The KARNATAKA LAND GRABBING PROHIBITION ACT, 2011

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KARNATAKA ACT NO. 38 OF 2014

THE KARNATAKA LAND GRABBING PROHIBITION ACT, 2011
Arrangement of Sections

STATEMENT OF OBJECTS AND REASONS
Sections:

1. Short title, application and commencement
2. Definitions
3. Land grabbing to be unlawful
4. Prohibition of land grabbing
5. Penalty for other offences in connection with land grabbing
6. Offences by companies
7. Constitution of Special Courts
8. Authorization of officers
9. Procedure and powers of the Special Courts
10. Special Court to have the powers of the Civil Court and the Court of Session
10-A. Bar of jurisdiction of civil Courts
10-B. Special Court to hold proceedings expeditiously and to furnish to the parties copies
of its decision
11. Burden of proof
12. Staff of the Special Court
13. Power to try offences
14. Persons acting under the Act to be public servants
15. Protection of persons acting in good faith
16. Act to override other laws
17. Review
17-A. Appeals
18. Power to make rules
19. Power to make regulations
20. Transfer of pending cases
21. Prohibition of alienation of lands grabbed
22. Abatement

STATEMENT OF OBJECTS AND REASONS
I
Amending Act 38 of 2014. -The Karnataka Land Grabbing (Prohibition) Bill 2007
with the following Statement of Objects and Reasons was passed by both the houses of the
Karnataka State Legislature namely;-

“It has come to the notice of the Government that there are organised attempts on the
part of certain lawless persons operating individually and in groups to grab either by force, or
by deceit or otherwise lands belonging to the Government, a local authority, a religious or
charitable institution or endowment, including a wakf. The land grab bers are forming bogus
co-operative housing societies or setting up fictitious claims and indulging in large scale and
unprecedented and fraudulent sales of land through unscrupulous real estate dealers or
otherwise in favour of certain sections of people, resulting in large scale accumulation of the
unaccounted wealth. As public order is adversely affected by such unlawful activities of land
grabbers in the State, particularly in respect of urban and urbanisable lands, the State
Government has felt that i t is necessary to curb such unlawful activities immediately by
enacting a special law in this regard.
Hence, the State Government of Karnataka with a view to prohibit the activities of
land grabbing and to provide for matters connected therewith has prop osed to bring the
Karnataka Land Grabbing (Prohibition) Act into force. Apart from declaring land grabbing as
unlawful, the State Government desires to prohibit land grabbing. Therefore, it is proposed
to provide for penalty for offences in connection wi th land grabbing to effectively implement
this Act and for the purpose of providing speedy enquiry into an alleged act of land grabbing
and trial of cases in respect of the ownership and title to, or lawful possession of the land
grabbed by Notification constitute a Special Court. It is felt that the State Government will be
able to curb the illegal land grabbing by enforcing the proposed legislation.”

Accordingly, the Karnataka BhuKabalike (Nishedha) Vidheyaka, 2007 as passed by
both the houses the Sta te Legislature was sent to Government of India to obtain the assent
of the President.
The Government of India in its letter No.17/20/2007 - Judl and PP dated 16/20.8.
2007, on the suggestion made by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs had suggested
modification to the Karnataka Bhukabalike (Nisheda) Vidyeyaka 2007. Accordingly clause 6
of the Bill has been modified by incorporating Explanation for the word Company and
Director.

The Government of India vide letter No. 17/20/2007 – Judl& PP dated:18 -06-2010,
had suggested modifications to sub -clause (2) of clause 2 of the Bill on the suggestions
made by the Ministry of Minority Affairs and also to the sub -clause (2) of clause 1 of the Bill
on the suggestion made by the Department of Legal Affairs. Accordingl y the State
Government vide its letter No. DPAL 22 SHASHANA 2007, dated 7.9.2010 Communicated
its acceptance to make the said modification by amending the Bill, by extending the
provisions to the lands belonging to the Wakfs, Hindu Religious Institutions and Charitable
Endowments and requested the Government of India to obtain the assent of the President to
the said Bill and also to obtain previous instructions to the modifications to be issued in the
form of an Ordinance.

The Government of India vide it s letter No. 17/20/2007 – Judl& PP dated:03 -03-
2010/2011 has directed the State Government to consider withdrawing the present Bill (LA
Bill No.27 of 2007) and submit a modified Bill instead of concurrent promulgation of any
amendment Ordinance.

Hence the Bill.

[L.A. Bill No.43 of 2011, File No. Samvyashae 22 Shasana 2007]

[Entry 18 and 64 of List II of the Seventh Schedule to the Constitution of India.]

