1) the amendment to Karnataka land reforms act empowers deputy commissioners of districts, instead of assistant commissioners, to grant permission for non-agriculturists to purchase agricultural land under Section 80 of the Act.

KARNATAKA LAND REVENUE ACT

RESTRICTIONS ON HOLDING OR TRANSFER OF AGRICULTURAL LANDS

79A. Acquisition of land by certain persons prohibited.—

(1) On and from the commencement of the the Karnataka Land Reforms (Amendment) Act, 1995, no person who or a family or a joint family which has an assured annual income of not less than rupees two lakhs (the latest limit is Rs. 25 lakhs)from sources other than agricultural lands shall be entitled to acquire any land whether as land owner, landlord, tenant or mortgagee with possession or otherwise or partly in one capacity and partly in another.

(2) For purposes of sub-section (1)—

(i) the aggregate income of all the members of a family or a joint family from sources other than agricultural land shall be deemed to be income of the family or joint family, as the case may be, from such sources;

(ii) a person or a family or a joint family shall be deemed to have an assured annual income of not less than rupees two lakhs from sources other than agricultural land on any day if such person or family or joint family had an average annual income of not less than rupees two lakhs from such sources during a period of five consecutive years preceding such day.

Explanation.—A person who or a family or a joint family which has been assessed to income tax under the Income Tax Act, 1961 (Central Act 43 of 1961) on an yearly total income of not less than rupees two lakhs for five consecutive years shall be deemed to have an average annual income of not less than rupees two lakhs from sources other than agricultural lands.

(3) Every acquisition of land otherwise than by way of inheritance or bequest in contravention of this section shall be null and void.

(4) Where a person acquires land in contravention of sub-section (1) or acquires it by bequest or inheritence he shall, within ninety days from the date of acquisition, furnish to the Tahsildar having jurisdiction over the Taluk where the land acquired or the greater part of it is situated a declaration containing the following particulars, namely:—

(i) particulars of all lands;

(ii) the average annual income of himself or the family;

(iii) such other particulars as may be prescribed.

(5) The Tahsildar shall, on receipt of the declaration under sub-section (4) and after such enquiry as may be prescribed send a statement containing the prescribed particulars relating to such land to the Deputy

Commissioner who shall, by notification, declare that with effect from such date as may be specified in the notification, such land shall stand transferred to and vest in the State Government without further assurance free from all encumbrances. From the date specified in such notification the Deputy Commissioner may take possession of such land in such manner as may be prescribed.

(6) For the land vesting in the State Government under sub-section (5), where the acquisition of the land was by bequest or inheritance, an amount as specified in section 72 shall be paid and where the acquisition was otherwise than by bequest or inheritance, no amount shall be paid.

79B. Prohibition of holding agricultural land by certain persons.—(1) With effect on and from the date of commencement of the Amendment Act, except as otherwise provided in this Act,—

(a) no person other than a person cultivating land personally shall be entitled to hold land; and

(b) it shall not be lawful for,-

(i) an educational, religious or charitable institution or society or trust, other than an institution or society or trust referred to in sub-section (7) of section 63, capable of holding property;

(ii) a company;

(iii) an association or other body of individuals not being a joint family, whether incorporated or not; or

(iv) a co-operative society other than a co-operative farm,

to hold any land.

(2) Every such institution, society, trust, company, association, body or co-operative society,—

(a) which holds lands on the date of commencement of the Amendment Act and which is disentitled to hold lands under sub-section (1), shall, within ninety days from the said date, furnish to the Tahsildar within whose jurisdiction the greater part of such land is situated a declaration containing the particulars of such land and such other particulars as may prescribed; and

(b) which acquires such land after the said date shall also furnish a similar declaration within the prescribed period.

(3) The Tahsildar shall, on receipt of the declaration under sub-section (2) and after such enquiry as may be prescribed, send a statement containing the prescribed particulars relating to such land to the Deputy Commissioner who shall, by notification, declare that such land shall vest in the State Government free from all encumbrances and take possession thereof in the prescribed manner.

(4) In respect of the land vesting in the State Government under this section an amount as specified in section 72 shall be paid.

Explanation.—For purposes of this section it shall be presumed that a land is held by an institution, trust, company, association or body where it is held by an individual on its behalf.

79C. Penalty for failure to furnish declaration.—(1) Where a person fails to furnish the declaration under section 79A or section 79B or furnishes a declaration knowing or having reason to believe it to be false, the Tahsildar shall issue a notice in the prescribed form to such person to show cause within fifteen days from the date of service thereof why the penalty specified in the notice, which may extend to five hundred rupees, may not be imposed upon such person.

(2) If the Tahsildar on considering the reply, if any, filed is satisfied that the person had failed to furnish the declaration without reasonable cause or had filed it, knowing or having reason to believe it to be false, he may, by order, impose the penalty and also require such person to furnish within a period of one month from the date of the order a true and correct declaration complete in all particulars.

(3) If the person fails to comply with such order, his right, title and interest in the land concerned shall, as penalty, be forfeited to and vest in the State Government.

The above information is the rules involving the purchase of the agriculture land in Karnataka by non-agriculturists.

After you zero in on a property to buy, do legal due diligence. You must check if the property can be transferred.

This is important because the land may have been only leased and hence not saleable. Also, land granted by the Government under some provision requires permissions for sale. For example, land given to freedom fighters or ex-servicemen can only be transferred with the collector’s permission.

You need to check if the seller has the right to transfer the property. For instance, if the owners are minors, prior permission of a court is needed before transfer to third parties.

Any transfer by a guardian without court permission can be challenged by the minor within three years of him/her attaining majority, cautions Aarthi.

A common issue you may face is that the death certificates for a deceased land owner and legal heir certificates are not available.