Neighbour grabs land for 40 years but loses case

In a land dispute case in Karnataka, a neighbour attempted to seize 4 acre 11 guntas of land from its rightful owner, Mr. Horakerappa, who had owned the property since 1951. The neighbour, Mr. Thimmappa, had purchased land adjacent to Horakerappa's property and claimed ownership based on 40 years of adverse possession and his name appearing in column 12 of land revenue records.

However, the Karnataka High Court ruled that mere possession and an incorrectly listed name in revenue records do not grant ownership. The court emphasized that the individual must provide evidence of their title to the land and prove how they acquired possession. Thimmappa's admission of Horakerappa's 1951 grant and the 1998 sale deed, which identified Horakerappa's boundaries, contradicted his claim of adverse possession.

Consequently, the high court restored the trial court's decision, reinstating Horakerappa's ownership of the land and ending his 40-year battle.