LexThe Sarvajna Kshetra Development Authority Act, 2020.
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KARNATAKA ACT NO. 38 OF 2020
Sarvajna Kshetra Development Authority Act, 2020.
Arrangement of Sections
Sections:
1. Short title and commencement
2. Definitions
3. Sarvajna Kshetra Development Authority
4. Term of office and conditions of services
5. Disqualification for office of membership
6. Removal of non-official member
7. Eligibility for reappointment
8. Powers of the Authority
9. Sub-committees of the Authority
10. Appointment of Commissioner
11. Powers and duties of the Commissioner
12. Employees of the Authority
13. General disqualification for services under the Authority
14. Meetings of the Authority
15. Proceedings presumed to be good and valid
16. Decisions of the Authority by circulation of note
17. Power of Chairman to take certain decisions
18. Heritage sites at Sarvajna Kshetra
19. Power to amend the Schedule
20. Preparation of development plan, its approval and execution
21. Maintenance of Sarvajna Kshetra
22. Delegation of powers of the State Government to the Authority
23. Application of the Karnataka Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorised
Occupants) Act, 1974 to the Authority Premises
24. No other authority or person to undertake development without
permission of the Authority
25. Promotion of Tourism and pilgrimage by the Authority
26. Delegation of powers
27. Fund of the Authority
28. Application of the Fund
29. Grant by the State Government
30. Budget of the Authority
31. Accounts and audit
32. Reports
33. Authority not to sell any land within its jurisdiction
34. Certain persons to be public servants
35. Protection of action taken in good faith
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36. Default in performance of duty
37. Dissolution of the Authority
38. Control by the State Government
39. State Government's powers to give directions
40. Removal of difficulties
41. Power to make rules
42. Power to make regulations
STATEMENT OF OBJECTS AND REASONS
I
ACT 38 OF 2020.- Sarvajna was an greatest ancient Poet and
Social Reformer of the ancient Karnataka and he was born in Abalur of
Hirekerur Taluk in Haveri District. Therefore, it is considered necessary to
establish an Authority for the development and maintenance of the
SarvajnaKshetra including the place of birth of Sarvajna and other places
situated in and around Hierekerur, Abalur and Masur of Hirekerur Taluk,
Haveri District into international pilgrim and tourist Centre.
Hence the Bill.
[L.A. Bill No. 16 of 2020, File No. Samvyashae 37 Shasana 2020]
[Entries 5 and 32 of List II and entries 20 and 40 of List III of the Seventh
Schedule to the Constitution of India.]
II
Amendment A ct 50 of 2025 :- It is considered necessary further to
amend the Sarvajna Kshetra Development Autority Act, 2020 (Karnataka Act
No.38 of 2020) to revise the provision regarding Chairman of the Sarvajna
Kshetra Development Authority as - the Chief Minister or Revenue Minister or
any other Minister as chosen by the Chief Minister.
Hence, the Bill.
[L.A. Bill No. 41 of 2025, File No. SAMVYASHAE 40 SHASANA 2025]
[Entry 5 and 32 of List II of the Seventh Schedule to the Constitution of India]
[Published in Karnataka Gazette Extra -ordinary No.552 in part -IVA
dated:09.09.2025]
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KARNATAKA ACT NO. 38 OF 2020
(First Published in the Karnataka Gazette Extra-ordinary on the 20th Day of October, 2020)
Sarvajna Kshetra Development Authority Act, 2020.
(Received the assent of the Governor on the 16th day of October, 2020)
(As amended by Act 50 of 2025)
An Act to provide for the establishment of an Authority for the development
and maintenance of Sarvajna Kshetra including the place of birth of Sarvajna and
other places situated in and around Hirekerur, Abalur and Masur of the Hirekerur
taluk in Haveri district.
Whereas, it is expedient to provide for the establishment of an Authority for
the development and maintenance of the Sarvajna Kshetra including the place of
birth of Sarvajna and other places situated in and around Hirekerur, Abalur and
Masur of the Hirekerur taluk in Haveri district into an international pilgrim,
cultural and tourist center;
Be it enacted by the Karnataka State Legislature in the Seventy first year of
the Republic of India, as follows:-
CHAPTER I
PRELIMINARY
1. Short tit le and commencement.- (1) This Act may be called Sarvajna
Kshetra Development Authority Act, 2020.
(2) It shall come into force on such date as the State Government may, by
notification, in the Official Gazette appoint.
