State clarifies stand on special courts to try land grabbing cases

Establishment of special courts for speedy disposal of land grabbing cases in the State moved a little closer with the State government earlier this week replying to clarifications sought by the Centre on the Karnataka Land Gra­b­bing Prohibition Bill 2011, which is pending before the President for assent.

Governor H R Bhardwaj had sent the bill, which has been passed by both houses of legislature in 2011, to the President for assent. The Union Law Ministry had sought clarifications from the State government on the availability of resources for setting up the special courts and the status of pendency of land grabbing cases. “The State has replied to all the clarification sought by the Centre. The matter was referred to the State law department and the file has now been sent to the Centre”, Revenue Department Principal Secretary Basavaraju told Deccan Herald. 

He said the State has substantiated through statistics that dedicated special courts to try land grabbing cases were necessary. The Centre in its clarification had sought the State’s opinion whether such cases could be tried by CBI courts instead of setting up special courts.

The bill provides that all government land grab cases should be disposed within six months and provides for criminal action against those involved with  imprisonment up to three years as punishment.

According to official statistics more than 800 land grabbing cases have been filed in various courts and these would be transferred to the special courts once the bill gets the assent of the president, sources said.