- 1 - NC: 2025:KHC-D:1709 WP No. 104364 of 2016 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA, DHARWAD BENCH DATED THIS THE 29TH DAY OF JANUARY, 2025 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE M.NAGAPRASANNA WRIT PETITION NO. 104364 OF 2016 (GM-RES) BETWEEN: 1. SHEKARAPPA NIDAGUNDI S/O SIDDAPPA, DEAD BY LRS. 1A. SMT. SAVITRI W/O LATE SHEKARAPPA NIDAGUNDI, AGED ABOUT. 54 YEARS, OCC. NIL, R/O. KINNAL ROAD, 1ST CROSS, 2ND MAIN, KALYAN NAGAR, TQ & DIST. KOPPAL. 1B. SMT. RENUKA W/O PRAKASH MARIYAMMANAHALLI, D/O LATE SHEKARAPPA NIDAGUNDI, AGED ABOUT. 40YEARS, OCC. NIL, R/O. KINNAL ROAD, 1ST CROSS, 2ND MAIN, KALYAN NAGAR, TQ & DIST. KOPPAL. 1C. SMT. SHRIDEVI W/O SANTOSH PATTANASHETTY, D/O. LATE SHEKARAPPA NIDAGUNDI, AGED ABOUT. 40 YEARS, OCC. NIL, R/O. KINNAL ROAD, 1ST CROSS, 2ND MAIN, KALYAN NAGAR, TQ & DIST. KOPPAL. 1D. SMT. SHRIDEVI W/O U.B. SHANKAR LATE SHEKARAPPA NIDAGUNDI, Digitally signed by VISHAL NINGAPPA PATTIHAL Location: High Court of Karnataka, Dharwad Bench - 2 - NC: 2025:KHC-D:1709 WP No. 104364 of 2016 AGED ABOUT. 36 YEARS, OCC. NIL, R/O. RAJIV NAGAR, 4TH CROSS, TQ. KOTTURU, DIST. VIJAYANAGAR. 1E. SHASHIKUMAR S/O LATE SHEKERAPPA NIDAGUNDI, AGED ABOUT.34 YEARS, OCC. NIL, R/O. KINNAL ROAD, 1ST CROSS, 2ND MAIN, KALYAN NAGAR, TQ & DIST. KOPPAL. …PETITIONERS (BY SRI. RAVI HEGDE, ADVOCATE) AND: THE DIVISIONAL CONTROLLER, NEKRTC REPRESENTED BY DIVISIONAL CONTROLLER, KOPPAL DIVISION, KOPPAL. …RESPONDENT (BY SRI. S.S. BADAWADAGI, ADVOCATE) THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLE 226 AND 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA IS PRAYING TO QUASH THE ORDERR DATED 06.05.2016, NO. FPÀgÀ¸Á:PÉÆ«:PÁ«ÄðPÀ:ªÀUÀÈ:2359:16 PASSED BY THE RESPONDENT VIDE ANNEXURE-E AND ETC., THIS WRIT PETITION, COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY HEARING, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: ORAL ORDER (PER: THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE M.NAGAPRASANNA) 1. The petitioner is before this Court calling in question an order dated: 06.05.2016, where by amount of Rs.2,77,520/-, is withheld from the terminal benefits - 3 - NC: 2025:KHC-D:1709 WP No. 104364 of 2016 of the petitioner on account of his over staying in the official quarters towards damages and rent from 2014 till 31.03.2016. 