2. Definitions.- In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,-
(a) "Amenity" includes road, streets, sub-ways, lighting, drainage, sanitation,
electricity and water supply or other convenience, public works, market places,
post offices, banks, hospitals, dispensaries, public stations, fair price shops, milk
booths, libraries, recreation centres, service stations of any public utility service
authorized by the Authority or other facility; and such other amenities as the State
Government may by notification specify;
(b) " Authority" means the Sarvajna Kshetra Development Authority
constituted under section 3;
(c) "Chairman" means the Chairman of the Authority;
(d) "Commissioner" means the Commissioner of the Authority appointed
under section 10;
(e) "Fund" means fund of the Authority;
(f) “Government” means Government of Karnataka;
(g) „Sarvajna Kshetra ‟ means the whole of the area comprising the sites
specified in the Schedule but excluding the area referred to as protected area under
the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act , 1958 (Central
Act 24 of 1958) and such other areas declared by the State Government, by
notification;
(h) "Member" means a member of the Authority;
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(i) "R egulations" means regulations of the Authority made under
section 42; and
(j) "Schedule'' means the schedule appended to this Act.
CHAPTER – II
AUTHORITY AND ITS EMPLOYEES
3. Sarvajna Kshetra Development Authority.- (1) The State Government
shall as soon as may be, after the commencement of this Act, constitute for the
purposes of this Act, the Authority called the Sarvajna Kshetra Development
Authority.
(2) The Authority shall have its headquarters at such place as may be
determined by the Authority from time to time.
(3) The Authority shall be a body corpor ate by the name aforesaid, having
perpetual succession and a common seal with power to acquire, hold and dispose
of property, both movable and immovable, and enter into contract, and shall by the
said name, sue and be sued.
(4) The Authority shall consist of the following members, namely: -
1[(a) The Chief Minister or Revenue Minister or any other Minister as chosen
by the Chief Minister - Ex-officio Chairman.]1
(b) The Minister in charge of Haveri District who shall be the Vice
Chairman;
(c) The Minister in charge of Kannada and Culture- Member
(d) The Minister in charge of Revenue - Member
(e) The Minister in charge of Finance. - Member
(f) The Minister in charge of Tourism. - Member
(g) The Minister in charge of Public Works . - Member
(h) The Members of the Loksabha and Legislative
Assembly who are representing the part or whole
of Sarvajna Kshetra and Members of the Rajyababha
and Legislative Council who are registered as voter in
Sarvajna Kshetra. - Members
(i) The Principal Secretary or Secretary to
Government, Kannada and Culture Department. - Ex-officio Member
(j) The Principal Secretary or Secretary to
Government, Revenue Department. - Ex-officio Member
(k) The Additional Chief Secretary or Principal Secretary or Secretary to
Government, Finance Department. - Ex-officio Member
(l) The Principal Secretary or Secretary to
Government, Rural Development and
Panchayat Raj Department. - Ex-officio Member
(m) The Principal Secretary or Secretary to
Government, Public Works Department. - Ex-officio Member
(n) The Regional Commissioner of Belgavi Region. - Ex-officio Member
(o) The Deputy Commissioner of the
Haveri District - Ex-officio Member
(p) The Director, Department of Archaeology
and Museums - Ex-officio Member
(q) The Joint Director, Karnataka Land Army
Corporation - Ex-officio Member
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(r) The Chief Executive Officer, Zilla Panchayat,
Haveri. - Ex-officio Member
(s) The Executive Engineer, Public Works
Department, Haveri - Ex-officio Member
(t) The President, Grama Panchayats of
Abalur and Masur - Ex-officio Member
(u) Not exceeding Three non-official members
nominated by the State Government - Non-official Members
(v) Not exceeding five persons who are expert in history
and heritage of servajna to be
nominated by the State Government - Non-official Members
(w) The Commissioner of the Authority . - Member Secretary.
1. Substituted by Act 50 of 2025 w.e.f . 09.09.2025
4. Term of office and conditions of services.- (1) Subject to the pleasure
of the State Government the non -official members nominated by the State
Government shall hold office for a period of three years.
(2) Any non-official member may resign his office by writing under his hand
addressed to the State Government but shall continue in office until his resignation
is accepted.
(3) The non -official members shall receive such allowance as may be
prescribed.
