Bengaluru: Forest Department prevails over land mafia to preserve Turahalli

Deputy Commissioner for Bengaluru Urban, KA Dayanand gave a verdict in the conflict between the Forest Department and 88 others led by V Srinivas claiming ownership of 343 acres of the U.M Kaval forest region. 

The issue first cropped up in 2004. The claimants approached court for the ownership of the land. The Forest Department approached the deputy commissioner with a complaint. 

In 2006, the Bengaluru Urban Tehsildar stated the documents produced by the individuals are false. He recommended strict action against the sub registrar involved in the proceedings. However, in 2009, the Assistant commissioner of Bengaluru ruled in favour of the claimants saying that it is not forest land and that they do not have to produce the ‘Saguvali chit’. The forest department then reached out to the revenue department. 

A deputy commissioner put a stay on the 2009 order. The case then moved to court and the high court in 2021 directed the deputy commissioner to pass a final resolution pertaining to the matter. 

K.A Dayanand ruled in favour of the forest department. He stated that the land was not denotified in the first place for even the question of ownership to arise. He also highlighted how a land surveyor was suspended for providing a fake revenue sketch pertaining to the case. 

Forest officials were relieved but drew attention to the fact that several such cases are still pending.