2. Heard the learned counsel Sri.Ravi Hegde, appearing for petitioner and learned counsel Sri.Shivakumar S. Badawadagi, appearing for respondent. 3. The petitioner is a driver in the respondent- the Divisional Controller, NEKRTC, Rep.by Divisional Controller, Koppal Division, Koppal (for short “Corporation”). On his capacity of being a Corporation servant was allotted official quarters on 07.12.2010. The petitioner then on certain omissions and commissions had been placed at the suspension and suspension then comes to be revoked. He is posted to Koppal Depot on deputation, until further orders. The petitioner did not vacate the premises or the official quarters that was allotted to him on 07.12.2010. For the first time, a notice comes to be issued by the Corporation on 24.02.2016 asking the petitioner to vacate the official - 4 - NC: 2025:KHC-D:1709 WP No. 104364 of 2016 quarters failing which they will charge damages or rent that is applicable. Immediately thereafter on 30.03.2016 the petitioner vacates the premises and hands over the keys. The impugned order is passed on 06.05.2016 determining the damages and rent payable at Rs.2,77,000/-. The said amount is now withheld from the terminal benefits of the petitioner. 4. Learned counsel Sri.Ravi Hegde appearing for the petitioner would submit that no proceeding in the eye of law is initiated to evict the petitioner and he was for the first time, given a notice on 24.02.2016. He has immediately vacated the premises, but after the receipt of the notice and therefore, there was no warrant for determining damages or penal rent as the case would be. The order passed determining the amount is contrary to the Karnataka Public Premises (Eviction Unauthorised Occupants) Act, 1974 is the submission of the learned counsel appearing for the petitioner. 5. Per contra, the learned counsel Sri.Shivakumar S.Badawadagi, representing the - 5 - NC: 2025:KHC-D:1709 WP No. 104364 of 2016 Corporation would vehemently refute the submission contending that once he was posted out on 20.02.2014 to Koppal, he ought to have vacated the official quarters that was allotted to him on 07.12.2010. However the unlawfully retained the property for two years and noticing the fact petitioner has not vacated the premises, a notice was caused upon on him and only after causing of the notice he has vacated the quarters. Therefore he is bound to pay the penal rent or damages as determined. 