II
Amending Act 30 OF 2020. -It is considered necessary to amend the Karnataka
Land Grabbing Prohibition Act, 2011 (Karnataka Act 38 of 2014), to,-
(i) clarify the definition of land;
(ii) make provisions for prescribing procedure of the special court;
(iii) stipulate the jurisdiction of civil court and special court ;
(iv) make a provision for appeal against orders of the special court; and
(v) certain consequential amendments connected therewith or incidental thereto.
As the matter was urgent and both houses of the Karnataka state legislature were
not in a session, therefore the Karnataka Land Grabbing Prohibition (Ame ndment)
Ordinance, 2020 (Karnataka Ordinance No.6 of 2020) was promulgated to achieve the
above object.
This Bill seeks to replace the said Ordinance.
Hence the Bill.
[L.A. Bill No. 40 of 2020, File No. Samvyashae 30 Shasana 2020]
[Entries 18 and 64 of List II of the Seventh Schedule to the Constitution of India.]
[Published in Karnataka Gazette Extra-ordinary No. 474 in part-IVA dated: 19.10.2020]

III

Amending Act 30 of 2022. - It is considered necessary further to amend the
Karnataka Land Grabbing Prohibition Act, 2011 (Karnataka Act No.38 of 2014) to avoid
criminal proceedings against farmers who have encroached the Government Land in rural
areas by excluding all the place from the purview of the said Act except the places within the
limits of the Urban areas.
Hence, the Bill.

[L.A. Bill No. 20 of 2022, File No. SAMVYASHAE 20 SHASANA 2022]
[Entry 18 of List II of the Seventh Schedule to the Constitution of India]
[Published in Karnataka Gazette Extra-ordinary No. 521 in part-IVA dated: 13.10.2022]

IV
Amendment Act 29 of 2025 :- The Karnataka Land Grabbing Prohibition Act
(Karnataka Act 38 of 2014) was enacted to establish a "Special Court” in the State
for speedy tria l of any act alleged as 'land grabbing' and to prosecute the offences
related to land grabbing, ownership of the grabbing land, cases related possession
of land legally and such offenses specified in Chapter XIV(A) of the Karnataka Land
Revenue Act, 1964 (Karnataka Act 12 of 1964).
Whereas the Karnataka Land Revenue Act, 1964 (Karnataka Act 12 of 1964)
has been amended to streamline the provisions for the protection of Government
Land and land meant for public purposes. The Hon’ble Supreme Court in Hinch L al
Tiwari vs Kamala Devi, Jagpal Singh vs State of Punjab and others and Joginder vs
State of Haryana and others in reportable judgements has repeatedly emphasized
the responsibility of the State Government in protecting the Government and public
lands. This amendment will enable to protect the Government land and ensure the
revenue officials do not strike from their primary responsibility. To introduce the
accurate way of measuring distance while filing case against encroachment of the
Government lands.
And whereas appointment of staff and employees is a prerogative of the
Government and governed by the rules, norms and economy orders. Hence,
surervision of the Government is required for any recruitment. Enhancement of
penalty in other cases of Land grabbing.
Hence, the Bill.
[L.A. Bill No.15 of 2025, File No. SAMVYASHAE 22 SHASANA 2025]
[Entry 18 of List II of the Seventh Schedule to the Constitution of India.]
[Published in Karnataka Gazette Extra-ordinary No.224 in part-IVA dated:07.04.2025]

KARNATAKA ACT NO. 38 OF 2014

(First Published in the Karnataka Gazette Extra-ordinary on the
Twentieth day of October, 2014)

THE KARNATAKA LAND GRABBING PROHIBITION ACT, 2011
(Received the assent of the President on the Ninth day of October, 2014)
(As amended by Acts 30 of 2020, 30 of 2022 and 29 of 2025)

An Act to provide for measures to curb organized attempts to grab lands whether
belonging to the Government, wakf or the Hindu Religious Institutions and Charitable
Endowments, local authorities or other statutory or non -statutory bodies owned or controlled
or managed by the Government.
And whereas such land grabbers are forming bogus cooperative housing societies or
setting up fictitious claims and indulging in large scale, unprecedented and fraudulent sale of
such lands through unscrupulous real estate dealers or otherwise in favour of certain
sections of the people resulting in large accumulation of unaccounted w ealth and quick
money to land grabbers and thereby adversely affecting public order;
And whereas, having regard to the resources and influence of the persons by whom,
the large scale, on which and the manner in which, the unlawful activity of land grabbi ng
was, has been, is being organised and carried on in violation of law, as land grabbers in the
State of Karnataka, it is necessary and expedient to curb immediately such unlawful activity
of land grabbing.
Be it enacted by the Karnataka State Legislature in the sixty second year of the
Republic India as follows:-

1. Short title, application and commencement. -(1) This Act may be called the
Karnataka Land Grabbing Prohibition Act, 2011.
(2) It applies to land belonging to the Government , Wakf or the Hind u Religious
Institutions and Charitable Endowments, local authority or any statutory or non -statutory
body owned, controlled or managed by the Government in the State of Karnataka.
(3) It shall come into force at once.