5. Disqualification for office of membership. - Non-official members shall
be disqualified for being appointed as and for being a member if he,-
(a) has been convicted and sentenced to imprisonment for an offence, which
in the opinion of the State Government involves moral turpitude; or
(b) is of unsound mind and stands so declared by a competent court; or
(c) is an undischarged insolvent; or
(d) has been removed or dismissed from service of the Central Government
or a State Government or a body or corporation owned or controlled by
the Central Government or a State Government; or
(e) has directly or indirectly by himself or as partner, has any share or
interest in any work done by the order of the Authority in any contract
or employment with or under or by or on behalf of the Authority; or
(f) is employed as a paid legal practitioner on behalf of the Authority or
accepts employment as legal practitioner against the Authority;
Provided that no person shall be disqualified under clause (e) or be deemed
to have any share or interest in any contract or employment within the meaning of
the said clause by reason only of his having a share or interest in any newspaper in
which any advertisement relating to the affairs of the Authority is inserted.
6. Removal of non-official member.- The State Government shall
remove a non-official member if,-
(a) he becomes subject to any of the disqualifications mentioned in section
5:
(b) he refuses to act or becomes incapable of acting; or
(c) he without obtaining leave of absence from the Authority absents from
three consecutive meetings of the Authority:
(d) in the opinion of the State Government he has so abused his position as
to render his continuance in office detrimental to the public interest:
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Provided that no member shall be removed under this clause unless he has
been given an opportunity of making his representation against the proposal.
7. Eligibility for reappointment. - Any person ceasing to be a member
shall unless removed under section 6, be eligible for re-appointment as a member.
8. Powers of the Authority (1) The Authority shall have power generally to
do anything that in its opinion is necessary to do, to give effect to the intent and
provisions of this Act:
Provided that nothing contained in this section shall be deemed to authorize
the Authority to perform any such act as is spe cifically laid in the Act to be
performed by any other authority.
(2) Without prejudice to the generality of sub-section (1), the Authority shall
have power,-
(a) to enter into and perform all such contracts as it may consider necessary
or expedient for carrying out any of the purposes of this Act subject to such rules
as may be prescribed and every contract shall be made on behalf of the Authority
by the Commissioner:
Provided that no contract involving expenditure of rupees five lakhs and
more shall be made without the previous sanction of the State Government;
(b) to borrow any sum required for the purposes of this Act from time to
time with the previous sanction of the State Government and subject to such
conditions as may be prescribed in this behalf;
(c) to lease, sell or otherwise transfer any movable or immovable
property which belongs to it and to appropriate or apply any land vested in
or acquired by it, subject to section 38 and 39 and to such restrictions,
conditions and limitations as may be prescribed, for the formation of open
spaces or for building purposes or in any other manner for the purpose of a
development scheme with prior approval of the State Government.
9. Sub-committees of the Authority. - (1) The Authority may for any
specific purpose constitute one or more sub -committees consisting of the
Commissioner as the Chairman and such other members not exceeding five on
each sub -committee. Any subject deliberated and decided in the sub -committee
shall be placed before the meeting of the authority for approval or rejection. The
decision may be remanded back to the sub-committee.
(2) The sub-committees shall exercise such of the powers and perform such
duties of the Authority, which are delegated to them by the Authority.
(3) Each sub-committee shall meet at -least once in three months and shall
observe such rules of procedure in regard to the transaction of business at its
meeting as may be provided by regulations.
10. Appointment of Commissio ner.- (1) The State Government shall
appoint an officer not below the rank of a Deputy Secretary to Government, to be
the Commissioner of the Authority.
(2) The Commissioner shall receive such salary and other allowances as the
State Government may, from time to time, determine. The conditions of service of
the Commissioner shall be governed by the Karnataka Civil Service Rules.
(3) The State Government may, from time to time, grant leave of absence for
such period as it thinks fit to the Commissioner.
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11. Powers and duties of the Commissioner. - (1) The Commissioner shall
be the Chief Executive and Administrative Officer of the Authority.
(2) The Commissioner shall, in addition to performing such functions as
conferred on him by or under this Act or under any law for the time being in force,-
(a) Implement the resolutions of the Authority;
(b) conduct the business of the Authority and to make the
correspondence;
(c) carry out and execute such schemes and works as the
Government may direct and incur necessary expenditure
thereof;
(d) be responsible for implementing the schemes of the Authority;
(e) operate the Bank accounts of the Authority and be responsible for
maintaining the accounts of the Authority ;
(f) exercise supervision and control over the officers and servants of the
Authority in matters of executive, administrative and service
conditions of such officers and servants and regulation of their pay
and allowances;
(g) furnish to the State Government the copies of the minutes of the
Authority and any written, or other information which the State
Government may, from time to time, call for;
(h) discharge such other functions which are conferred on him by or
under this Act or any other law for the time being in force.
