.S.BUILDING, DR AMBEDKAR VEEDI, BANGALORE-01. BY ITS UNDER SECRETARY

2. THE ADDL.DEPUTY COMMISSIONER DISTRICT, KOLAR -563 101

3. THE ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER , KOLAR -563 101

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4. THE THASILDAR MALUR TALUK, MALUR-563 130

5. OFFICE OF THE HONBLE LOKAYUKTHA M.S.BUILDING, DR.AMBEDKAR VEEDI, BANGALORE-01. BY ITS REGISTRAR

6. THE DEPUTY REGISTRAR ENQUIERIES 5, KARNATAKA LOKAYUKTHA, M.S.BUILDING, DR.AMBEDKAR VEEDI, BANGALORE-01. ... RESPONDENTS

(By Sri.VIJAY KUMAR A.PATIL, HCGP FOR R1-R4 Sri G.DEVARAJ, ADV. FOR R5 & R6)

IN W.P.Nos.12429/2014

BETWEEN

H.R.PANCHAKSHARI S/O LATE H.V.RAMAKRISHNAPPA AGED ABOUT 50 YEARS, R/AT III FLOOR, MANASA HOSPITAL BUILDING, MARUTHI EXTENSION ARALERI ROAD, MALUR 563 130 KOLAR DISTRICT. ... PETITIONER

(By Sri.MANIVANNAN G, ADV.)

AND

1. STATE OF KARNATAKA DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE MULTISTORIED BUILDING DR. AMBEDKAR ROAD

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BANGALORE 560 001. REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY

2. THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER KOLAR DISTRICT KOLAR 563 101

3. THE ADDL. DEPUTY COMMISSIONER KOLAR DISTRICT KOLAR 563 101

4. THE ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER KOLAR SUB DIVISION KOLAR 563 101

5. THE TAHSILDAR MALUR TALUK MALUR 563 130 KOLAR DISTRICT

6. OFFICE OF THE HON"BLE LOKAYUKTHA MULTISTORIED BUILDING, DR. AMBEDKAR VEEDHI BANGALORE 560 001. REPRESENTED BY ITS REGISTRAR

7. THE DEPUTY REGISTRAR ENQUIRIES-V THE KARNATAKA LOKAYUKTHA MULTISTORIED BUILDING, DR. AMBEDKAR VEEHI BANGALORE 560 001. ... RESPONDENTS

(By Sri.VIJAY KUMAR A.PATIL, HCGP FOR R1-R5 Sri G.DEVARAJ, ADV. FOR R6 & R7)

IN W.P.Nos.12436-12437/2014

BETWEEN

1. SMT.K.MAMATHA W/O DR.V.NARAYANA SWAMY, AGED ABOUT 40 YEARS,

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R/O LAKSHMI VENKATESHWARA NILAYA, 5TH CROSS, ADARSHA NAGAR, ARALERI ROAD, SRINIVASA LAYOUT, MALUR TOWN, MALUR-563 130

2. SMT.VIJAYALAKSHMI W/O SRI GOVINDARAJU, AGED ABOUT 39 YEARS, R/O MALIAPPANAHALLI VILLAGE, KASABA HOBLI, MALUR TALUK, KOLAR DISTRICT. ... PETITIONERS

(By Sri.B J MAHESH, ADV.)

AND

1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE, M.S.BUILDING, DR.AMBEDKAR VEEDI, BANGALORE-01. BY ITS UNDER SECRETARY

2. THE ADDL. DEPUTY COMMISSIONER KOLAR DISTRICT, KOLAR-563 101

3. THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONEER KOLAR DISTRICT, KOLAR-563 101

4. THE ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER KOLAR DISTRICT, KOLAR-563 101

5. THE THASILDAR MALUR TALUK, MALUR-563 130

6. OFFICE OF THE HONBLE LOKAYUKTHA M.S.BUILDING, DR.AMBEDKAR VEEDI,

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BANGALORE-01. BY ITS REGISTRAR

7. THE DEPUTY REGISTRAR ENQUIRIES 5, KARNATAKA LOKAYUKTHA, M.S.BUILDING, DR.AMBEDKAR VEEDI, BANGALORE-01. ... RESPONDENTS

(By Sri.VIJAY KUMAR A.PATIL, HCGP FOR R1-R5 Sri G.DEVARAJ, ADV. FOR R6 & R7)

IN W.P.No.12520/2014

BETWEEN

SRI D M LAKSHMAIAH S/O LAKSHMAPPA, AGED ABOUT 58 YEARS, R/O MARUTHI EXTENSION 1ST STAGE, ARALERI ROAD, MALUR TOWN, MALUR, KOLAR DISTRICT. ... PETITIONER

(By Sri.G PURUSHOTHAM, ADV.)

AND

1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE, M.S.BUILDING, DR. AMBEDKAR VEEDI, BANGALORE-01, (BY ITS UNDER SECRETARY).

2. THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER KOLAR DISTRICT, KOLAR-563 101.

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3. THE ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER KOLAR DISTRICT, KOLAR-563 101.

4. THE THASILDAR MALUR TALUK, MALUR-563 130.

5. OFFICE OF THE HONBLE LOKAYUKTHA M.S.BUILDING, DR AMBEDKAR VEEDI, BANGALORE-01, BY ITS REGISTRAR

6. THE DEPUTY REGISTRAR, ENQUIERIES 5, KARNATAKA LOKAYUKTHA, M.S.BUILDING, DR AMBEDKAR VEEDI, BANGALORE-01. ... RESPONDENTS

(By Sri.VIJAY KUMAR A.PATIL, HCGP FOR R1-R4 Sri G.DEVARAJ, ADV. FOR R5 & R6)

IN W.P.No.12687/2014

BETWEEN

SRI VENKATESH S/O LATE RAMAIAH AGED ABOUT 59 YEARS R/O MARUTHI EXTENTION 1ST STAGE ARALERI ROAD, MALUR TOWN MALUR, KOLAR DISTRICT. ... PETITIONER

(By Sri.M N RAMESHA ADV.)

