Land row: Karnataka HC directs State govt. not to dispossess HMT from its land while asking company not to fell trees - The HinduPublished - July 29, 2026 10:51 pm IST - BengaluruHMT gave an undertaking to the High Court that it would not deal with the land remaining in its possession in any manner, including by way of sale, lease or licence, nor encumber it by creating any charge or changing the character of the property. | Photo Credit: SUDHAKARA JAINThe High Court of Karnataka on Wednesday restrained the State government from dispossessing HMT Ltd., a Public Sector Undertaking (PSU), of its land situated in Jalahalli, Bengaluru, while restraining the PSU from felling any trees on the vacant land in its possession, other than the lands already alienated in favour of third parties.Justice Suraj Govindaraj passed the interim order on a petition filed by the company challenging the June 15 order passed by the authorised officer and Deputy Conservator of Forests (DCF), Bengaluru Urban, asking HMT to hand over 430 acres and 21 guntas in the Peenya Plantation and Jarakabande Sandal Reserve to the Forest Department within 30 days after finding it to be “forest land”.As it was pointed out to the court that the issue relating to the status of the land as “forest land” is pending before the apex court, Justice Govindaraj said the final adjudication of HMT’s petition would be subject to the outcome of the proceedings before the apex court.UndertakingMeanwhile, HMT gave an undertaking to the High Court that it would not deal with the land remaining in its possession in any manner, including by way of sale, lease or licence, nor encumber it by creating any charge or changing the character of the property.In its petition, HMT claimed that the proceedings initiated by the Forest Department under Section 64A (penalty for unauthorisedly taking possession of land constituted as reserved forest) of the Karnataka Forest Act, 1963, were without jurisdiction, as the lands had been granted to the company during 1960-61 by the erstwhile State of Mysore, before the commencement of the 1963 Act.It was also contended in the petition that the proceedings conducted by the DCF amounted to an abuse of the process of law, as the issue relating to the status of the land, including an application filed by the State government itself, was pending before the apex court.Published - July 29, 2026 10:51 pm ISTSign in to unlock member-only benefits!Access 10 free stories every monthSave stories to read laterAccess to comment on every storySign-up/manage your newsletter subscriptions with a single clickGet notified by email for early access to discounts & offers on our products${ ind + 1 } ${ device }Last active - ${ la }