12. Employees of the Authority. - (1) Subject to such rules as may be
prescribed, the Authority may appoint such number of employees as it may find
necessary for effective implementation of the Act:
Provided that, the State Government shall appoint a Controller of Finance
and Accounts not below the rank of Group 'A' Junior Scale Officer' on deputation
from the Karnataka State Audit and Accounts Service.
(2) The Controller of Finance and Accounts shall report to the Commissioner
and shall ensure that financial rules are followed and accounts are kept up to date,
by presenting a true and fair picture of the financial affairs of the Authority.
(3) The method of recruitment, salaries, allowances and ot her conditions of
service of the employees referred to in sub -section (1), shall be such as may be
prescribed.
(4) The Commissioner shall be the appointing authority in respect of
employees of the Authority and shall exercise general control and supervis ion over
the personnel of the Authority.
13. General disqualification for services under the Authority. - No
person who has directly or indirectly by himself or through his partner or through
his agent, has any share or interest in any contract, by or o n behalf of the
Authority shall become or remain an officer or employee of the Authority.
14. Meetings of the Authority. - (1) Meetings of the Authority shall be
convened by the Commissioner, with the previous approval of the Chairman at
such intervals as the Chairman may deem fit and shall be held at such place, as
may be determined by the Chairman:
Provided that the Authority shall meet at least twice in a calendar year.
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(2) Every meeting shall be presided over by the Chairman and if for
any reason the Chairman is unable to attend any meeting, the Vice Chairman shall
preside over the meeting. If, for any reason the Vice Chairman is unable to attend
the meeting, any other member chosen by the members present at the meeting,
shall preside over the meeting.
(3) Decisions of the Authority shall be, by unanimous affirmative vote of the
members present and voting. If there is any difference of opinion on any particular
subject coming for decision before the Authority , the Commissioner shall refer the
matter to the State Government and the decision of the State Government in such
matters shall be final.
(4) The Commissioner of the Authority shall give effect to the decisions of
the Authority:
Provided that, if in the opinion of the Commissioner any resolution of the
Authority contravenes any provision of this Act or any other law or of any rule or
notification or regulation made or issued under this Act or any other law or of any
order passed by the State Government or is prejudicial or detriment al to the
interests of the Authority or the development and maintenance of the site, he shall
within fifteen days of the passing of the resolution, refer the matter to the State
Government for orders thereon and inform the Authority at its next meeting, of the
action taken by him and until orders of the State Government on receipt of such
reference, the Commissioner shall not be bound to give effect to such resolution.
(5) The Authority may by regulation specify the procedure with regard to the
transaction of business at its meetings, not inconsistent with the prov isions of this
Act or the rules made thereunder.
15. Proceedings presumed to be good and valid. - No disqualification of or
defect in the appointment of any person acting as Chairman , Vice -Chairman or
member shall be deemed to vitiate any act or proceeding of the Authority if such
act or proceeding is otherwise in accordance with the provisions of this Act.
16. Decisions of the Authority by circulation of note.- (1) The Chairman
may direct that any case may, instead of being brought up for discussion at a
meeting of the Authority, be circulated by sending a note in the prescribed form
amongst the members of the Authority for opinion. If all the members
unanimously agree for the proposal co ntained in the note circulated, it shall be
deemed to be affirmative decision of the Authority and further action taken
accordingly. If there is any difference of opinion on any particular subject taken up
for the decision of the Authority by circulation, the Commissioner shall refer the
matter to the State Government, and the decision of the State Government thereon
shall be final.
(2) In cases which are circulated for opinion under sub -section (1), if any
member fails to communicate his opinion to the C ommissioner by a date to be
specified in the note, it shall be presumed that such member has accepted the
proposal contained in the note circulated.
(3) The provisions of section 14 shall mutatis mutandis apply to the
decisions of the Authority by circulation under this section.
(4) The Contents of the note for circulation made under sub -section(1) shall
be prescribed.
