# Karnataka HC: SC/ST panel can’t decide land title disputes

2026-08-14T17:41:13+00:00 | Governance | Indian Opinion Desk

Corroboration: 1 independent outlet

The Karnataka High Court has ruled that the State SC/ST Commission cannot adjudicate disputes over immovable property title or order mutation of land records. Justice Suraj Govindaraj held the Commission is only a recommendatory body, not a parallel court. The order quashed a 2023 Commission directive that declared certain forest land at Seebi Agrahara in Sira Taluk as non-forest and ordered its mutation in favour of private parties. The state government had challenged the order, arguing the land was notified as forest in 1947 under the Mysore Forest Regulation. The court agreed the Commission had exceeded its jurisdiction by attempting to decide title and forest status.

## Coverage

- timesofindia.indiatimes.com <https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bengaluru/karnataka-state-sc-st-commission-lacks-power-to-decide-disputes-over-the-title-or-the-status-of-immovable-property-high-court/articleshow/133244336.cms>

Tags: forest department, Justice Suraj Govindaraj, Karnataka High Court, Karnataka SC/ST Commission
Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/karnataka-hc-sc-st-panel-cant-decide-land-title-disputes/
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Cite: https://indianopinion.org/karnataka-hc-sc-st-panel-cant-decide-land-title-disputes/#story-in-brief

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