The Karnataka government has warned of disciplinary action against officials who altered land mutation records and issued eviction notices to farmers under the Trust Act.

In a letter to regional commissioners and deputy commissioners, Revenue Department Principal Secretary Rajender Kumar Kataria reminded the officials of a recent meeting held by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. The meeting discussed complaints regarding transfer of certain land properties to the Karnataka Waqf Board.

In his letter, Kataria emphasized that the meeting rescinded all previous directives from any government department or authority to change mutation records. In addition, the eviction notices previously served to the farmers have been canceled and no action should be taken against the farmers currently cultivating the land in question.

In the letter, it was stated that all reminders sent to farmers and landowners as of November 7, in line with the instructions of the Prime Minister, were withdrawn.

The chief secretary warned that officials who ignore the CM’s directives and continue to issue eviction notices will face appropriate disciplinary action. He reiterated that it was imperative to strictly follow the CM’s instructions.

The new directive comes just ahead of bypolls to be held on November 13 in three key assembly constituencies in Karnataka.

The controversy arose when farmers in Honwad village of Vijayapura in north Karnataka reported that they were served with eviction notices after the Wakf Board claimed possession of the land. Soon, complaints began coming from other parts of the state.

On October 25, BJP leader Tejasvi Surya accused Karnataka Wakf Minister BZ Zameer Ahmed Khan of directing deputy commissioners and revenue officials to register the land in favor of the Wakf Board within 15 days, leading to confusion.

In response to these allegations, Jagdambika Pal, Chairman of Parliament’s Joint Committee on the Wakf (Amendment) Bill, visited Karnataka on November 7 to meet farmers in Hubballi, Vijayapura and Belagavi districts who claimed that their lands were marked as waqf property. .

Meanwhile, the Karnataka Waqf Board has designated 17 monuments within the historic Bidar Fort in Karnataka as its property, sources in the district administration said on November 6. These properties are among the important landmarks of the fort located in Bidar town, the district headquarters. .

(With inputs from PTI)