Puttur AC forfeits 114 acres of land belongs to Dharmasthala Education Society

Puttur AC forfeits 114 acres of land belongs to Dharmasthala Education Society

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru 25 June 2015: Assistant Commissioner and Sub divisional Magisterate of Puttur sub division in Dakshina Kannada district in a land mark judgement has ordered forfeiture of more than 114 acres of land purchased by Sri Dharmasthala Manjunatheshwara Education Society (SDME) from private parties in violation of rules and regulations.

The no nonsense officer Basavaraju, who is waiting for promotion, passed the judgement on 23 June 2015 annulling the purchase of land in violation of Karnataka Land Reforms Act 1961.

 

The Assistant Commission has cancelled mutation of 25 properties in Ujire,Kuvettu and Belthangady villages in Belthangady taluk and ordered the Tahasilder to change the ownership of the lands as Government in RTC and all other records, explained K Somanath Nayak of Nagarika Seva Trust, in a press meet held at Mangaluru Press Club.

Ranjan Rao Yerdur, who filed the pettetion before the Sub Divisional Magistrate Court has said that Sri Dharmasthala Manjunatheshwara Education Society had acquired the land in violation of Rules and no society entitled to purchase land under the law.

The judgement also pointed out violation of section 79a, B and C of Karnataka Land Reforms Act along with other sections of the said act while purchasing these properties, he said.

Most of properties were purchased filing a order from Mysuru Sub Division Assistant Commissioner dated Feb 20, 1993 and SDME had obtained permission from the Assistant Commissioner of Mysuru  to purchase lands. But, it was observed that “the Sub Divisional Officer, Mysuru does not have power to grant permission for sale of land in Dakshina Kannada and the Mysuru Sub Division Assistant Commissioner had violated Section 80 of the Karnataka Land Reforms Act (KLRA), 1961 in granting permission to purchase lands.

As per the Section 80, the Assistant Commissioner enjoys power to sanction sale of agricultural land in his jurisdiction, only to landless labourers, released bonded labourers, retired army officials and displaced tenants and most importantly families belongs to Scheduled caste and Scheduled tribe.

Somanath Nayak said that a team Nagarika Seva Trust has already urged the Chief Minister of Karnataka and Revenue Minister to take legal action against all these violations. Ranjan Rao said that they will continue legal battle in this issue.

Vidya Nayaka, K.Soma and others were present in the press meet.