The Karnataka High Court has restored the Union government’s claim to land used by the Indian Air Force at Yelahanka, reversing a lower court ruling that favoured a private claimant.
In its 28 September decision, the appellate bench examined a 1943 acquisition notice, a 1944 survey, compensation records, a village map and the Military Land Register. Taken together, those records identified the disputed parcel as part of the airfield, despite a later discrepancy in its survey number. The judges found that a 1995 sale agreement could not convey title after the original owner had already lost the land through acquisition.
The court set aside the single judge’s July orders and reinstated decisions of the assistant and deputy commissioners recognising the defence claim. It noted that the land forms part of an aircraft taxi track, making accurate identification of the historic acquisition especially consequential.