- 1 - NC: 2025:KHC-D:3855 WP No. 102894 of 2024 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA, DHARWAD BENCH DATED THIS THE 25TH DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2025 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SURAJ GOVINDARAJ WRIT PETITION NO. 102894 OF 2024 (LA-RES) BETWEEN: 1. DANAPPA S/O GURUSHANTAPPA HUKKERI AGE. 63 YEARS, OCC. AGRICULTURE, R/O.NEGINAL TQ. BAILHONGAL DIST. BELAGAVI 2. KASHINATH S/O RUDRAGOUDA PATIL AGE. 73 YEARS, OCC. AGRICULTURE, R/O.NEGINAL TQ. BAILHONGAL DIST. BELAGAVI 3. BASAVANNEPPA SHETTAPPA MUTTENNANAVAR SINCE DECEASED BY HIS LRS SUBHASH S/O BASAVANNEPPA MUTTENNANAVAR AGE. 46 YEARS, OCC. AGRICULTURE, R/O.NEGINAL TQ. BAILHONGAL DIST. BELAGAVI 4. NANASAHEB DEVANAGOUDA @ BABUSAHEB PATIL AGE. 47 YEARS, OCC. AGRICULTURE, R/O.NEGINAL TQ. BAILHONGAL Digitally signed by GIRIJA A. BYAHATTI Location: High Court of Karnataka, Dharwad Bench, Dharwad - 2 - NC: 2025:KHC-D:3855 WP No. 102894 of 2024 DIST. BELAGAVI …PETITIONERS (BY SRI. OMKAR LAXMAN DESAI,ADVOCATE) AND: 1. THE SPECIAL LAND ACQUISITION OFFICER MALAPRABHA PROJECT-III, BAGALKOT DIST. BAGALKOT 2. THE EXECUTIVE ENGINEER KARNATAKA NEERAVARI NIGAM LIMITED MLBC DIVISION NO.2, NAVILUTHEERTH TQ. SAUNDATTI DIST. BELAGAVI …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI. V.S. KALASURMATH, AGA FOR R1; SRI. M.B. KANAVI., ADVOCATE FOR R2) THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO ISSUE A WRIT OF MANDAMUS OR ANY OTHER ORDER OR DIRECTIONS DIRECTING THE RESPONDENT NO.1 TO CONSIDER THE REPRESENTATION DATED 07- 08-2018 VIDE ANNEXURE-C AND PAY THE DAMAGES/COMPENSATION AMOUNT FROM THE DATE OF TAKING POSSESSION TILL THE DATE OF 4(1) NOTIFICATION IN RESPECT OF SY.NO.08 MEASURING 02 ACRE 10 GUNTAS, SY.NO.350/2 MEASURING 29 GUNTAS, SY.NO.347/2 MEASURING 01 ACRE 19 GUNTAS, SY.NO.9/1+2/3P MEASURING 02 ACRE 35 GUNTAS, SY.NO.349/1 MEASURING 18 GUNTAS, SY.NO.326/2 MEASURING 24 GUNTAS, SY.NO.345/1 MEASURING 01 ACRES 05 GUNTAS TO THE PETITIONERS RESPECTIVELY WITH ALL CONSEQUENTIAL BENEFITS TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION SIMILAR DAMAGES/AWARDS PASSED BY THE 1ST RESPONDENT IN THE ENDS OF JUSTICE AND EQUITY AND ETC. THIS WRIT PETITION, COMING ON FOR ORDERS, THIS DAY, THE COURT MADE THE FOLLOWING: CORAM: THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SURAJ GOVINDARAJ * Corrected vide court order dated 05.08.2025 Sd/- SGRJ - 3 - NC: 2025:KHC-D:3855 WP No. 102894 of 2024 ORAL ORDER (PER: THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SURAJ GOVINDARAJ) 1. The petitioners are before this Court seeking for the following reliefs: a. Issue a writ of Mandamus or any other order or directions directing the R1 to consider the representation dated: 07.08.2018 vide Annexure-C and pay the damages/compensation amount from the date of taking possession till the date of 4(1) Notification in respect of Sy.No.08 measuring 02 Acre 10 Guntas, Sy.No.350/2 measuring 29 Guntas, Sy.No.347/2 measuring 01 Acre 19 Guntas, Sy.No.9/1+2/3P measuring 02 Acre 35 guntas, Sy.No.349/1 measuring 18 guntas, Sy.No.326/2 measuring 24 guntas, Sy.No.345/1 measuring 01 Acres 05 Guntas to the petitioners respectively with all consequential benefits taking into consideration similar damages/awards passed by the 1st Respondent in the ends of justice and equity. b. Issue a writ of Mandamus or any directions, directing R1 to pay additional interest by way of damages, at the rate of 15% per annum from the period between taking possession till 4(1) Notification as held by the Hon’ble Supreme Court in the case of Balwan Sing and Others vs. LAO and others, AIR 2016 SC 1565. c. Issue a writ of Mandamus or any directions, directing the Respondents to pay interest for the delayed payment period, in the ends of justice and equity. - 4 - NC: 2025:KHC-D:3855 WP No. 102894 of 2024 2. Petitioners claim to be the owners of the various lands which were acquired for the purpose of Malaprabha Reservoir Project and award has been passed on 31.10.2009 granting certain compensation, which compensation was enhanced by the Reference Court. 3. The petitioners claim that even before the acquisition proceedings were completed, possession of lands of the petitioners were taken by respondents depriving the petitioners of income from the said properties and as such representation was submitted on 07.08.2018 for grant of damages/award. 4. Sri.M.B.Kanavi, learned counsel for the respondent No.2 however contends that the possession was not taken over prior to the acquisition being completed and as such, no damages/award of similar amount would have to be paid in favour of the petitioners. 5. A representation is submitted by the petitioners on 07.08.2018, the fact remains that no order has been - 5 - NC: 2025:KHC-D:3855 WP No. 102894 of 2024 passed thereon. Even if, the respondents have good ground on merits, it was for the respondents to pass an order on the said representation either accepting or rejecting the representation. 6. Needless to say that, if the representation is rejected, the same would be accompanied by reasons. 7. In that view of the matter, reserving liberty to the petitioners and respondents to agitate all the issues before respondent No.1, petition stands disposed of. 8. Respondent No.1 shall pass necessary orders within 60 days from the date of receipt of certified copy of this order. Sd/- (SURAJ GOVINDARAJ) JUDGE LN List No.: 1 Sl No.: 0