GRAM PANCHAYAT UGARGOL VILLAGE Vs. STATE OF KARNATAKA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THE petitioner, in this petition, is a Village Panchayat.

(2.) IN this petition, the petitioner has called in question the correctness of the orders dated 11th of July, 1997 and 6th of September, 1997, copies of which have been produced as Annexures-E and F issued by the first respondent-State and the third respondent-Deputy Commissioner respectively.

(3.) IT is the case of the petitioner that the petitioner-Panchayat consists of Ugargol, Harlapur and Yellammana Tanda villages. It is claimed that it is the duty of the Gram Panchayat to look after general welfare of the inhabitants of the village and also to promote breeding of cattle, poultry and other livestock and it is one of the functions of the panchayat to maintain grazing lands and to prevent its unauthorised alienation and use. As can be seen from the avermente made in the petition, there was a gomal land measuring 329 acres 25 guntas in Block no. 992; 654 acres 29 guntas in Block No. 993; 615 acres in Block No. 953; and 286 acres 22 guntas in Block No. 956, and in all measuring 1,940 acres 35 guntas, situated at Ugargol village. According to the petitioner, out of the said lands, land measuring about 52 acres were granted to certain landless persons; in an area of about 10 acres, a grave yard has been formed; and the Forest Department is in occupation of about 300 acres thus leaving only 1,578 acres 35 guntas of gomal land in ugargol Village.