In Brief
The case concerns restoration of land granted to Scheduled Castes under the Karnataka SC/ST (Prohibition of Transfer of Certain Lands) Act, 1978. Rajappa, heir to the original grantee Kriyappa, sought restoration of land sold in 1977 through a buyer in 1984. Although the Act prohibits such transfers, Rajappa's application came 25 years after the Act commenced. While the Act does not prescribe a specific limitation period, the Supreme Court held that applications must be made within a reasonable time. The Court allowed the appeal, overruling Karnataka High Court judgments that permitted applications at any time, holding that unreasonable delay bars relief.
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