Supreme Court allows Kumaraswamy to move High Court against eviction notice

Supreme Court allows H.D. Kumaraswamy to challenge eviction notice in Karnataka High Court, calling it a "comedy of errors."

The Supreme Court on Friday (March 28, 2025) permitted Union Minister and JD(S) leader H.D. Kumaraswamy to pursue his remedy in the Karnataka High Court against an eviction notice issued by revenue authorities on the basis of contempt proceedings in which he is not a party.

Appearing before a Bench of Justices Pankaj Mithal and S.V.N. Bhatti, senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi with advocate Balaji Srinivasan termed the turn of events a “comedy of errors”.

The top court told the Minister that since he had already challenged the order of eviction in the State High Court in a separate writ petition, he could raise his submissions there in accordance with the law.

The Bench agreed that Mr. Kumaraswamy was put in a predicament by being issued an eviction order when he had already been removed from the contempt proceedings.

“The order of eviction is based on the contempt proceedings. Suddenly, I am being issued an eviction order on it,” Mr. Rohatgi submitted on behalf of his client.

The dispute concerned allegations that Mr. Kumaraswamy and his associates had encroached on government land at Kethaganahalli village near Bidadi.

Mr. Kumaraswamy has maintained in the High Court that the land was purchased by him, and he was a political target for the Congress government in the State.