17. Power of Chairman to take certain decisions.- Where the Chairman is
of the opinion that a matter is so urgent that it cannot wait or that a matter is so
frivolous, not necessitating convening of a meeting of the Authority, under section
14 or for decision of the Authority by circulation under section 16, he may pass
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such orders as he may deem fit and it shall be implemented in the s ame
manner as the decisions of the Authority:
Provided that every decision so taken by the Chairman under this section
shall be placed before the Authority at its next meeting.
CHAPTER – III
DEVELOPMENT AND MAINTENANCE OF SARVAJNA KSHETRA
18. Heritage sites at Sarvajna Kshetra. - (1) Notwithstanding any
custom, tradition, practice or terms of any trust created and subsisting
under any law for the time being in force, the full control, ownership,
management and superintendence of all or any of the heritage sites
specified in the Schedule if not already vested in the State Government shall
if required, be acquired by the State Government in accordance with the
Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in land Acquisition,
Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013 (Central Act No. 30 of 2013) and
such land shall thereafter be transferred to the Authority from the date
notified by the State Government:
Provided that the land acquired under this Act shall be deemed to have been
acquired for publ ic purpose under the Right to Fair Compensation and
Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013
(Central Act 30 of 2013).
(2) The State Government may by general or special order make transitory
provisions, if in the opinion of the State Government it is expedient to do so.
19. Power to amend the Schedule. - The State Government may by
notification amend the Schedule by adding or modifying any entry therein, after
following such procedure as may be prescribed.
20. Preparation of development plan, its approval and execution. - (1)
The Authority shall, as soon as may be, after its constitution prepare a plan for the
development and maintenance of Sarvajna Kshetra into international piligrim,
cultural and tourist cent re and a centre for deliberation and propagation of the
tenets of poet Sarvajna. The Development plan may include,-
(a) Conservation and restoration of any heritage site or structure and
programmes for its maintenance and reconstruction;
(b) proposals for acquiring land by acquisition or purchase, exchange or
otherwise, which in the opinion of the Authority is necessary for
execution of the development plan;
(c) putting up public parks, horticultural or zoological gardens,
fountains, artificial wa ter falls, game parks, lakes with boating or
other water games or such other tourist attractions;
(d) construction of choultries, lodging houses, cottages, hotels,
restaurants and boarding houses to cater to different classes of
tourists;
(e) construction of necessary shopping line or shopping complexes;
(f) provision of amenities as defined in clause (a) of section 2 and
providing drainage, electricity and water supply and sanitation;
(g) raising any land which the Authority may conside r expedient to
facilitate its plan of action in general and for better drainage in
particular;
(h) forming open spaces for the better ventilation of the area comprised in
the Sarvajna Kshetra in any adjoining area;
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(i) construction and reconstruction of buildings, their
maintenance and preservation;
(j) undertake development works in the area of Sarvajna Kshetra or the
area decided by the Authority;
(k) providing facilities for communication and transport;
(l) such adjustments and agreements with the existing religious
institutions in the geographical area of developmental plan which can
be allowed to continue so long as they fit into the scheme of the
development plan;
(m) any other matter which in the opinion of the Authority, is expedient
and incidental, to develop and maintain the Sarvajna Kshetra as a
cultural centre, place of pilgrimage and International Tourist Center
and a centre for deliberation not only of Sarvajna but also of his
contemporaries and disciples; and to protect and develop other places
of importance connected with the life and teachings of Sarvajna and
his contemporaries, and research centre for studies and specialized
library on the subject;
(n) excavation and exploration of archaeological nature to unearth
ancient monuments if any believed to be buried in any of the
historical and heritage sites within the territorial limits of the
Authority:
Provided that nothing contained in this clause shall be deemed to override
the provisions of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains
Act, 1958 (Central Act 24 of 1958).
(2) The development plan prepared under sub-section (1) shall be forwarded
by the Commissioner to the State Government for its approval. The State
Government may approve the plan with or without any modifications.
(3) After approval of the development plan under sub -section (2), the State
Government may, on the recommendations of the Authority make such
modifications to the plan as it deems necessary, from time to time.
(4) The Authority shall have power to undertake works and incur
expenditure for the execution of the development plan approved by the State
Government under this section.
21. Maintenance of Sarvajna Kshetra.- The State Government may by
rules on the recommendation of the Authority or otherwise make provision for the
maintenance of Sarvajna Kshetra which shall include the manner in which the
properties of the Authority including the heritage sites can be empl oyed, the rates,
fees or other charges that can be collected from the devotees, piligrims, tourists and
other visitors for the various facilities that they could make use of and for such
other matters as may be expedient from the premises of the heritage sites; power
to recover rent or damages as arrears of land revenue etc.
