Agricultural land under the jurisdiction of a municipal council or a municipal corporation does not require conversion following a procedure prescribed under the Karnataka Land Revenue Act, the state high court has ruled. According to a recent order of the Karnataka High Court, once land is brought under the jurisdiction of a municipal body, it is deemed to be converted for non-agricultural purposes.
“In that view of the matter, there would be no requirement for a land owner of the land coming within the limits of TMC to seek conversion of the land under Section 95 of the KLR Act from agricultural to non-agricultural purposes once the land comes within the limits of the TMC,” Justice Suraj Govindaraj said while replying to a petition by one Shrishail.
The businessman owns 1.29 acre land in Bailhongal in Belagavi. The land was converted from agricultural to commercial to run a petrol bunk in 2016. When he proposed to use the remaining land for putting up a commercial building, the Bailhongal TMC rejected his plan, saying the conversion order was only for non-agricultural commercial.
“The TMC cannot put the cart before the horse and restrict the usage of land only for petrol bunk purposes after the petrol bunk has already been established. On this ground also, the endorsement issued by the TMC falls foul of the applicable law,” the HC ruled while ordering the municipal body to issue a building licence in 60 days.
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