Kolar: In a significant move concerning environmental conservation and land management, the Revenue Department of Karnataka has officially submitted all maps, reports, and documents related to a joint survey of encroachments in the Jinagulakunte forest area in Srinivaspura taluk of Kolar district to the Forest Department. This transfer pertains to a total of 61.39 acres identified as encroached within the Kolar forest division, igniting renewed discussions about the management and preservation of forest lands in the region.
The report and accompanying documents were forwarded by the Land Survey Department to Anjum Parvez, the Additional Chief Secretary for the Government of the Forest, Ecology and Environment Department. This correspondence was documented in letter A.S.Patra No.; KanE 23 Pr.Ka (Land Survey) dated January 27, 2025, a copy of which has been made available to the media for public transparency.
The Legal Context
The journey to this point has been complex and fraught with legal maneuvering. A writ petition had earlier been submitted to the High Court, calling for a joint survey of land identified as Survey Nos. 1 and 2 in Hosahudya village, located in the Royalpadu hobli of Srinivaspur taluk in Kolar district. Following hearings on the petition, the court mandated that a joint survey should be conducted and required findings to be submitted by January 30, 2025, with a subsequent court hearing scheduled for February 6, 2025.
To enforce the court’s directive, the Land Survey Department issued a notice to K. R. Ramesh Kumar, a former minister and speaker who is implicated in the encroachment allegations, compelling him to participate in the survey. The survey was successfully carried out on January 15 and 16, 2025, resulting in comprehensive findings regarding the contested land areas.
On January 24, 2025, the Kolar District Magistrate compiled and submitted the joint survey report, along with detailed maps and documentation, to the government under reference number LND/CR/89/2024-25. This information has already been forwarded to the Additional Chief Secretary of the Forest Department for further action, facilitating deeper examination and potential legal follow-up. Reports indicate that minister Ishwar Khandre has been involved in discussions regarding the implications of these findings.
Background of the Encroachment Case
The encroachment allegations center around 61.39 acres of forested land within the Jinagulakunte area of the Kolar division. A writ petition, identified as No.; 12996/2012, had previously been filed in the High Court, prompting judicial scrutiny. On July 11, 2013, the court had instructed the necessity of conducting a joint survey to address the encroachment concerns as expediently as possible.
Subsequently, the Central Government underscored the importance of addressing this matter by requesting timely reports on actions taken to remove encroachments, reflecting the federal-level interest in environmental protection and adherence to regulatory frameworks.
Despite these directives, the initiation of the joint survey faced delays. Notably, the Deputy Conservator of Forests in the Kolar Division had initially scheduled a joint survey for November 6, 2024; however, this was postponed due to technical complications. The Assistant Director of Land Records subsequently reported that the planned survey work had been put on hold until further notice.
Further aggravating the situation, multiple communications from the Central Government to the Chief Secretary of the State highlighted discontent regarding the delayed reports and lack of action on this issue. By December 2024, the federal authorities had expressed dissatisfaction over the sluggish response, resulting in urgent directives for establishing a suitable date for the long-overdue joint survey, adhering to the High Court’s orders from 2013.
In the midst of escalating legal scrutiny, K. R. Ramesh Kumar had made attempts to engage with the Revenue Department, seeking to clarify and rectify claims regarding his purported encroachment of forest land. The Forest Department has opposed his assertions, presenting concrete documentation to substantiate claims regarding the legitimacy of ownership and adherence to environmental regulations.