2. Definitions.- In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,-
(a) “Charitable Endowment” means Charitable Endowment as defined in sub -
section (5) of section 2 of the Hindu Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowments Act,
1997 (Karnataka Act 33 of 2001);
(b) “Government’’ means the State Government;
(c) “Hindu Religious Institution” means the Hindu Religious Institution as defined
in sub -section (17) of section 2 of the Hindu Religious Institutions and Charitable
Endowments Act, 1997 (Karnataka Act 33 of 2001);
(d) “Land’’ includes,-

2[(i) Land falling in all urban areas of the State and also land falling within 18 kms
from the Bruhat Bengaluru MahanagaraPalike limits, land falling within 10 kms from the city
limits notified under the provisions of the Karnataka Municipal Corporations Act, 1976, land
falling within 5 kms from the City Municipal Council limits, land falling within 3 kms from the
Town Municipal Council limits and Town Panchayat lim its belonging to the Government,
Wakf or the Hindu Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowments, a local authority, a
statutory or non-statutory body owned, controlled or managed by the Government:

Provided that, excluding the land specified above in all other areas the cases
pending related to land grabbing shall stand abated forthwith.]2

3[Provided further that, where any action has been initiated on lands under sections
39, 104 or 67 of the Karnataka Land Revenue Act, 1964 (Karnataka Act No. 12 of 1964) by
any competent authority, the same shall be excluded.
Provided also that, the distances herein shall be reckoned aerially and in no other
manner.]3
(ii) rights in or over land, benefits to arise out of land, and buildings, structures
and other things attached to the earth or permanently fastened to anything attached to the
earth;
1[Provided that ‘land’ shall not include lands in respect of which applicat ions for
grant are pending on the date of commencement of this Act,-
(a) under sections 94A, 94B, 94C and 94CC of the Karnataka Land Revenue Act,
1964 (Karnataka Act 12 of 1964);
(b) under the Scheduled Tribes and other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recogni tion of
Forest Rights) Act, 2006 (Central Act 2 of 2007);]1

(e)“land grabber’’ means a person or group of persons or a Society, who commits or
has committed land grabbing and includes any person who gives financial aid to any person
for taking illegal possession of lands or for construction of unauthorised structu res thereon,
or who collects or attempts to collect from any occupiers of such lands rent, compensation
and other charges by criminal intimidation, or who abets the doing of any of the above
mentioned acts; and also includes the successors in interest;
(f) “land grabbing’’ means every activity of grabbing of any land, without any lawful
entitlement and with a view to illegally taking possession of such land, or enter into or create
illegal tenancies or lease and licences agreements construct unauthorised structures
thereon for sale or hire, or give such lands to any person on rental or lease and license basis
for construction, or use and occupation, of unauthorised structures; and the term “to grab
land’’ shall be construed accordingly;
(g) "local author ity" includes the Municipal Corporation, a Municipal Council, Zilla
Panchayat, Taluk Panchayat, Gram Panchayat, Town Panchayat, Industrial Township,
Improvement Board, Urban Development Authority and Planning Authority or any Local Self
Government body or institution by whatever name called constituted under any law for the
time being in force;
(h) “notification’’ means a notification published in the Karnataka Gazette; and the
word “notified’’ shall be construed accordingly;
(i) “person’’ includes a group or body of persons, any company or an association,
whether incorporated or not;
(j) “prescribed’’ means prescribed by rules made under this Act;
(k) ‘Special Court’ means a Special Court constituted under section 7;
(l) “unauthorised structures’’ means any structure constructed, without express
permission of the concerned competent authority under relevant law for the time being in
force;
(m) “Wakf” means wakf as defined in clause (r) of section 3 of the Wakf Act, 1995
(Central Act 43 of 1995).
1. Deemed to have beeninserted by Act 30 of 2020 w.e.f 10.04.2020.
2. Substituted by Act 30 of 2022 w.e.f. 13.10.2022.
3. Inserted by Act 29 of 2025 w.e.f. 07.04.2025

3. Land grabbing to be unlawful. -Land grabbing in any form is hereby prohibited
and declared unlawful and any activity connected with or arising out of land grabbing shall
be an offence punishable under this Act.

