Karnataka High Court Halts State Move to Reclaim HMT Land Amid Forest Status Dispute
Justice Suraj Govindaraj issued an interim stay preventing the Karnataka government from seizing 430 acres of land from public sector undertaking HMT Ltd. The ruling freezes the status quo as the Supreme Court deliberates whether the property qualifies as reserve forest.
Judicial Intervention Freezes Dispossession Order
The High Court of Karnataka has intervened in a high-stakes property dispute between the state government and HMT Ltd., a central public sector undertaking. On Wednesday, Justice Suraj Govindaraj issued an interim order restraining state authorities from dispossessing the company of its land in Jalahalli, Bengaluru. This decision follows HMT’s legal challenge against a June 15 directive from the Deputy Conservator of Forests (DCF), which demanded the immediate handover of 430 acres and 21 guntas situated within the Peenya Plantation and Jarakabande Sandal Reserve.
Environmental and Commercial Restrictions
While the court protected HMT from eviction, it imposed strict limitations on the company’s activities on the site. The PSU is now prohibited from felling any trees on the vacant portions of the land still under its control. Furthermore, HMT provided a formal undertaking to the court, committing to the following restrictions:
- The company will not sell, lease, or license the remaining land.
- No new charges or encumbrances will be created on the property.
- The physical character of the site must remain unchanged during the litigation.
Jurisdictional Conflicts and Legal Arguments
At the heart of HMT’s petition is the argument that the Forest Department acted without jurisdiction. The company maintains that the land was granted by the former State of Mysore during 1960-61, predating the Karnataka Forest Act of 1963. HMT legal counsel argued that initiating proceedings under Section 64A of the 1963 Act—which penalizes unauthorized possession of reserved forests—is an abuse of legal process.
The court noted that the ultimate classification of the site as "forest land" is currently under review by the Supreme Court of India. Consequently, Justice Govindaraj clarified that the final resolution of this petition will depend entirely on the verdict delivered by the apex court. For now, the stay ensures the land remains with the PSU while prohibiting further industrial or environmental degradation.
Source: The Hindu — Home
