Notices issued to K'taka Govt, Revenue Dept

Bangalore, June 20 (UNI) The Karnataka High Court today ordered issuance of notices to the State Government and Revenue authorities on a writ petition, seeking to withdraw the notices issued by the Department demanding huge amounts as land tax from drought-stricken farmers.

Mr Justice B Padmaraj and Mr Justice Syed Abdul Nazeer issued the notices and adjourned further hearing to July 18.

The petitioner, the Hiriyur branch of the Karnataka Rajya Rytha Sangha, submitted that the Vani Vilas Sagar reservoir was built for irrigating lands and supplying drinking water in Hiriyur. With the monsoons failing from 1990 to 2003, the drought-hit farmers were unable to pay the irrigation charges and land revenue. The Revenue Department had recently issued demand notices for the recovery of arrears and in default to auction the lands of the defaulters.

The petitioner contended that the demand was illegal, causing distress to poor ryots.

UNI XR GD RR PC2047