22. Delegation of powers of the State Government to the
Authority.- Notwithstanding anything contained in the Karnataka Ancient
and Historical Monuments and Archaeological Sites and R emains Act, 1961
(Karnataka Act 7 of 1962) the State Government may by notification delegate
any of its powers to be exercisable by it except power to make rules to the
Authority and on the issuance of such notification the Authority shall have
such powers and perform such functions as may be specified in the
notification.
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23. Application of the Karnataka Public Premises
(Eviction of Unauthorised Occupants) Act, 1974 to the Authority
Premises.- (1) Subject to the provisions of sub -section (2) the State
Government, may by notification provide from such date as may be specified
in the notification that the Karnataka Public Premises (Eviction of
Unauthorised Occupants) Act, 1974 (Karnataka Act 32 of 1974) shall apply
to premises belonging to, vesting in, or leased by the Authority as that Act
applies in relation to public premises.
(2) On a notification bei ng issued under sub -section (1), the aforesaid
Act, and the rules made thereunder shall apply to the premises of the
Authority with the following modifications, that is to say,-
(a) the State Government may appoint any officer of the State
Government or of the Authority as it thinks fit, to be the
competent officer for the purposes of the aforesaid Act; and
(b) reference to Public Premises in that Act and those rules shall be
deemed to b e references to premises of the Authority and
references to the State Government in sections 6,7,8,14, 15, 16
and 17 of that Act shall be deemed to be references to the
Authority.
24. No other authority or person to undertake development without
permission of the Authority. - (1) Notwithstanding anything contained in any law
for the time being in force, except with the previous permission of the Authority no
authority or person shall undertake an y development within Sarvajna Kshetra of
the types as the Authority may from time to time specify by notification published
in the Official Gazette.
(2) No local authority shall grant permission for any development referred to
in sub -section (1), within Sarvajna Kshetra, unless the Authority has granted
permission for such development.
(3) Any authority or person desiring to undertake development referred in
sub-section (1) shall apply in writing to the Authority for permission to undertake
such development.
(4) The Authority may, after making such inquiry as it deem necessary grant
such permission with or without conditions, as it may deem fit to impose or refuse
to grant such permission.
(5) Any authority or person aggrieved by the decision of the Authority under
sub-section (4) may, within thirty days from the date of the decision, appeal against
such decision to the State Government, whose decision thereon shall be final:
Provided that, where the aggrieved authority submitting such appeal is
under the administrative control of the Central Government, the appeal shall be
decided by the State Government, after consultation with the Central Government.
25. Promotion of Tourism and pilgrimage by the Authority.- The
Authority may organize programmes and activities for promotion of tourism,
cultural, historical and pilgrimage importance-to give wider publicity to the heritage
sites. Such programmes may include,-
(a) Sarvajna Jayanthi Utsava;
(b) Sarvajna Sahityotsava;
(c) Art Exhibitions and Sales;
(d) Seminars, Symposia, workshops; and
(e) Annual Fairs and Festivals of special nature.
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26. Delegation of powers. - (1) The State Government, may by notification,
delegate any of the powers conferred on it by or under this Act, to any other
authority, except the power to make rules under section 41.
(2) The Authority may by regulations, delegate any of the powers conferred
on it by or under this Act to the Commissioner or other officers of the Authority
except the power to make regulations under section 42.
CHAPTER IV
FINANCE AND PROPERTY
27. Fund of the Authority.- (1) T here shall be a Fund called Sarvajna
Kshetra Development Authority Fund.
(2) There shall be credited to the said Fund,-
(i) all grants, subventions, donations and gifts made by the Central
Government, State Government, any local authority or any body, whether
incorporated or not or any person;
(ii) the amount borrowed by the Authority; and
(iii) all other sums received by or on behalf of the Authority from any source
whatsoever.
(3) Except as otherwise directed by the State Government all moneys
credited to the Fund shall be invested in any Scheduled Bank or in the State
Government Treasury.
(4) The administrative expens es of the Authority including the salaries,
allowances and pension if any, payable to the Commissioner and other officer and
employees of the Authority shall be defrayed out of the fund of the Authority.
28. Application of the Fund. - The Fund and all pro perty held or vested in
the Authority shall be applied for carrying out the purposes of this Act.