4. Prohibition of land grabbing. - (1) No person shall commit or cause to be
committed land grabbing, by himself or through any other person.
(2) Any person who, on or after the commencement of this Act, continue to be in
occupation, otherwise than as a lawful tenant, of a grabbed land belonging to the
Government, Wakf, Hindu Religious Institution and Charitable Endowments, local authority,
statutory or non-statutory body owned, controlled or managed by the State Government shall
be guilty of an offence under this Act.
(3) Whoever contravenes the provisions of sub-section (1) or sub-section (2) shall on
conviction, be punished with imprison ment for a term which shall not be less than one year
but which may extend to three years, and with fine which may extend to 1[fifty thousand
rupees.]1

1. Substituted by Act 29 of 2025 w.e.f. 07.04.2025.

5. Penalty for other offences in connection with land grabbing.- Whoever, with a
view to grabbing land in contravention of the provisions of this Act or in connection with any
such land grabbing,-
(a) sells or allots, or offers or advertises for sale or allot ment, or has in his
possession for the purpose of sale or allotment any land grabbed;
(b) instigates or incites any person to commit land grabbing;
(c) uses any land grabbed or causes or permits knowingly to be used for purposes,
connected with sale or allotment; or
(d) enters into an agreement for construction of any structure or buildings on such
land;
(e) causes or procures or attempts to procure any person to do any of above
mentioned acts;
shall, on conviction, be punished with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than
one year but which may extend to three years and with fine which may extend to 1[fifty
thousand rupees.]1

1. Substituted by Act 29 of 2025 w.e.f. 07.04.2025.

6. Offences by companies. -(1)Where an offence against any of the provisions of
this Act or any rule made thereunder has been committed by a company, every person who
at the time of the offence was committed, was in charge of and was responsible to the
company for the conduct of business of the company, as well as the company, shall be
deemed to be guilty of the offence and shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished
accordingly:
Provided that nothing contained in this sub -section shall render any such person
liable to any punishment if he proves that the offence was committed without his knowledge
or that he has exercised all due diligence to prevent the commission of the such offence.
(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub -section (1), where any such offence
has been committed by a company and it is proved that the offence has been committed
with the consent or connivance of or is attributable to any neglect on the part of any director,
manager, secretary or other officer of the company, such director, manager, secreta ry or
other officer shall be deemed to be guilty of that offence and shall be liable to be proceeded
against and punished accordingly.

Explanation.- For the purposes of this section:-
(a) “company, trust, firm, society” means respectively a company defined under the
Companies Act, 1956 (Act No.1 of 1956), trust defined under the Indian Trust
Act, 1882 (Act No.2 of 1882), firm defined in the Indian Partnership Act, 1932 (Act
No.9 of 1932), Society defined in the Karnataka Societies Registration Act, 1960
(Karnataka Act 17 of 1960) or other association of individuals; and
(b) “director’’ in relation to:-
(i) a company means the director as defined in sub -section (13) of section 2
of the Companies Act, 1956 and partner means a partner in the firm;
(ii) a society, a trust or other association of individuals, means the person who
is entrusted under the relevant provisions of the Act or rules of the society,
trust or other association with management of the a ffairs of the society,
trust or other association, as the case may be.

7. Constitution of Special Courts. -(1)The Government may, for the purpose of
providing speedy enquiry into any alleged act of land grabbing, and trial of cases in respect
of the owne rship and title to, or lawful possession of, the land grabbed and those offences
specified in Chapter XIV -A of the Karnataka Land Revenue Act, 1964, by notification,
constitute a Special Court.
(2) A Special Court shall initially consist of a Cha irman and four other members, to
be appointed by the Government.
(3) The Chairman shall be a person who is or was a judge of a High Court and of the
other four members, two shall be persons who are or were District Judges (hereinafter
referred to a s Judicial Members) and the other two members shall be persons who hold or
have held a post not below the rank of a Deputy Commissioner of the District (hereinafter
referred to as Revenue Members):
Provided that the appointment of a person who was a Judge of a High Court as the
Chairman of the Special Court shall be made after consultation with the Chief Justice of the
High Court.
(4) The Government, if, it is of the opinion that Additional Bench of the Special Court
is necessary for trial of such cases, may likewise constitute Additional Bench of Special
Court, by notification, in respect of such area, as may be specified therein.
(5) Such Additional Bench shall consist of one Judicial member and one Revenue
member with a qualification specified in sub-section (3).
(6) The Government from time to time likewise, by notification, reconstitute the
Special Court constituted under sub-section (1).
(7) The Chairman or other member shall hold office as such for a term of three years
from the date on which he enters upon his office, or until the Special Court is reconstituted
whichever is later.
(8) (a) Subject to the other provisions of this Act , the jurisdiction, powers and
authority of the Special Court may be exercised by benches thereof one comprising of the
Chairman, a judicial member and a Revenue member and the other comprising of a Judicial
Member and a Revenue member.
(b) Where the bench comprises of the Chairman, he shall be the Presiding Officer of
such a bench and where the bench consists of two members, the Judicial Member shall be
the Presiding Officer.
(c) It shall be competent for the Chairman eithe r suo-moto or on a reference made to
him to withdraw any case pending before the bench comprising of two members and dispose
of the same or to transfer any case from one bench to another bench.

