- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:39967-DB WP No. 13407 of 2025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 10TH DAY OF OCTOBER, 2025 PRESENT THE HON'BLE MR. VIBHU BAKHRU, CHIEF JUSTICE AND THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE C.M. POONACHA WRIT PETITION NO. 13407 OF 2025 (GM-RES) BETWEEN: SRI GURUNATH VADDE S/O VAJINATH VADDE, AGED ABOUT 56 YEARS, SOCIAL WORKER, R/O JANASEVA ASHRAMA, BHAVANI BIJALAGAON - 585 443, KAMALANAGAR TALUK, BIDAR DISTRICT. MOBILE NO.9901687999, AADHAAR NO.6659 3322 2123, PAN NO.AERPV9730M, EMAIL - GURUNATHVADDE@GMAIL.COM. …PETITIONER (BY SRI. J. R. MOHAN, ADVOCATE) AND: 1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA REP. BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY, DEPARTMENT OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT AND PANCHAYATH RAJ, M.S. BUILDINGS, DR. B.R. AMBEDKAR VEEDHI, BENGALURU 560 001 Digitally signed by NIRMALA DEVI Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:39967-DB WP No. 13407 of 2025 2. THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER, BIDAR DISTRICT, BIDAR 585 401. 3. THE ASST. COMMISSIONER, BIDAR SUB-DIVISION, BIDAR 585 401. 4. THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, ZILLA PANCHAYATH, BIDAR 585 401. 5. THE TAHSILDAR, AURAD TALUK, AURAD 585 326, BIDAR DISTRICT. 6. THE EXECUTIVE OFFICER, TALUKA PANCHAYATH, AURAD 585 326, BIDAR DISTRICT. 7. THE EXECUTIVE ENGINEER, RURAL DRINKING WATER AND SANITATION DEPARTMENT, BIDAR DIVISION, BIDAR - 585 401. 8. THE ASST. EXECUTIVE ENGINEER, RURAL DRINKING WATER AND SANITATION DEPARTMENT, AURAD SUB-DIVISION, AURAD - 585 326 BIDAR DISTRICT. …RESPONDENTS (BY SMT. NILOUFER AKBAR, AGA FOR R1 TO R3, R5, R7 & R8) THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 & 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO ISSUE A WRIT IN THE NATURE OF MANDAMUS, DIRECTING THE RESPONDENTS TO PROVIDE DRINKING WATER TO THE - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:39967-DB WP No. 13407 of 2025 PEOPLE OF SAWARGAON VILLAGE AND THE SURROUNDING AREAS COMING UNDER BONTI GRAMA PANCHAYATH LIMITS, AURAD TALUK, BIDAR DISTRICT, BY CONSIDERING THE REPRESENTATIONS DATED 17.04.2025 SUBMITTED BY THE PETITIONER VIDE ANNEXURE-B AND ETC. THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY HEARING, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. VIBHU BAKHRU, CHIEF JUSTICE and HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE C.M. POONACHA ORAL ORDER (PER: HON'BLE MR. VIBHU BAKHRU, CHIEF JUSTICE) 1. Issue notice. 2. Learned Additional Government Advocate accepts notice for the respondents. 3. The petitioner has filed the present petition as a public interest litigation inter alia praying that the directions be issued to respondents to provide drinking water to the people of Sawargaon Village and surrounding areas falling under Bonti Grama Panchayath, Aurad Taluk, Bidar District by considering the representation dated 17.04.2025. The petitioner states that the State Government had sanctioned a sum of Rs.141 lakhs under Jal Jeevan Mission exclusively for providing drinking water facility to - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:39967-DB WP No. 13407 of 2025 the residents of Sawargaon Village and surrounding areas. He states that although the sanction was made in the year 2021-22, the authorities have not taken steps to provide the water to the people residing in the village and surrounding areas. 4. The petitioner has raised an issue of Public Importance and it is necessary to the concerned authorities to take immediate steps to ensure that pure drinking water is provided to the residents of Sawargaon Village and surrounding areas, if not already provided. 5. In view of the above, we dispose of the present writ petition by directing the respondents to forthwith consider the representation dated 17.04.2025 and take such steps as warranted. Sd/- (VIBHU BAKHRU) CHIEF JUSTICE Sd/- (C.M. POONACHA) JUDGE BS List No.: 1 Sl No.: 7