AND

1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE M S BUILDING

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DR AMBEDKAR VEEDI BANGALORE 01 BY ITS UNDER SECRETARY

2. THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER KOLAR DISTRICT KOLAR 563 101

3. THE ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER KOLAR DISTRICT KOLAR 563 101

4. THE THASILDAR MALUR TALUK MALUR 563 130

5. OFFICE OF THE HONBLE LOKAYUKTHA M S BUILDING DR AMBEDKAR VEEDI BANGALORE 01 BY ITS REGISTRAR

6. THE DEPUTY REGISTRAR ENQUIERIES 5 KARNATAKA LOKAYUKTHA M S BUIDLING DR AMBEDKAR VEEDI BANGALORE 01. ... RESPONDENTS

(By Sri.VIJAY KUMAR A.PATIL, HCGP FOR R1-R4 Sri G.DEVARAJ, ADV. FOR R5 & R6)

THESE WRIT PETITIONS ARE FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 & 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF , PRAYING TO QUASH THE IMPUGNED ORDER DATED 24.2.2014 VIDE ANN-F PASSED BY THE R-2 AND ETC.

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THESE PETITIONS COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY HEARING THIS DAY, THE COURT MADE THE FOLLOWING:

ORDER

1. In all these matters, common grievance is made by the petitioners. Hence, they are clubbed, heard together and are disposed of by this common order.

2. Challenge in these writ petitions is to the internal communication dated 24.02.2014 addressed by the

Additional Deputy Commissioner, Kolar District, to the

Assistant Commissioner, Kolar Sub-Division, Kolar, A copy of the said communication has been forwarded to the

Tahsildar, Malur Taluk, Malur and other officers.

3. By the impugned communication, the Additional

Deputy Commissioner, Kolar, has called upon the

Assistant Commissioner to take action to clear illegal encroachment on the Government lands and submit compliance report on or before 27.02.2014 to the Deputy

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Commissioner, failing which responsibility would be squarely fixed on the Assistant Commissioner and a report in that regard would be sent to Deputy Registrar, Enquiry-

V, Karnataka Lokayukta.

4. The background, in which the communication dated

24.02.2014 is issued, is that a compliant appears to have been made by one H.Nizzar, son of Hussain Sab to the

Upalokayukta alleging illegal encroachment of Government lands situated at Malur Town. The matter was referred by the Upalokayukta to the Deputy Registrar, Enquiry-V. The

Deputy Registrar, Enquiry-V, Karnataka Lokayukta has addressed a letter dated 29.01.2014 to the Additional

Deputy Commissioner, Kolar, to ensure that illegal encroachment on Government lands was removed and a compliance report was submitted on or before 01.03.2014 as directed by the Upalokayukta. It is thereafter, the

Additional Deputy Commissioner has issued the impugned communication calling upon the Assistant Commissioner

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to ensure that illegal encroachment is removed as suggested by the Upalokayukta.

5. Learned counsel for the petitioners in all these cases submit that without providing an opportunity of being heard and without referring to any documents pertaining to the sites/buildings in their occupation, such a drastic action is initiated for removing the alleged encroachment on the basis of a decision which is taken behind their back regarding encroachment. It is their contention that neither before the Upalokayukta, nor before the Deputy

Commissioner or any other authorities of the Revenue

Department, petitioners had been called upon to have their say. It is urged that behind their back, such a proceeding is initiated to dispossess them from their lawful occupation of the sites/buildings.

6. Learned High Court Government Pleader submits that the impugned communication is only an internal communication addressed by the Additional Deputy

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Commissioner to the Assistant Commissioner. The

Assistant Commissioner is called upon to take action in accordance with law for removal of illegal encroachment.

The said communication cannot be construed as a direction to remove the encroachment without hearing the petitioners or other similarly placed persons. He submits, on instructions, that action in accordance with law will be taken by providing opportunity to each of the petitioners to have their say in the matter.

7. Learned counsel appearing for the Lokayukta submits that direction issued by the Upalokayukta is to take action in accordance with law to remove the encroachment of the Government lands and the same cannot come in the way of the authorities following due process of law by complying with the principles of natural justice.

8. Having heard the learned counsel for the parties and on consideration of the entire materials on record, it is seen that action has been indeed initiated to take steps for

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removal of illegal encroachment of Government land.

Petitioners who claim to be occupants of different sites/buildings in the area in question cannot be dispossessed of their occupation without following the due process. They have to be heard. A fair and reasonable opportunity of producing required documents has to be afforded and thereafter, the concerned/Competent

Authority has to pass an order recording his findings as to whether there is any encroachment of Government land. It is only thereafter action to evict them can be taken. In fact, learned High Court Government Pleader has fairly submitted, on instructions, from the Tahsildar that such a procedure will be scrupulously observed. In that view of the matter, these writ petitions are partly allowed by issuing following directions:

i) Respondent – Tahsildar, Malur shall issue notice to each of the petitioners fixing the date of their appearance before him specifying the nature of the illegality attributed to the petitioners in respect of their sites/buildings.

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ii) Petitioners may appear before the Tahsildar and file their objections.

iii) Respondent - Tahsildar shall provide an opportunity of personal hearing to the petitioners and thereafter, pass a speaking order in respect of each of the petitioners.

Sd/- JUDGE PKS