BENGALURU: Karnataka high court recently directed the state forest department to refund Rs 4.3 lakh deposited by a Kodagu landowner in 1982, with 6% interest per annum. The order came a year after his death in 2023.
One Mahabaleshwar Bhat had deposited the amount after he was granted approval to fell 349 trees standing on the 38.5 acres of land he had purchased in Karnataka’s Kodagu district.
On Feb 1, 1983, permission was granted for cutting of trees and he paid Rs 4,33,082, the assessed value.
Bhat later realised that, by mistake, he had mentioned in the application that the land in question was “Sagu Bane land” (land adjoining a forest where trees cannot be felled), even though it was actually “alienated Sagu Bane land”. According to rules, no deposit is required to cut trees on “alienated Sagu Bane land.”
Bhat first requested authorities for a refund of the amount paid by him. His request was turned down by the forest department on Apr 25, 2012.
His appeal against this decision was also rejected by the appellate authority in the department. Bhat then challenged the appellate authority’s order in HC, reiterating what was stated in his representation.
The govt also reiterated its stand. In the meantime, Bhat died and was replaced by his legal representatives in this petition in 2023.