More than 30 families in Nagalamadike village in Tumkur district have been fighting since 2014 against land eviction by the Muzrai department, a government department which is responsible for the monitoring of temples and religious institutions in the state. The department operates under the Karnataka Hindu Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowment (Amended) Act, 2011. In May 2014, the department sent a notice to the village residents that the 15-acre land on which they had built houses belonged to the government. However, the residents claim that the land was allotted to them 20 years ago by the Nagalamadike Panchayat to build houses and that they had been paying property tax for the last 20 years. According to the website of the Karnataka Public Lands Corporation Limited, the families have encroached on government land as they do not have title deeds to the allotted land. While panchayat officials claim they are against eviction, the villagers accuse them of siding with the government. One of the village residents, who did not wish to be named, told LCW that the panchayat had been making fake promises to the residents, assuring them of protection against eviction. "In 2016, the Muzrai department tried to evict us, and no one came to our rescue. We have submitted several petitions to the tehsil officer, and we will keep fighting until we get a permanent solution." Panchayat Development Officer B. Narasimmappa told LCW that he was doing everything in his power to stop the eviction by the government. "The Muzrai department has now agreed to give titles to the people who claim ownership over the 15 acres of land. We are waiting for the paperwork to be done, he said. However, the Muzrai department has only given a verbal assurance of providing land titles. No formal announcement has been made in this regard.
Demand/Contention of the Affected Community
Demand for legal recognition of land rights
Government Bodies Involved in the Conflict:
Muzrai Department, Nagalamadike panchayat
Corporate Parties Involved in the Conflict:
Other Parties Involved in the Conflict:
Legislations Involved in the Conflict:
Legal Processes and Loopholes Enabling the Conflict:
Legal Status:
Out of Court
Name(s) of Court(s)
Case Number
Nature of Protest
Protests/marches, Complaints, petitions, memorandums to officials
Major Human Rights Violations Related to the Conflict:
Reported Details of the Violation:
Date of Violation
Location of Violation
Has the Conflict Ended?
When did it end?
Why did the conflict end?