(d) Where it is reasonably apprehended that t he trial of Civil liability of a person
accused of an offence under this Act, is likely to take considerable time, it shall be
competent for the Chairman to entrust the trial of the criminal liability of such offender to
another bench in the interest of speedy disposal of the case.
(e) Where a case under this Act is heard by a bench consisting of two members and
the members thereof are divided in opinion, the case with their opinions shall be laid before
another judicial member or the Chairman and tha t member or Chairman, as the case may
be after such hearing as he thinks fit, shall deliver his opinion and the decision or order shall
follow that opinion.
(9) The quorum to constitute a meeting of any bench of the Special Court shall be
two.
(10) No act or proceeding of the Special Court shall be deemed to be invalid by
reason only of the existence of any vacancy among its members or any defect in t he
constitution or re-constitution thereof.

8. Authorization of officers. - The Government, may, by notification, authorize an
officer of the Government, not below the rank of Tahsildar, to be the officer responsible for
administration and effecting implementation of the provisions of this Act, initiate legal action
against the persons contravening the provisions of this Act and exercise such powers and
performs such functions, in respect of such area, as may be specified in the notification.

9. Pr ocedure and powers of the Special Courts. - (1) The Special Court may,
either suo-moto or on application made by any person, officer or authority take cognizance
of and try every case arising out of any alleged act of land grabbing or with respect to the
ownership and title to, or lawful possession of, the land grabbed or offences specified in
Chapter XIV -A of the Karnataka Land Revenue Act, 1964 whether before or after the
commencement of this Act, and pass such orders including orders by way of interim
directions as it deems fit.

2[(2) The Special Court shall for the purpose of taking cognizance of the case,
consider the location or extent or ownership of the land alleged to have been grabbed or of
the nature of the illegality involved or in the interest of justice or any other relevant matter.
(3) In respect of an alleged act of land grabbing or the determination of questions of
title and ownership to, or lawful possession of any land grabbed under this Act and offences
specified in Chapter XIV-A of the Karnataka Land Revenue Act, 1964 (Karnataka Act No. 12
of 1964) may be tried in the Special Court constituted for the area in which the land grabbed
is situated and the decision of the Special Court shall be final:]2
1. Substituted by the Act 30 of 2020 w.e.f. 10.04.2020
2. Substituted by Act 29 of 2025 w.e.f. 07.04.2025.

Provided that if, in the opinion of the Special Court, any application filed before it, is
prima facie frivolous or vexatious, it shall reject the same without any further enquiry.
(4) The Special Court shall determine the order in which the civil and criminal liability
against a land grabber be initiated. It shall be within the discretion of the Special Court
whether or not to deliver its decision or order until bo th civil and criminal proceedings are
completed. The evidence admitted during the criminal proceeding may be made use of
while trying the civil liability. But additional evidence, if any adduced in the civil proceedings
shall not be considered by the Spe cial Court while determining the criminal liability. Any

person accused of land grabbing or the abetment thereof before the Special Court shall be a
competent witness for the defence and may give evidence on oath in disproof of the charge
made against him or any person charged together with him in the criminal proceeding:
Provided that he shall not be called as a witness except on his own request in writing
or his failure to give evidence shall be made the subject of any comment by any of the
parties or the special court or give rise to any presumption against himself or any person
charged together with him at the same proceeding.
(5) (a) The Special Court shall, while deciding the civil liability of a person shall follow
its own procedure which is not i nconsistent with the provisions of the Code of Civil
Procedure, 1908.

1[(b) the Special Court may, if it thinks fit, try in a summary manner any offence under
this Act:
Provided that, if the Special Court is of the opinion that there are no sufficient
grounds for proceeding, the Court shall dismiss the complaint or drop further proceedings
and in every such case it shall briefly record reasons.
Provided further that, the course of the trial of summons case relating to an offence
under this Act, it appears to the special Court that in the interests of justice, the offence shall
be tried in accordance with the procedure for trial of warrant cases, the special Court may
proceed to re-hear the case in the manner provided by the code of Criminal procedure, 1973
(Central Act 2 of 1974) for the trial of warrant -cases and may recall any witness who may
have been examined.]1

