Authorities urged to resolve dispute over 70 acres of government land in Kalaburagi

B. Venkata Singh, Information Commissioner, Kalaburagi Bench | Photo credit: ARUN KULKARNI

The Kalaburagi bench of the Karnataka Information Commission has directed Kalaburagi sub-divisional assistant commissioner Ritika Verma to take appropriate action in a land dispute involving 70 acres and seven guntas recorded under different survey numbers in two neighboring villages, based on a report submitted by the Kalaburagi tahsildar.

State Information Commissioner B. Venkat Singh issued the order while disposing of the second appeal filed by Hanumanth Kalnoor, which was pending for nearly 13 years and heard 30 times by the Bengaluru and Kalaburagi benches of the Information Commission.

The dispute relates to lands recorded in the name of Karada Shankarao under Survey No. 62 of Zhapur village and Survey No. 107 of Kalnoor village in Kalaburagi taluk. According to the report of the Deputy Director of Land Records, the two records relate to the same plot of land measuring 70 acres and seven guntas.

The report stated that the Government land was not actually situated in Survey No. 62 of Zhapur village and that the land in question was the same plot recorded under Survey No. 107 of Kalnoor village. It recommended canceling the entry describing the land in Zhapur as Government Gairan land, set aside the 1961 entry in the name of Karada Shankarao in the Kalnoor survey records and return the land to the government.

Based on the land records report, Tahsildar Anand Sheel wrote to the Deputy Commissioner on October 9, 2026, requesting appropriate action. He submitted a copy of the letter to the Commission during the final hearing on 15 October, which the Commission recorded.

The commission directed the deputy commissioner to act on the issues raised in the tahsildar’s letter and submit a compliance report within 60 days. He also directed the tahsildar to inform the petitioner of the action taken and submit to the Commission copies of the information furnished to him and the acknowledgment of receipt.

The Commission further directed the Deputy Commissioner Kalaburagi, Regional Commissioner Kalaburagi Division, Commissioner Finance Department and Additional Chief Secretary Revenue Department, Government of Karnataka to ensure that the Deputy Commissioner takes appropriate action in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Right to Information Act, 2005.

The Tahsildar was warned that failure to comply with the Commission’s directions may invite action under Section 20(2) of the Act.

An appeal was filed on 27 July 2013 regarding the discrepancy in the land records of Zhapur and Kalnoor villages. After nearly 13 years of proceedings, the Commission disposed of the case on the basis of a report and letter submitted by the tahsildar, directing the revenue authorities to take further action and report compliance.

Published – 29 Oct 2026 09:17 IST