M VIRUPAKSHA GOWDA Vs. STATE OF KARNATAKA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This matter coming up for preliminary hearing after notice is disposed of by the following order:

(2.) The learned Counsel for the petitioner as well as the learned High Court Government Pleader have been heard. The first petitioner is the son of one of the donors of certain agricultural land measuring 2 acres in Sy. No. 140 of M. Gonhal Village in Bellary District. The 2nd petitioner is the resident of the same village. They are aggrieved by the resolution of the Health Standing Committee of the Zilla Parishad, Bellary passed at the meeting held on 3-10-1988 at 11-00 a.m. as at Annexure-F, as well as the affirmation of that resolution by the Zilla Parishad at its meeting held on 29-11-1988 as at Annexure-G. They have prayed for quashing of the two resolutions inter alia on the ground that the first petitioner's father and uncles donated 2 acres of land in the aforementioned Sy.No. on the strict understanding that the land will be utilised for the construction of a hospital for the benefit of the villagers. One K. Channabasavana Gowda also donated 2 acres of land in Sy.No. 140 in the same village adjoining the 2 acres donated by the first petitioner's father and uncles for the same purpose. The impugned resolutions now have deviated from the purpose for which two bits of land measuring in all 4 acres were granted for the construction of hospital and all other amenities that go with it to the detriment of the villagers and therefore, the resolutions should be quashed is the contention advanced.

(3.) Undoubtedly, as evidenced by Annexures-B and B1, the deeds of gift in question, the donors donated the land to the Government for the purpose of establishing the hospital. The gift has been accepted on behalf of the Government and the property has vested in the Government and the title has passed on to the Government. From the records produced by the learned Government Pleader, it is seen that K. Channabasavana Gowda, the donor under the gift deed as at Annexure-B1 has expressed that be has no objections for a school being built on the land donated by him instead of the hospital. The resolutions impugned are pursuant to the recommendations made by the Deputy Director of Public Instructions, Bellary as well as the District Health and Family Welfare Officer, Bellary, who have decided to have both school and hospital located within the four acres. The petitioners' complaint is that having induced the donors to part with the land holding out of a promise that hospital will be constructed, the Government is estopped from constructing anything other than a hospital and therefore, resolutions must be quashed.