Deputy Commissioners Have Given Publication Inviting Public To Furnish Information On Availability Of Burial Grounds: State To Karnataka HC

The State Government has informed the Karnataka High Court that all the Deputy Commissioners have given a paper publication inviting the general public to furnish information regarding the availability of burial grounds in the respective villages/towns/cities.

A Division Bench of Justice B. Veerappa and Justice Venkatesh Naik T noted, “In pursuance of the order dated 16.03.2023, Sri Kiran Kumar, learned High Court Government Pleader filed the affidavit of Sri N.Jayaram, Secretary, Department of Revenue, stating that all the Deputy Commissioners of the State have given paper publication inviting general public to furnish information regarding availability of burial ground in the respective villages/towns/cities. After collecting information, they will take steps to provide burial grounds to all the villages in the State of Karnataka.”

The Bench was dealing with a contempt petition filed by the petitioner accusing the government of failing to act on the order passed by the High Court in the year 2019 directing the State Government to provide land for graveyards in all villages of the State.

The petitioner named Mohammed Ikbal appeared in person in this matter.

Earlier in January this year, the Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai-led government had submitted that 27,903 villages in Karnataka already had burial grounds and 319 villages were yet to be provided graveyards.

The affidavit of the Department of Revenue reads as:

“I most respectfully submit that as per the orders of this Hon'ble Court on 16.03.2023 all the Deputy Commissioners of the State have given paper publication inviting the general public to furnish the information regarding availability of burial ground in their respective villages/towns/cities. … I most respectfully submit that for the sake of brevity as per the reports of the Deputy Commissioners the details of the publication with respect to dates and names of the news papers is produced along with this affidavit at Annexure-R1. The state undertakes to furnish a detail report regarding providing of burial grounds based upon the information received, subsequent to receiving the information from general public. The state undertakes to furnish the said information and report compliance before this Hon'ble court within two weeks.”

The High Court in view of the above observed that the HCGP is seeking two weeks’ time.

“Sri Manjunath, learned counsel for impleading applicant whose application was allowed, has filed the memo dated 06.04.2023, stating that Deputy Commissioner, Bengaluru Urban District has reserved Sy No.108 measuring 20 guntas situated at Rajapura village as burial ground for the benefit of Masthanahalli villagers. Similarly, Sy.No.26 measuring 30 gunats situated at Rajapura village is reserved as burial ground exclusively for Rajapura villagers. The official memorandum dated 21.03.2023 is produced along with the Merno. The Memo along with official memorandum is placed on record”, said the Court.

The Court in view of the affidavit filed by the Secretary, Department of Revenue, granted a time of two weeks to file the necessary affidavit.

Accordingly, the Court listed the matter for next hearing on April 20, 2023.

Cause Title- Mohammed Ikbal v. M. Maheshwar Rao

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