Seeking land allotment 50 years later

Bengaluru, NT Bureau: A public interest litigation (PIL) seeking allotment of land to beneficiaries acquired in 1962 was withdrawn after the High Court of Karnataka refused to entertain it.

The PIL sought a direction from the Government to allot the 20 acres of land acquired in 1962 to the beneficiaries for the relocation of Gollarahalli village in Santhebennur hobli, Channagiri taluk, Davangere district.

During the hearing, the Division Bench of Chief Justice Prasanna B Varale and Krishna S Dixit noted that although the land was acquired in 1962 for rehabilitation, the PIL was filed in the High Court after five decades.

It wondered if the object of filing a PIL in 2023 and as if the beneficiaries were in deep sleep had woken up suddenly.

Refusing to entertain the PIL, the High Court said that if the petitioners are the beneficiaries, they can personally apply in the relevant courts and seek justice. The petitioners then sought to withdraw the PIL, which was allowed.