1. Substituted by the Act 30 of 2020 w.e.f. 10.04.2020
(c) When a person is convicted of an offence of land grabbing attended by criminal
force or show of force or by Criminal intimidation, and it appears to the Special Court that, by
such force or show of force or intimidation, the land has been grabbed, the Special Court
may if it thinks fit, order that possession of the same be restored a fter evicting by force, if
necessary.
(6) Every case under sub-section (1) shall be disposed of finally by the Special Court,
as far as possible, within a period of six months from the date of institution of the case before
it.
(7) Every finding of the S pecial Court with regard to any alleged act of land grabbing
shall be conclusive proof of the fact of land grabbing and of the persons who committed such
land grabbing, and every judgment of the Special Court with regard to the determination of
title and o wnership to, or lawful possession of; any land grabbed shall be binding on all
persons having interest in such land:
Provided that the Special Court shall, by notification specify the fact of taking
cognizance of the case under this Act. Such notificatio n shall state that any objection which
may be received by the Special Court from any person including the custodian of evacuee
property within the period specified therein shall be considered by it:
Provided further that where the custodian of evacuee pro perty objects to the Special
Court taking cognizance of the case, the Special Court shall not proceed further with the
case in regard to such property:
Provided also that the Special Court shall cause a notice of taking cognizance of the
case under the Ac t, served on any person known or believed to be interested in the land,
after a summary enquiry to satisfy itself about the persons likely to be interested in the land.
(8) It shall be lawful for the Special Court to pass such order as it may deem fit to
advance the cause of justice. It may award compensation in terms of money for wrongful
possession of the land grabbed which shall not be less than the amount equivalent to the
market value of the land grabbed as on the date of the order and profits accrue d from the
land payable by the land grabber to the owner of the grabbed land and may direct re-delivery

of the grabbed land to its rightful owner. The amount of compensation and profits, so
awarded and costs of re -delivery, if any, shall be recovered as an arrear of land revenue in
case the Government is the owner, or as a decree of a Civil Court, in any case to be
executed by the Special Court:
Provided that, the Special Court shall, before passing an order under this sub -
section, give to the land grabber an opportunity of making his representation or of adducing
evidence, if any, in this regard, and consider every such representation and evidence.

10. Special Court to have the powers of the Civil Court and the Court of
Session.- Save as expressly provi ded in this Act, the provisions of the Code of Civil
Procedure, 1908 and the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, in so far as they are not
inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, shall apply to the proceedings before the Special
Court and for the purpo ses of the provisions of the said enactments, Special Court shall be
deemed to be a Civil Court, or as the case may be, a Court of Sessions and shall have all
the powers of a Civil Court and a Court of Sessions and person conducting a prosecution
before the Special Court shall be deemed to be a Public Prosecutor.

1[10-A. Bar of jurisdiction of civil Courts. - No suit or other legal proceeding shall
lie in any civil court in respect of any dispute, question or other matter relating to any
Government land or other matter which is required by or under this Act to be determined by
a special Court.

10-B. Special Court to hold proceedings expeditiously and to furnish to the
parties copies of its decision. -Whenever an application is made to the special Court or
when proceedings are initiated suomoto for the determination of any dispute, question or
other matter relating to grabbed land, the special Court shall conclude its proceedings within
a period of six months from the date of initiation of such proceedings and give its decision in
writing to each of the parties to the dispute.]1

1. Inserted by the Act 30 of 2020 w.e.f 10.04.2020

11. Burden of proof. - Where in any proceedings under this Act prima facie proved
to be the land owned by the Government, the Special Court shall presume that the person
who is alleged to have grabbed the land is a land-grabber and the burden of proving that the
land has not been grabbed by him shall be of such person.

1[12. Staff of the Special Court. - (1) The Government shall appoint officers and
other employees required to assist the Special Court in the discharge of its functions under
this Act.
(2) The ca tegories of officers and employees who may be appointed under
sub-section (1), their salaries, allowances, method of recruitment and other conditions of
service shall be such as may be prescribed. The administrative powers of officers and
employees appointed under sub-section (1) may be specified by the Chairman of the Special
Court.]1

1. Substituted by Act 29 of 2025 w.e.f. 07.04.2025.

13. Power to try offences. - All offences punishable under this Act shall be
cognizable. Every offence punishable under this Act shall be tried by a magistrate of the first
class specially empowered by the Government in this behalf by notification in the official
gazette wherever Special Court is not constituted.

14. Persons acting under the Act to be public servants .- Every person acting
under the provisions of this Act shall be deemed to be a public servant within the meaning of
section 21 of the Indian Penal Code.

15. Protection of persons acting in good faith.- No suit, prosecution or other legal
proceeding shall lie against any officer or employee of the Special Court or any officer of the
Government for anything done in good faith or intended to be done under this Act or the
rules made thereunder.

