I have posted updates that I continue to pursue the matter with my lawyer.  I have also written several letters to Karnataka’s Chief Minister and Revenue Minister and officials.

In the meantime, I also tried to get an update on the matter at the Bengaluru DC office. As you can imagine, the babus and officials were unresponsive and “busy” with other matters when approached with an inquiry.

While near the office, an agent approached me and claimed he regularly deals with matters at the office. After gathering details of my case, the agent called back a few days later and quoted an amount in several LAKH rupees to have the matter resolved. His explanation was simple – some officials pay lakhs, or crores of rupees to political leaders to get appointed to these positions and expect to recoup their “investment.”  

I had read articles like this - Transfer racket: Officials pay in lakhs for plum posts Public officials are paying astronomical bribes to get lucrative postings. In another article, according to The Hindu, Karnataka contractors’ association has recently complained to the Prime Minister accusing the elected representatives and officers of demanding 40% of funds allotted for government works as kickbacks.

It is one thing to read about these issues and requests for kickbacks, but to confront such a request can come as a jolt. Faced with this prospect of paying a huge amount of my hard-earned money in a bribe, I decided to stop dealing with the middlemen. 

After waiting for nearly two decades, I am not going to rush and “pay up” to get the matter resolved. I firmly believe that justice may be delayed, but not denied! 

I am also optimistic after reading a recent  an article in Deccan Herald, Karnataka Chief Minister @BSBommai has set a 3-month deadline for automatic land conversion.

In addition, there are thousands of revenue cases pending in tahsildar and assistant commissioner courts across the state. These are cases pending for close to two decades. “At the pace it is being resolved, these cases will take another four years to be disposed of. We will appoint more tahsildars, assistant commissioners and support staff to dispose of the cases soon,” Bommai added.