29. Grant by the State Government.- The State Government may every
year make a grant to the Authority of a sum equivalent to the administrative
expenses of the Authority, until the Authority reaches self maintenance stage out of
its own resources.
30. Budget of the Authority.- (1) The Authority shall prepare every year,
before such date and in such form as may be prescribed, a budget estimate of its
income and expenditure for the financial year to commence on the first day of April
next following and shall forward it to the State Government for sanction. The
Authority may also prepare supplementary Budget Estimates, during the course of
any financial year, if necessary.
(2) The State Government shall approve the Budget Estimates and
Supplementary Budget Estimates with or without modifications.
(3) In cases of extreme urgency, the Commissioner shall be competent to
incur expenditure not exceeding five lakhs of rupees in a financial year,
notwithstanding the fact that such expenditure has not been included in the
annual or Supplementary Budget Estimate approved by the S tate Government
under sub-section (2).
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(4) The Commissioner shall also have power to reappropriate funds from
one unit of expenditure to another unit, subject to a maximum of rupees one lakh
at a time.
31. Accounts and audit. - (1) The Commissioner shall cause to be
maintained such books of accounts and other registers as may be prescribed and
shall prepare in the prescribed manner an annual statement of accounts.
(2) The financial year of the Authority shall commence on 1st day of April of
each calendar year and shall end on 31st day of March of the succeeding calendar
year.
(3) The accounts of the Authority shall be audited annually by the Principal
Controller, State Audit and Accounts Department. The Authority or the State
Government may order concurrent and special audits also.
(4) The auditor shall, for the purposes of the audit, have access to all the
accounts and other records of the Authority.
(5) As soon as may be after the receipt of the annual statement of accounts
and the report of the audit or, the Authority shall consider it in its meeting and
send a copy of the annual statement of accounts together with a copy of the report
of the auditor to the State Government, along with its explanation on the comments
made by the auditor, if any, and a statement of action taken by the Authority to
remedy the irregularities or loopholes, if any, pointed out by the auditor.
(6) The State Government may after perusal of the report of the auditor, and
other documents submitted to it, as in sub -section (5), give such directions as it
thinks fit to the Authority and the Authority shall comply with such directions.
32. Reports. - (1) The Authority shall prepare an Annual Report of its
working for each financial year and submit it to the State Government along with
other reports under section 31.
(2) The Authority shall before such date, in such form and at such intervals
as may be prescribed, submit the prescribed reports to the State Governmen t and
the State Government shall cause such reports be laid before each House of the
State Legislature.
CHAPTER V
MISCELLANEOUS
33. Authority not to sell any land within its jurisdiction. - The Authority
shall not sell any land within its jurisdiction for any purpose and to any person
except with the prior approval of the Government.
34. Certain persons to be public servants. - All members, officers and
servants of the Authority, shall be deemed, when acting or purporting to act in
pursuance of any of the provisions of this Act, to be public servants within the
meaning of section 21 of the Indian Penal Code.
35. Protection of action taken in good faith .- No suit, prosecution or
other legal proceeding shall lie against any person for anything which is in good
faith done or purported to be done under this Act.
36. Default in performance of duty. - (1) If the State Government is
satisfied that the Authority has made default in performing any duty imposed on it
by or under this Act, it may fix a period for the performance of that duty.
(2) If in the opinion of the State Government, the Authority fails or neglects
to perform such duty within the period so fixed for its performance, it shall be
lawful for the State Government to direct the Authority to rectify the defaults.
14
37. Dissoluti on of the Authority.- (1) The State Government
may by notification, declare that with effect from such date as may be specified in
the notification, the Authority shall be dissolved:
Provided that no such declaration shall be made by the State Government
unless, a resolution to that effect has been moved in and passed by both Houses of
the State Legislature.
(2) With effect from the date specified in the notification under sub -section
(1),-
(a) all properties, funds and dues which are vested in and realiz able by the
Authority shall vest in and be realizable by the State Government.
(b) all liabilities enforceable against the Authority shall be enforceable
against the State Government to the extent of the properties, funds and dues
vested in and realized by the State Government.
38. Control by the State Government. - (1) The State Government shall
have general administrative control and supervision over all the activities and
affairs of the Authority.
(2) The State Government may call for the records of a ny proceedings of the
Authority, the Commissioner or any officer subordinate to the Authority, for the
purpose of satisfying itself as to the correctness, legality or propriety of such
proceedings and may pass such order with respect thereto as it thinks fit.