16. Act to override other laws .- The provisions of this Act shall have effect
notwithstanding anything inconsistent therewith contained in any other law for the time being
in force or custom, usage or agreement or decree or order o f a court or any other tribunal or
authority.
17. Review.- The Special Court may in order to prevent the miscarriage of justice
review its judgment or order passed under section 9 but no such review shall be entertained
except on the ground that it was pas sed under a mistake of fact, ignorance of any material
fact or an error apparent on the face of the record:
Provided that it shall be lawful for the Special Court to admit or reject review petitions
in circulation without hearing the petitioner:
Provided further that the Special Court shall not allow any review petition and set
aside its previous order or judgment without hearing the parties affected.

1[17-A. Appeals.- (1) An appeal against any final order by the special Court determining
the civil liability of the parties shall lie to the High Court, if the High Court is satisfied that
the case involves a substantial question of law,-
(i) in an appeal under this sub section, the memorandum of appeal shall
precisely state the substantial question of law involv ed in the appeal;
and
(ii) the appeal shall be heard on the question so formulated and the
respondent shall, at the hearing of the appeal be allowed to argue that
the case does not involve any such question:

Provided that, appeal shall be filed before the High Court within thirty days from the
date of the order.
Provided further that, if the appeal is filed beyond the period of thirty days, the High
Court shall condone the same, on sufficient cause being shown, but not beyond a period of
sixty days.
(2) Any app eal against order of acquittal or conviction determining any criminal
liability under this Act shall lie to the High Court. The High Court may exercise, so far as
may be applicable, all the powers conferred by the chapters XXIX and XXX of the Code of
Criminal Procedure, 1973 (Central Act 2 of 1974) on a High Court as if, the special Court
were a court of sessions trying cases within the local limits of the jurisdiction of the High
Court.]1

1. Inserted by the Act 30 of 2020 w.e.f 10.04.2020

18. Power to make rules.- (1) The Government may, by notification, after previous
publication make rules for carrying out the purposes of this Act.
(2) Every rule made under this section shall, immediately after it is made, be laid
before each House of the State Legis lature if it is in session and if it is not in session in the
session immediately following, for a total period of fourteen days which may be comprised in

one session, or in two successive sessions and if before the expiration of the session in
which it is so laid or the session immediately following both Houses agree in making any
modification in the rule or in the annulment of the rule, the rule shall, from the date on which
the modification or annulment is notified, have effect only in such modified form or shall
stand annulled, as the case may be; so however, that any such modification or annulment
shall be without prejudice to the validity of anything previously done under that rule.

19. Power to make regulations.-(1) The Special Court may, by notification, with the
concurrence of the Government, make regulations not inconsistent with the provisions of this
Act or the rules made thereunder relating to the procedure to be followed for the conduct of
the cases and for regulating the manner of taking decisions.

(2) The Special Court may cause a public notice of the substance of such regulations
for the information of the general public.

(3) Every regulation made under this section shall, immediately after it is made, be
laid before such House of the Legislature of the Sate if it is in session, and if it is not in
session in the session immediately following for a total period of fourteen days which may be
comprised in one session or in two successive sessions and if before the expiration of the
session in which it is so laid or the session immediately following the State Legislature
agrees in making any modifications in the regulation or in the annulment of the regulation,
the regulation shall, from the date on which the modification or annulment i s notified, have
effect only in such modified form or shall stand annulled, as the case may be; so however,
that any such modification or annulments shall be without prejudice to the validity of anything
previously done under that regulation.

20. Transfer of pending cases. - Any case, pending before any court or other
authority immediately before the constitution of a Special Court, as would have been within
the jurisdiction of such Special Court, shall stand transferred to the Special Court as if the
cause of action on which such suit or proceeding is based had arisen after the constitution of
the Special Court.

21. Prohibition of alienation of lands grabbed. - Any transaction relating to an
alienation of a land grabbed or any part thereof by way of sale, lease, gift, exchange,
settlement, surrender, usufructuary mortgage or otherwise, or any partition effected or a trust
created in respect of such land, which has taken place whether before or after the
commencement of this Act shall, except to the extent o rdered by the Special Court be null
and void.

1[22. Abatement.- All proceedings pending and contemplated with respect to
land as excluded under the proviso to sub-clause (d) of section 2 of this Act,on the date
of commencement of the Karnataka Land grabbi ng Prohibition (Amendment) Act, 2020
shall stand abated.]1

1. Inserted by the Act 30 of 2020 w.e.f 10.04.2020

The above translation of PÀ£ÁðlPÀ ¨sÀÆPÀ§½PÉ ¤µÉÃzsÀ C¢ü¤AiÀÄªÀÄ, 2011 (2014gÀ PÀ£ÁðlPÀ
C¢ü¤AiÀÄªÀÄ ¸ÀASÉå: 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 ofthe Governor of Karnataka,

S.B. GUNJIGAVI
Secretary to Government,
Department of Parliamentary Affairs

KARNATAKA ACT NO. 30 OF 2020
(First Published in the Karnataka Gazette Extra-ordinary on the 19th Day of October, 2020)

The Karnataka Land Grabbing Prohibition (Amendment) Act, 2020
(Received the assent of the Governor on the 16th day of October 2020)

An Act further to amend the Karnataka Land Grabbing Prohibition Act, 2011,
(Karnataka Act 38 of 2014) and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto;

Whereas it is expedient to amend the Karnataka Land Grabbing Prohibition Act,
2011, (Karnataka Act 38 of 2014), for the purpose hereinafter appearing.

