Bengaluru, Oct. 3 -- The Karnataka high court has expressed "a deep sense of regret" while denying five acres of agricultural land to a landless ex-serviceman, saying it was constrained by amended rules that provide for a residential site when agricultural land is unavailable.

"We pass this order with a heavy heart, as the State does not have five acres of land to be granted to a soldier who has served the nation," a bench of justices DK Singh and H Shanthi Bhushan said while setting aside a 2022 order of a single judge directing the authorities to grant the land to the ex-serviceman.

The bench said that it was conscious of the "services and sacrifices" rendered by petitioner Vemanna G, but was nevertheless constrained by the amended Ka...