Land Grabbing Case : Karnataka HC Directs Govt To Produce Steps Taken For Implementing Lokayukta Order Against H D Kumaraswamy

A division bench of Chief Justice Abhay Oka and Justice Hemant Chandangoudar gave the direction while hearing a petition filed by an NGO, Samaj Parivartan Samudaya. As per the plea, the order of the Lokayukta says that "In the year 1979, respondent No. 3 (Kumaraswamy) herein, his Sister- in- law (Savithramma) respondent 5 herein and his relative, encroached lands by using their influence as powerful politicians. The respondents have encroached almost 54 acres of land from out of around 110 acres and 32 guntas. The encroachment of the granted lands by respondents 3 to 5 is reflected in the letter of the Assistant Commissioner, Ramanagara dated 25:8:2014.

The plea states the "It is the duty of the executive, i.e., of the State Government and its instrumentalities to strictly and scrupulously implement the laws that have been enacted by the Legislature. Such is the constitutional scheme of governance. The alarming rate of encroachment of Government lands is largely due to the evident reluctance of the executive Government to perform its stator duties. It is respectfully submitted that the State machinery which is already equipped with numerous power under various statutes has wantonly failed to address the burgeoning problem of land grabbing."

The petition prays for directions to the state to implement the order of lokayukta thereby direct the respondent no 2 (Revenue Department) to hold a detailed and detailed enquiry about the said grants and in case the grants of land were found to not there to take necessary legal steps for recovery of the possession of the Government Land from the encroachers and also to initiate criminal action against the found trespassing the Government land and against officials/ officers of the Government within a time-frame under the supervision and control of this court.