Be it enacted by Karnataka State Legislature in the seventy first year of the Republic
of India, as follows:-

1. Short title and commencement.– (1) This Act may be called the Karnataka Land
Grabbing Prohibition (Amendment) Act, 2020.

(2) It shall be deemed to have come into force with effect from the 10 th day of April,
2020.
Sections 2,9,10-A,10-B,17-A and 22 are incorporated in the principal Act.

7. Repeal and savings.-(1) The Karnataka Land Grabbing Prohibition (Amendment)
Ordinance, 2020 (Karnataka Ordinance No. 6 of 2020)is hereby repealed.

(2) Notwithstanding such repeal anything done or any action taken under the principal
Act, as amended by the said Ordinance, shall be deemed to have been done or taken under
principal Act, as amended by this Act.

The above translation of ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ ಭೂ ಕಬಳಿಕೆ ನಿಷೇಧ (ತಿದ್ದ ು ಪಡಿ) ಅಧಿನಿಯಮ,
2020 (2020 ರ ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ ಅಧಿನಿಯಮ ಸಂಖ್ಯೆ : 30) 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

KARNATAKA ACT NO. 30 OF 2022

(First Published in the Karnataka Gazette Extra-ordinary on the 13th day of October, 2022)

THE KARNATAKA LAND GRABBING PROHIBITION (AMENDMENT) ACT, 2022
(Received the assent of the Governor on the 12th day of October, 2022)

An Act further to amend the Karnataka Land Grabbing Prohibition Act, 2011.
Whereas it is expedient further to amend the Karnataka Land Grabbing Prohibition
Act, 2011 (Karnataka Act 38 of 2014), for the purposes hereinafter appearing;
Be it enacted by the Karnataka State Legislature in the Seventy third year of the
Republic of India as follows:-
1. Short title and commencement.– (1) This Act may be called the Karnataka Land
Grabbing Prohibition (Amendment) Act, 2022
(2) it shall come into force at once.
2. Amendment of section 2. - In section 2 of the Karnataka Land Grabbing
Prohibition Act, 2011 (Karnataka Act 38 of 2014), in clause (d), for sub -clause (i), the
following shall be substituted, namely:-
“(i) Land falling in all urban areas of the State and also land falling within 18
kms from the Bruhat Bengaluru MahanagaraPalike limits, land falling within 10 kms
from the city limits notified under the provisions of the Karnataka Municipal
Corporations Act, 1976, land falling within 5 kms from the City Municipal Council limits,
land falling within 3 kms from the Town Municipal Council limits and Town Panchayat
limits belonging to the Government, Wakf or the Hindu Religious Institutions and

Charitable Endowments, a local authority, a statutory or non -statutory body owned,
controlled or managed by the Government:
Provided that, excluding the land specified above in all other areas the cases
pending related to land grabbing shall stand abated forthwith.”
The above translation of ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ ಭೂ ಕಬಳಿಕೆ ನಿಷೇಧ (ತಿದ್ದ ು ಪಡಿ) ಅಧಿನಿಯಮ,
2022 (2022ರ ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ ಅಧಿನಿಯಮ ಸಂಖ್ಯ ೆ: 30) 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

KARNATAKA ACT NO. 29 OF 2025

(First Published in the Karnataka Gazette Extra-ordinary on the 7th day of April, 2025)

THE KARNATAKA LAND GRABBING PROHIBITION (AMENDMENT)
ACT, 2025
(Received the assent of the Governor on the 5th day of April, 2025)
An Act further to amend the Karnataka Land Grabbing Prohibition
Act, 2011.
Whereas it is expedient further to amend the Karnataka Land
Grabbing Prohibition Act, 2011 (Karnataka Act 38 of 2014), for the purposes
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
Karnataka Land Grabbing Prohibition (Amendment) Act, 2025.
(2) It shall come into force at once.
2. Amendment of section 2 .- In the Karnataka Land Grabbing
Prohibition Act, 2011 (Karnataka Act 38 of 2014), (hereinafter referred to
a

Excerpt shown. Open the full act in Lexace.

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