Mysore : Upa Lokayukta (II) Justice Subhash B Adi on Friday took to task the officials of Revenue department for being errant in discharging their duties.

This follows a series of such cases that came up for hearing at the public complaints and disposal meeting held at Police Bhavan in the city.

In a case, the Upa Lokayukta was shocked to learn from a petitioner that the government land of 83 acres at Kallur Naganahalli, Yelwal hobli is being cultivated by others, thanks to the official apathy. Sudheendra of Anandur alleged that survey number (41) was a lake and gomala area (cattle grazing land). However, private parties have encroached upon it and are cultivating it.

Following this, the anti-corruption ombudsman questioned the integrity of surveyors. He also reminded them of their duty to protect government properties, and sought a status report (of 83 acres of land) from Tahsildar (Mysore) Naveen Joseph within two days.

In another case, Kondaiah and Ramamma couple of Giriyabhovi Palya levelled a grave allegation on the Revenue officials for being hand in glove with vested interests, selling 4.11 acres of land without their knowledge. The then Revenue inspector who appeared before the presiding officer (Upa Lokayukta) claimed that he issued the khata of the land on the basis of an application filed by a villager. Justice Adi who was taken aback by his version, later ordered the tahsildar to verify the documents again to establish the ownership of the land.

Ravi of Yelwal hobli claimed that four acres of land owned by his father was purchased through general power of attorney (GPA) by a party for Karnataka Housing Board (KHB), for a whopping sum of Rs 1.64 crore. But all that was deposited in his father’s bank account was Rs 41 lakh. DySP (Mysore rural) Srihari Bargur was ordered to file a report.

In all 114 complaints had been filed for hearing in the Mysore sub-division, including 24 from Nanjangud and 22 from T Narsipur. A majority among them were disposed in the meeting that lasted till about 10 pm.