6. I have given my anxious consideration to the submissions made by the learned counsel appearing for the parties and perused the material on record. 7. The afore narrated facts are not in dispute. The allotment of official quarters to the petitioner is matter of record. That having been done, on 07.12.2010 is again matter of record on a particular rent. The petitioner after about 10 years incurs an - 6 - NC: 2025:KHC-D:1709 WP No. 104364 of 2016 order of suspension on certain misconduct and it is later revoked. On revocation, he is transferred to Kuknoor Depot and again on 20.02.2014 to Koppal Depot on deputation. It is the case of Corporation that once he was sent on deputation, he was bound to vacate the official quarters. Therefore the penal rent is correctly imposed. The submission is noted only to be rejected. The petitioner did not vacate the premises, but the Corporation has not done anything until 24.02.2016. The first notice that the petitioner was issued on 24.02.2016 reads as follows: “F±Á£Àå PÀ£ÁðlPÀ gÀ¸ÉÛ ¸ÁjUÉ ¸ÀA¸ÉÜ PÉÆ¥Àà¼À «¨sÁUÀ, PÉÆ¥Àà¼À, ¸ÀA:FPÀgÀ¸Á:PÉÆ«:PÁ«ÄðPÀ:ªÀUÉÊ:2307:2016 ¢:24-02-2016 £ÉÆà n ¸ÀÄ «µÀAiÀÄ:- ¸ÀA¸ÉÜAiÀÄ ªÀ¸Àw UÀȺÀ ¸ÀASÉå 06 £ÀÄß SÁ° ªÀiÁqÀĪÀ PÀÄjvÀÄ. G¯ÉèÃR:-1)¸ÀPÁðj C¢ü¸ÀÆZÀ£É ¸ÀASÉå:¦qÀ§Æèr:245:¦¦JA:96 ¢:22-01-99. 2)¸ÀA.PÀgÁ¸Á/PÉÆ«/PÁ±Á/ªÀUÉÊ/704/2010 ¢£ÁAPÀ:07-12-2010. 3 ¸ÀA.PÀgÁ¸À:/PÉÆ«/¸ÀA/C¥À/1213/931-¢::03-05-2013. 4)¸ÀA.FPÀgÀ¸Á/PÉÆ«/¸ÀA/C¥Àæ//12/13/2300, ¢:12-10-2013. ªÉÄîÌAqÀ «µÀAiÀÄPÉÌ ¸ÀA§A¢ü¹zÀAvÉ. vÀªÀÄUÉ F £ÉÆÃn¸ï eÁj ªÀiÁqÀĪÀzÉ£ÉAzÀgÉ G¯ÉèÃR 02 gÀ DzÉñÀzÀ ¥ÀæPÁgÀ vÁªÀÅ FPÀgÀ¸Á ¸ÀA¸ÉÜ, PÉÆ¥Àà¼À - 7 - NC: 2025:KHC-D:1709 WP No. 104364 of 2016 «¨sÁUÀ PÉÆ¥Àà¼À ªÁå¦ÛAiÀÄ°è §gÀĪÀ PÁ«ÄðPÀ ¹§âA¢UÀ¼À ªÀ¸Àw UÀȺÀzÀ°è ºÀAaPÉ ªÀiÁr¹PÉÆAqÀÄ ªÁ¸ÀªÁVgÀÄwÛj. vÁªÀÅ ªÀ¸Àw UÀȺÀzÀ°è ªÁ¸À«zÀÝ ¸ÀªÀÄAiÀÄzÀ°è ¢£ÁAPÀ:03-05-2013 gÀAzÀÄ G¯ÉèÃR 03 gÀ DzÉñÀzÀAvÉ C¥ÀWÁvÀ ¥ÀæPÀgÀtzÀ°è CªÀiÁ£ÀvÀÄÛUÉÆArgÀÄwÛj. vÀzÀ£ÀAvÀgÀ ¢£ÁAPÀ:12-10-2013 gÀAzÀÄ CªÀiÁ£ÀwÛ¤AzÀ vÉgÀªÀÅUÉÆAqÀÄ G¯ÉèÃR 04gÀ ¥ÀæPÁgÀ PÀÄPÀ£ÀÆgÀ WÀlPÀPÉÌ ¤AiÉÆÃd£ÉUÉÆArgÀÄwÛj. F ¥ÀæPÁgÀªÁV ¥ÀæPÀgÀtªÀ£ÀÄß ¥Àj²Ã°¹zÁUÀ G¯ÉèÃR 01gÀ C¢ü¸ÀÆZÀ£ÉAiÀÄ ¥ÀæPÁgÀ ªÀ¸Àw UÀȺÀzÀ°è ªÁ¹¸ÀĪÀªÀgÀÄ PÉÃAzÀæ ¸ÁÜ£À¢AzÀ ªÀUÁðªÀuÉAiÀiÁV ¨ÉÃgÉ PÀqÉ ¤AiÉÆÃd£ÉUÉÆAqÁUÀ ªÁ¹¸ÀĪÀ ªÀ¸Àw UÀȺÀªÀ£ÀÄß SÁ°ªÀiÁqÀ¨ÉÃPÁzÀ ¤AiÀĪÀÄ«gÀÄvÀÛzÉ. F ¥ÀæPÁgÀ vÁªÀÅ ¢£ÁAPÀ:12-10- 2013 gÀAzÀÄ CªÀiÁ£ÀvÀÄÛ vÉgÀªÀÅUÉƽ¹ PÀÄPÀ£ÀÆgÀ WÀlPÀPÉÌ ¤AiÉÆÃf¹zÀ ¥ÀæAiÀÄÄPÀÛ vÁªÀÅ F PÀÆqÀ¯Éà ªÀ¸Àw UÀȺÀªÀ£ÀÄß SÁ°ªÀiÁqÀ®Ä ¸ÀÆa¹zÉ. MAzÀÄ ªÉÃ¼É SÁ° ªÀiÁqÀ®Ä «¥sÀ®gÁzÀ°è F PɼÀV£ÀAvÉ zÀAqÀzÀ ¨ÁrUÉ «¢ü¸À¯ÁUÀĪÀÅzÀÄ. 