MADIKERI: A new steering committee to further the demand of tree rights to the landholders and tackle restrictions on the Jamma Bane issue in Kodagu district was formed here, former MLC, A.K. Subbaiah, announced on Tuesday.

He was addressing a joint press conference with former president of the zilla parishat, J.A. Karumbaiah, who will head the committee. Mr. Subbaiah said the committee would demand the State Government and its representatives concerned to visit Kodagu to resolve the Jamma Bane rights issue and the issue of conferring tree rights to the landholders on their lands. Taking out delegations to the Chief Ministers in Bangalore had gone in vain, Mr. Subbaiah said.

Referring to the recent circular issued by the Revenue Secretary, S.M. Jamdaar, which stated that people in Kodagu had no right over Jamma Bane lands, Mr. Subbaiah, blamed certain environmental groups for the issuance of the circular. He accused the groups of attempting to belittle the judgment of the Chekkera Poovaiah case, through which people had won the right to buy or sell or cultivate the Jamma (it is a form of land tenure) land. Such lands, after cultivation could be brought under revenue assessment for claiming full occupancy rights.

A mere circular could not do away with the court order or undermine it, he added. Mr. Karumbaiah said the Deputy Commissioner could settle the issues instead of referring it to the Government. The Karnataka Land Revenue Act (KLRA) of 1964 had come into being in Kodagu, repealing the 1899 British Act. Section 201 of the KLRA did provide an opportunity to resolve any difficulty arising out of the 1899 Act.

The landholders in Kodagu would demand the district administration to take steps for correct Record of Rights, Tenancy & Crops entries, Mr. Karumbaiah said. Officials in the district had been interpreting archaic rules to create problems for the people of the district. The landholders had decided not to demonstrate or protest against Jamdaar circular since it amounted to contempt of court. Dr. Durgaprasad announced the names of the steering committee, comprising Mr. Subbaiah, Mr. Karumbaiah, M.S. Uthappa, Nanda Subbaiah, B.T. Pradeep, C.M. Kaveriappa, N. Umesh, P. Vishwanath, B.T. Dinesh, K. Bharat, apart from himself.

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