39. State Government's powers to give directions.- The State Government
may give such directions to the Authority as in its opinion are necessary or
expedient for carrying out the purpose of this Act and it shall be the duty of the
Authority, to comply with such directions.
40. Removal of difficulties. - If any difficulty arises in giving effect to the
provisions of this Act, the State Government may by notification, make such
provisions not inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, as appear to it to be
necessary or expedient for removing the difficulty:
Provided that no such notification shall be issued after the expiry of two
years from the date of commencement of this Act.
41. Power to make rules. - (1) The State Government may, by notificati on
after previous publication make rules to carry out the purposes of this Act.
(2) Every rule or notification made under this Act shall be laid as soon as
may be after it is made, before each House of the State Legislature while it is in
session, for a total period of thirty days which may be comprised in one session or
in two or more successive sessions and if before the expiry of the session
immediately following the session or the successive sessions aforesaid, both Houses
agree in making any modificat ion in the rule or notification or both Houses agree
that the rule should not be made, the rule or notification shall , from the date on
which the modification or annulment is notified have effect only in such modified
form or be of no effect as the case ma y be; so, however, that any such modification
or annulment shall be without, prejudice to the validity of anything previously done
under that rule or notification.
42. Power to make regulations. - The Authority may subject to the
provisions of this Act an d the rules made under section 41 and with the previous
sanction of the State Government, by notification make regulations to carry out the
purposes of this Act.
15
Schedule
[See clause (j) of section 2 and 19]
Sarvajna Kshetra, Heritage centers and Monuments
No Places
1. Abalur
2. Masur
3. Hirekerur
4. Other Places in Haveri District which in the opinion of the Authority
provide connectivity to the above places.
The above translation of ಸರ್ವಜ್ಞ ಕ್ ಷ ೇತ್ ರ ಅಭಿವೃದ್ಧ ಿ ಪ್ರ ರ ಧಿಕಾರ ಅಧಿನಿಯಮ,
2020 (2020 ರ ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ ಅಧಿನಿಯಮ ಸಂಖ್ಯೆ : 38) be published in the Official
Gazette under clause (3) of article 348 of the Constitution of India.
VAJUBHAI VALA
GOVERNOR OF KARNATAKA
By Order and in the name of
the Governor of Karnataka,
(K. DWARAKANATH BABU)
Secretary to Government
Department of Parliamentary Affairs
and Legislation
16
KARNATAKA ACT NO.50 OF 2025
(First Published in the Karnataka Gazette Extra-ordinary on the 9th day of September,
2025)
THE SARVAJNA KSHETRA DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY (AMENDMENT)
ACT, 2025
(Received the assent of the Governor on the 9th day of September, 2025)
An Act further to amend the Sarvajna Kshetra Development Authority
Act, 2020.
Whereas it is expedient to amend the Sarvajna Kshetra Development
Authority Act, 2020 (Karnataka Act No. 38 of 2020) for the purpose
hereinafter appearing:
Be it enacted by the Karnataka State Legislature in the Seventy sixth
year of the Republic of India as follows :-
1. Short title and commencement. - (1) This Act may be called the
Sarvajna Kshetra Development Authority (Amendment) Act, 2025.
(2) it shall come into force at once.
2. Amendment of section 3. - In the Sarvajna Kshetra Development
Authority Act, 2020 (Karnataka Act No. 38 of 2020), in section 3, in sub -
section (4), for clause (a), the following shall be substituted, namely:-
“(a) The Chief Minister or Revenue Minister or any other Minister as
chosen by the Chief Minister - Ex-officio Chairman”.
The above translation of ಸರ್ಾಜ್ಞ ಕ್ ಷ ೇತ್ ರ ಅಭಿವೃದ್ಧಿ ಪ್ರ ರ ಧಿಕಾರ (ತಿದ್ದು ಪಡಿ)
ಅಧಿನಿಯಮ, 2025 (2025 ರ ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ ಅಧಿನಿಯಮ ಸಂಖ್ಯೆ : 50) be published in the
official Gazette under clause (3) of Article 348 of the constitution of India.
THAAWARCHAND GEHLOT
GOVERNOR OF KARANATAKA
By Order and in the name of
the Governor of Karnataka,
G. SRIDHAR
Secretary to Government
Department of Parliamentary
Affairs and Legislation