Land-grant applications must be considered under Rule 8, but applicants cannot demand a specific location.

The petitioners, who claimed to be Raichur residents, landless persons and former Indian Army personnel, applied on 17 December 2024 for allotment of sites formed in Survey No. 813/*/*, Raichur.

They sought a writ directing the Deputy Commissioner and Tahsildar to consider their applications.

The petition came before the Court for preliminary hearing.

1. Whether the petitioners were entitled to a direction requiring the authorities to consider and decide their applications for site allotment in accordance with law.

2. Whether the petitioners could claim allotment of sites in a particular town or survey number under Rule 8 of the Karnataka Land Grant Rules, 1969.

Rule 8 of the Karnataka Land Grant Rules, 1969, as amended by notification dated 27 October 2021, governs applications for allotment of sites.

The Court observed that applicants cannot seek allotment in a particular town or survey number; applications must be considered in accordance with the Rules.

Although the petitioners’ applications sought sites in a specified survey number, the Court considered their asserted Raichur residence and former service in the Indian Army, and noted that they had submitted applications seeking site allotment under Rule 8.

The Court did not direct allotment of sites or accept a right to allotment at the specified location.

Instead, given the State’s submission that the applications could be decided within a reasonable time, it directed the competent authorities to consider them and pass orders in accordance with law.

The Court allowed the writ petition and issued a mandamus to respondent Nos. 2 and 4 to consider the petitioners’ applications dated 17 December 2024 and pass orders strictly in accordance with law within four months of receiving a copy of the order.