1)¢£ÁAPÀ: 12-10-2013 jAzÀ 31-05-2014 gÀªÀgÉUÉ ¸ÁªÀiÁ£Àå ¨ÁrUÉ. 2)¢£ÁAPÀ::01-06-2014 jAzÀ 30-08-2014 JZï.Dgï.J X 3 wAUÀ¼ÀÄ X 2 ¥ÀlÄÖ 3)¢£ÁAPÀ:01-09-2014 jAzÀ 30-12-2014 JZï.Dgï.J X 3 wAUÀ¼ÀÄ X4 ¥ÀlÄÖ 4)¢£ÁAPÀ:01-01-2015 jAzÀ 31-01-2016 JZï.Dgï.J X 3 wAUÀ¼ÀÄ X 8 ¥ÀlÄÖ F ªÉÄð£ÀAvÉ vÀªÀÄUÉ zÀAqÀzÀ ¨ÁrUÉAiÀÄ£ÀÄß «¢ü¸À¯ÁUÀĪÀÅzÀÄ JAzÀÄ F ªÀÄÆ®PÀ w½¸À¯ÁVzÉ. DzÀÝjAzÀ F £ÉÆÃn¸ï vÀ®Ä¦zÀ 30 ¢£ÀzÉƼÀUÉ ªÀ¸Àw UÀȺÀªÀ£ÀÄß SÁ° ªÀiÁqÀ®Ä ¸ÀÆa¸À¯ÁVzÉ. «¨sÁVÃAiÀÄ ¤AiÀÄAvÀæuÁ¢üPÁj, FPÀgÀ¸Á ¸ÀA¸ÉÜ,PÉÆ¥Àà¼À «¨sÁUÀ,PÉÆ¥Àà¼À” 8. It is for the first time the Corporation issues a notice and directs the petitioner to vacate the premises, failing which damages or penal rent would be imposed on. The petitioner then immediately vacates the premises on 30.03.2016 is - 8 - NC: 2025:KHC-D:1709 WP No. 104364 of 2016 an admitted fact. Therefore, the petitioner on immediate receipt of notice has vacated the premises. Notwithstanding the same, the penal rent and damages is imposed in terms of the impugned order, which reads as follows: “ªÉÄîÌAqÀ «µÀAiÀÄPÉÌ ¸ÀA¨sÀ¢¹zÀAvÉ ²æÃ. ±ÉÃRgÀ¥Àà ¤qÀUÀÄA¢ ZÁ®PÀ - 87 PÉÆ¥Àà¼À vÁªÀÅ ªÀ¸Àw UÀȺÀzÀ°è ªÁ¸À«zÀÝ ¸ÀªÀÄAiÀÄzÀ°è ¢£ÁAPÀ-03-05-2013 gÀAzÀÄ G¯ÉèÃR 03 gÀ DzÉñÀzÀAvÉ C¥ÀWÁvÀ ¥ÀæPÀgÀtzÀ°è CªÀiÁ£ÀvÀÄÛUÉÆArgÀÄwÛj. vÀzÀ£ÀAvÀgÀ ¢£ÁAPÀ-12-10-2013 DªÀiÁ£ÀwÛ¤AzÀ vÉgÀªÀÅUÉÆAqÀÄ G¯ÉèÃR 04 gÀ ¥ÀæPÁgÀ PÀÄPÀ£ÀÆgÀ WÀlPÀPÉÌ ¤AiÉÆÃd£ÉUÉÆArgÀÄwÛj. F ¥ÀæPÁgÀªÁV ¥ÀæPÀgÀtªÀ£ÀÄß ¥Àj²Ã°¹zÁUÀ G¯ÉèÃR 01 gÀ C¢ü¸ÀÆZÀ£ÉAiÀÄ ¥ÀæPÁgÀ ªÀ¸Àw UÀȺÀzÀ°è ªÁ¹¸ÀĪÀªÀgÀÄ PÉÃAzÀæ ¸ÁÜ£À¢AzÀ ªÀUÁðªÀuÉAiÀiÁV ¨ÉÃgÉ PÀqÉ ¤AiÉÆÃd£ÉUÉÆAqÁUÀ ªÁ¹¸ÀĪÀ ªÀ¸Àw UÀȺÀªÀ£ÀÄß SÁ°ªÀiÁqÀ¨ÉÃPÁzÀ ¤AiÀĪÀÄ«gÀÄvÀÛzÉ. F ¥ÀæPÁgÀ vÁªÀÅ ¢£ÁAPÀ-12-10-2013 gÀAzÀÄ CªÀiÁ£ÀvÀÄÛ vÉgÀªÀÅUÉƽ¹ PÀÄPÀ£ÀÆgÀ WÀlPÀPÉÌ ¤AiÉÆÃf¹zÀ ¥ÀæAiÀÄÄPÀÛ vÁªÀÅ F 01-11- 2013 jAzÀ ªÀ¸Àw UÀȺÀªÀ£ÀÄß vÉgÀªÀÅUÉƽ¸À¨ÉÃPÁVvÀÄÛ, DzÀgÉ ªÀ¸Àw UÀȺÀªÀ£ÀÄß vÉgÀªÀÅUÉƽ¸ÀzÉà ºÁUÉà ªÀÄÄAzÀĪÀgÉ¢gÀÄwÛj. vÀªÀÄUÉ F PÀÄjvÀÄ G¯ÉèÃR 05 ªÀÄvÀÄÛ 06 gÀAvÉ £ÉÆÃn£À eÁj ªÀiÁr 12-10-2013 jAzÀ 31-05-2014 gÀ ªÀgÉUÉ ¸ÁªÀiÁ£Àå ¨ÁrUÉ 01-06-2014 jAzÀ SÁ° ªÀiÁqÀĪÀªÀgÉUÀÆ zÀAqÀzÀ ¨ÁrUÉ «¢ü¸À¯ÁUÀĪÀzÉAzÀÄ £ÉÆÃn¸ï eÁj ªÀiÁqÀ¯ÁVvÀÄÛ. DzÀÝjAzÀ ¤ÃªÀÅ ªÀ¸Àw UÀȺÀªÀ£ÀÄß ¢-29-03-2016 gÀAzÀÄ PÁ°ªÀiÁrgÀÄwÛj, DzÀÝjAzÀ ¢-01-06-2014 jAzÀ 28.03.2016 gÀ ªÀgÀUÉ C£À¢üÃPÀÈvÀªÁV ªÁ¸ÀªÁVgÀĪÀÅzÀÄ zÀÈqÀ¥ÀnÖgÀĪÀÅzÀjAzÀ G¯ÉèÃR 01 gÀ ¸ÀPÁðj C¢ü¸ÀÆZÀ£É ¸ÀASÉå:¦qÀ§Æèår/245/¦¦JA/96/ ¢£ÁAPÀ :22-01-99, ¤AiÀĪÀÄ 13 gÀ ¥ÀæPÁgÀ F PɼÀV£ÀAvÉ zÀAqÀ ¨ÁrUÉAiÀÄ£ÀÄß DzÉò¸ÀÄvÉÛ£É. CªÀ¢ü zÀAqÀzÀ ¨ÁrUÉ 1) 01-06-2014 jAzÀ 30-07-2014 gÀªÀgÉUÉ HRA-2211 X 2. MonthsX 2 times = 8844 2) CUÀµïÖ-2014 - HRA-2205 X 1 Months X 2 times = 4410 3) 01-09-2014 jAzÀ 30-11-2014 gÀªÀgÉUÉ HRA-2205 X 3 Months X 4 times = 26460 4) 01-12-2014 jAzÀ 31-07-2015 gÀªÀgÉUÉ HRA-2205X8 Months X 8 times = 141120 5) 01-08-2015 jAzÀ 31-03-2016 gÀªÀgÉUÉ HRA-2278 X8Months X 8 times = 145792 MlÄÖ gÀÆ-326626 zÀAqÀ ¨ÁrUÉ «¢ü¹zÀ CªÀ¢üAiÀÄ°è FUÁUÀ¯Éà ¸ÁªÀiÁ£Àå ¨ÁrUÉ gÀÆ¥ÀzÀ°è ¥ÁªÀw¹zÀÄÝ, gÀÆ=49106 G½zÀ ªÉÆvÀÛ – 2,77,520 - 9 - NC: 2025:KHC-D:1709 WP No. 104364 of 2016 gÀÆ = 2,77,520-/- (JgÀqÀÄ ®PÀëzÀ J¥ÀàvÉÛüÀÄ ¸Á«gÀzÀ LzÀÄ£ÀÆgÁ E¥ÀàvÀÄÛ gÀÆUÀ¼À£ÀÄß) PÀ¤µÀ× ªÉÃvÀ£À PÁAiÉÄÝ G®èAWÀ£É DUÀzÀAvÉ ¥Àæw wAUÀ¼ÀÄ ¨ÁQ zÀAqÀzÀ ¨ÁrUÉAiÀÄ£ÀÄß PÀAvÀÄUÀ¼À gÀÆ¥ÀzÀ°è ªÀÄÄgÀĪÀ½ ªÀiÁqÀ®Ä DzÉò¹zÉ. EªÀgÀ ºÉ¸ÀjUÉ AiÀiÁªÀÅzÉà »A¢£À ªÉÃvÀ£À, ¨ÁQ ¥ÁªÀw¸ÀĪÀ ¸ÀAzÀ¨sÀðzÀ°è MmÁÖgÉ ªÀÄÄjzÀÄPÉƼÀî®Ä DzÉò¹zÉ. «¨sÁVÃAiÀÄ ¤AiÀÄAvÀæuÁ¢üPÁj, FPÀgÀ¸Á ¸ÀA¸ÉÜ PÉÆ¥Àà¼À «¨sÁUÀ PÉÆ¥Àà¼À.” 9. This determination does not refer to any proceeding instituted in accordance with law. Nonetheless it transpires that from the terminal benefits of the petitioner, an amount of Rs.2,77,520/- is withheld. The withholding of the said amount is on the face of it arbitrary and unsustainable as the Corporation did not act till 24.02.2016 and the moment they have acted, the petitioner has vacated the premises. It is trite that damages or penal rent cannot be imposed without initiating any proceeding, in accordance with law. Therefore the petition deserves to succeed. 10. For the aforesaid reasons, the following: ORDER (i) The Writ Petition is allowed. (ii) The impugned order dated 06.05.2016 on No.FPÀgÀ¸Á:PÉÆ«w:PÁ«ÄðPÀ:ªÀUÀÈ:2359:16 passed - 10 - NC: 2025:KHC-D:1709 WP No. 104364 of 2016 by the respondent vide Annexure-E is quashed. (iii) The amount i.e. withheld from the terminal benefits of the petitioner shall be released to the petitioner within four weeks from the date of receipt of copy of this order. Ordered accordingly. Sd/- (M.NAGAPRASANNA) JUDGE RHR/- List No.: 1 Sl No.: 4