New Delhi, Sept. 3 -- The Karnataka High Court, relying on several Supreme Court precedents, has ruled that merely possessing a property for a long period does not by itself establish ownership through adverse possession. The court also clarified that an incorrectly recorded name in a particular column of land revenue records cannot independently create a title to the property.

In simple terms, occupying another person's land without permission-even for more than 12 years-is not sufficient to establish adverse possession. A person claiming such a right must demonstrate how possession began, establish the hostile nature of that possession and substantiate the legal basis of the ownership claim before a court.

The High Court further obser...