Govt. land: Revenue quasi-judicial authorities to face action if their decisions are not in good faith

Revenue quasi-judicial authorities now cannot go scot-free if they issue any orders with mala fide intentions with respect to government land. The government has initiated the process of disciplinary action against a few such authorities who allegedly pronounced orders with vested interests to favour those who encroached upon government land.

Disclosing this to the Legislative Assembly on Monday, Revenue Minister Krishna Byre Gowda said an amendment to Section 196 of Karnataka Land Revenue Act had provided for initiating such an action if such authorities had not acted in “good faith.”

He explained that earlier, the only option was to file an appeal before the higher authorities.

Revenue courts headed by tahsildars, Assistant Commissioners, Deputy Commissioners, and Regional Commissioners have quasi-judicial powers.

The Minister referred to the issue while replying to BJP member Sathish Reddy, who tabled a call-attention notice on encroachment of government land in his constituency of Bommanahalli in Bengaluru.

The MLA alleged that despite courts ruling against the encroacher, the Assistant Commissioner had issued an order favouring the encroacher. Soon after this, the village accountant, the revenue inspector, and the police inspector concerned had tried to protect the rights of the encroacher, he alleged.

He expressed concern that a total of five acres of government land including burial ground had been encroached upon.

Responding positively to this, the Revenue Minister said he would direct the Deputy Commissioner to conduct a probe within seven to 10 days into the episode.

Expressing shock over the order issued by the AC, he said generally the quasi-judicial authority is protected. But they should not get protection if they go against the spirit of the law, he added.