High Court Resolves 13-Year Dispute Over Chamundi Hills Land

Mysuru: The long-standing dispute over the land atop Chamundi Hills has been settled by the High Court, which ruled that the land is classified as forest land based on records provided by the forest department. This decision overturns the 2010 trial court verdict that had declared the land as private property belonging to Mallaiah’s family.

The dispute centered on a multi-storey parking lot built by the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) on a 20-year lease from the forest department. Mallaiah’s family claimed ownership of the land, leading to a legal battle that began in 2011. The trial court had initially ruled in favor of the family, directing state authorities to transfer the land to them.

Following the trial court’s decision, KSRTC appealed to the High Court, and the forest department revisited its records to assert ownership. The breakthrough came in 2023 when it was discovered that Chamundi Hills had been declared state forest land in 1940 under the Mysore Forest Act of 1900. This crucial document led the High Court to rule that once land is classified as forest, it remains so permanently.

The High Court has directed the relevant authorities to update the revenue records within three months, concluding the protracted legal battle. The family had previously argued that the land, including the area with the parking lot, was private property based on historical revenue records.