- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC-D:10319 WP No. 102508 of 2025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA, DHARWAD BENCH DATED THIS THE 18TH DAY OF AUGUST, 2025 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SURAJ GOVINDARAJ WRIT PETITION NO. 102508 OF 2025 (LB-TAX) BETWEEN: 1. K.L.E INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY HUBBALLI, OPP. TO AIRPORT, GOKUL ROAD, HUBBALLI, BY ITS PRINCIPAL, SHRI MANU MANJUNTH TUDUAM, AGE: MAJOR, OCC. SERVICE, R/O. OPP TO AIRPORT, GOKUL ROAD, HUBBALLI-580027. 2. THE KARNATAKA LINGAYAT EDUCATION SOCIETY BELGAUM, KLE SOCIETY, COLLEGE ROAD, REPRESENED BY ITS SECRETARY DISTRICT. BELAGAVI, SRI. B G DESAI, AGE: 63 YERAS, OCC. SECRETARY, R/O. BELAGAVI-590001. …PETITIONERS (BY SRI. MALLIKARJUNSWAMY B HIREMATH, ADVOCATE) AND: 1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA DEPARTMENT OF URBAN DEVELOPMENT, BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY, VIDHANA SOUDHA, DR. AMBEDKAR VEEDI, BENGALURU 01. Digitally signed by V N BADIGER Location: High Court of Karnataka, Dharwad Bench, Dharwad - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC-D:10319 WP No. 102508 of 2025 2. THE HUBLI DHARWAD MUNICIPAL CORPORATION R/BY ITS COMMISSIONER, HUBBALLI, DISTRICT: DHARWAD 580001. …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI. SHARAD V. MAGADUM, AGA FOR R1; SRI. BHUSHAN KULKARNI, ADVOCATE FOR R2) THIS WP IS FILED UNDER ARTICLE 226 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA, PRAYING TO A. DECLARE THAT PETITIONER NO.1 BEING AN EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION IS EXEMPTED FROM PAYING PROPERTY TAX UNDER SECTION 110(1)(I) OF KARNATAKA MUNICIPAL CORPORATIONS ACT 1976 IN RESPECT OF THE PROPERTY BEARING PID NO. 178962 SITUATED IN VIDYA NAGAR HUBLI. B. ISSUE A WRIT IN THE NATURE OF MANDAMUS DIRECTING THE RESPONDENT NO.2 TO REFUND THE TAX COLLECTED BY THE PETITIONER TILL DATE.C. ISSUE SUCH OTHER WRIT OR ORDER AS DEEMED FIT IN THE INTEREST OF JUSTICE AND EQUITY. THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR PRILIMINARY HEARING THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: ORAL ORDER (PER: THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SURAJ GOVINDARAJ) 1. Learned AGA accepts notice for respondent No.1. Shri Bhushan Kulkarni accepts notice for respondent No. 2. 2. The petitioners are before this Court seeking for the following reliefs: a. Declare that petitioner no.1 being an educational institution is exempted from paying property tax - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC-D:10319 WP No. 102508 of 2025 under section 110(1)(i) of Karnataka Municipal Corporations Act 1976 in respect of the property bearing PID No. 178962 situated in Vidya Nagar Hubli. b. Issue a writ in the nature of Mandamus directing the respondent no.2 to refund the tax collected by the petitioner till date. c. Issue such other writ or order as deemed fit in the interest of justice and equity. 3. The petitioners are before this Court, aggrieved by the action of the respondents in levying property tax on the petitioners’ property, which is stated to be used for the purpose of carrying on educational activities. 4. Relying on the judgment of this Court in W.P. No.87922/2012, dated 23.05.2023, learned counsel for the petitioners submitted that insofar as any property which is used for educational purposes, there is an exemption from payment of property tax. 5. Heard Sri.Mallikarjun B Hiremath, learned counsel for the petitioners and Sri.Sharad V Magadum, learned AGA for respondent No.1 and Sri.Bushan Kulkarni, learned counsel for respondent No.2 and perused the papers. - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC-D:10319 WP No. 102508 of 2025 6. In view of the order dated 23.05.2023, passed in W.P. No. 87922/2012, the respondents cannot levy property tax on the portion of the property used exclusively for educational purposes. Accordingly, the respondents may levy property tax only on those portions of the property which are not exclusively used for educational purposes. 7. In light of the above, I pass the following ORDER i) The writ petition is partly allowed. ii) The respondents are restrained from levying property tax in respect of the portion of the property used exclusively for educational purposes. iii) Liberty is reserved to the respondents to conduct survey of the property, ascertain the portions not exclusively used for educational purposes, and to - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC-D:10319 WP No. 102508 of 2025 issue necessary notices under the applicable provisions of law. Sd/- (SURAJ GOVINDARAJ) JUDGE VB CT:PA List No.: 1 Sl No.: 7