In the Karnataka Land Revenue Act, 1964 (Karnataka Act 12 of 1964),-
(1) in section 4,-
(i) in the heading, for the words "divided into Districts” the words “divided into Regions Regions into Districts" shall be substituted;
(ii) after the heading, the following sub-section shall be inserted, namely:- “ (1) The State Government may, by notification, determine the areas in the State which shall form a region and may, by notification, alter the limits of or abolish the region so formed.”
(iii) in sub-section (2), for the words "The State” the words " Each Region" shall be substituted.
(2) In section 6,-
(i) in the heading, for the word "districts" the words and comma “ regions, districts,” shall be substituted.
(ii) for the word "districts" in the three places, the words and comma “ regions, districts,” shall be substituted.
(3) After section 6, the following new sections shall be inserted, namely:- “ 7. Appointment, duties and functions of Regional Commissioner.- (1) The State Government shall, by notification, appoint for each Region, a Regional Commissioner.
(2) Subject to the control of the State Government, the Regional Commissioner shall be the Chief Revenue Officer in the region and shall exercise powers of superintendence and control within the region over all Officers subordinate to him.
(3) The Regional Commissioner shall exercise the powers and discharge the duties conferred and imposed on him by or under this Act or any other law for the time being in force. He shall also exercise such powers and discharge such duties as the State Government may confer or impose in this behalf for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of this Act or any other law for the time being in force.
(4) In section 8,in sub-section (1), after the words “ Deputy Commissioner” the words "who shall be subordinate to the Regional Commissioner" shall be inserted.
(5) In section 9, in sub-section (3), for the words, figure and brackets “ The Special Deputy Commissioner appointed under sub-section (1) shall be subordinate to the Deputy Commissioner of the District,” the words “The Special Deputy Commissioner appointed under sub-section (1) shall be subordinate to the Regional Commissioner. He shall also be subordinate to the Deputy Commissioner of the district,” shall be substituted.
(6) In section 10, in sub-section (1), for the words “the Deputy Commissioner” the words “the Regional Commissioner and the Deputy Commissioner” shall be substituted.
(7) In section 13, for the words “ Deputy Commissioner” the words “Regional Commissioner or Deputy 3 Commissioner" shall be substituted.
(8) In section 14, before sub-section (2), the following sub-section shall be inserted, namely:- “(1) If the Regional Commissioner is disabled from performing his duties, or is on leave or for any reason vacates his office or dies, the Deputy Commissioner stationed at the headquarters of the Regional Commissioner, shall unless other provision is made by the Government, succeed temporarily to his office and shall be deemed to be the Regional Commissioner of the Region under this Act, until the Regional Commissioner resumes charge of his Region, or until the Government appoints a successor to the former Regional Commissioner, and such successor takes charge of his appointment.”
(9) In section 15, in sub-section (1), for the words "The Deputy Commissioner may, subject to the general orders of the State Government" the words “The Deputy Commissioner may subject to the general orders of the Regional Commissioner or the State Government" shall be substituted.
(10) In section 16, in sub-section (1), for the words “The State Government” the words “The State Government and the Regional Commissioner” shall be substituted.
(11) In section 27, before sub-section (2), the following sub-sections shall be inserted, namely:-
(1) The Tribunal, on an application made to it in this behalf or otherwise may, if it is of opinion that it is expedient for the ends of justice, order that any case or class of cases arising under this Act, or any other law for the time being in force, be transferred from any Regional Commissioner to any other Regional Commissioner.
(1A) The Regional Commissioner, on an application made to him in this behalf or otherwise, may, if he is of opinion that it is expedient for the ends of justice, order that any case or class of cases arising under this Act, or any other law for the time being in force, be transferred from any Revenue Officer to any other Revenue Officer competent to deal with it in the same district or any other district in the same region.”
(12) In section 40, in sub-section (2), in clause (a), for the words "a Secretary to Government" the words “Regional Commissioner” shall be substituted.
(13) In section 49, after clause (c), following shall be inserted, namely:- “(d) if such an order is passed by the Regional Commissioner, to the Tribunal.”
(14) In section 69, for the words “ the State Government” the words “the State Government, the Regional Commissioner” shall be substituted.
(15) In section 122-B, in sub-section (2) for the words, “may, within sixty days from the date of such order, appeal to the Tribunal and the decision of the Tribunal” the words ''may, within sixty days from the date of such order, appeal to the Regional Commissioner, and the decision of the Regional Commissioner” shall be substituted.