- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:34615 WP No. 32886 of 2024 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 3RD DAY OF SEPTEMBER, 2025 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE R DEVDAS WRIT PETITION NO. 32886 OF 2024 (KLR-LG) BETWEEN: SRI VENKATESH S/O GOVINDEGOWDA, AGED ABOUT 52 YEARS, R/O BEERANAHALLI KAVAL VILLAGE, ARAKALGODU TALUK, HASSAN DISTRICT. …PETITIONER (BY SRI. YATNAL PARASAPPA GURAAPPA, ADVOCATE) AND: 1. STATE OF KARNATAKA DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE, M.S. BUILDING, BANGALORE- 560 001, REP. BY ITS SECRETARY 2. THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER, HASSAN DISTRICT – 573 214 3. THE TAHASILDAR ARAKALAGUDU TALUK, HASSAN DISTRICT – 573 115 4. THE ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER SAKALESHAPUR, SAKALESHAPURA SUB- DIVISION, HASSAN DISTRICT- 573 214 Digitally signed by DHARMALINGAM Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:34615 WP No. 32886 of 2024 5. THE SPECIAL LAND ACQUISITION OFFICER FOR HEMAVATI RESERVOIR PROJECT, HASSAN DISTRICT – 573 214 …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI. V. SESHU, HCGP) THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO DIRECT THE R5 TO TAKE ACTION ON APPLICATION DATED 18/12/2012 VIDE ANN-B SUBMITTED BY PETITIONER AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH LAW AND ALLOW THE WRIT PETITION. THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY HEARING IN ‘B-GROUP’, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE R DEVDAS ORAL ORDER The petitioner claims to be a legal representative of Late Govindegowda, who lost of lands in Survey Nos.14/04 and 14/12 of Holemaragodanahalli Village, Aluru Taluk, Hassana District, due to submergence of the lands on the construction of Hemavati/Yagachi/Vatehole Reservoir Project. - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:34615 WP No. 32886 of 2024 2. Learned Counsel for the petitioner submits that the Government of Karnataka announced certain beneficiary Schemes and Rehabilitation Packages for the project displaced persons in addition to the payment of compensation. One of the benefits announced for such land-losers was that they will be given alternative agricultural lands elsewhere in the District. The prayer in this writ petition is to issue a writ of mandamus to the respondent-Special Land Acquisition Officer, Hemavathi Reservoir Project, Hassan, to take action on the application dated 18.12.2012 at Annexure-B given by the petitioner for grant of alternative land. 3. This Court in several such petitions has found that lands were granted in terms of the Rehabilitation Package and thereafter several orders have been passed cancelling the grants for various reasons. Nevertheless, it is an undisputed fact that such Rehabilitation Package was indeed announced by the State Government for the project displaced persons. - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:34615 WP No. 32886 of 2024 4. In that view of the matter, the writ petition stands disposed of with a specific direction to the respondent-Special Land Acquisition Officer, Hemavathi Reservoir Project, Hassan, to consider the application dated 18.12.2012 at Annexure-B given by the petitioner, verify the records and thereafter, pass necessary orders in accordance with law and in accordance with the scheme formulated by the State Government. The entire exercise shall be completed as expeditiously as possible and at any rate within a period of four months from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. Sd/- (R DEVDAS) JUDGE DL