- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:43042-DB WP No. 25945 of 2025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 29TH 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. 25945 OF 2025 (GM-RES-PIL) BETWEEN: 1. KARNATAKA RAJYA HASIRU KRANTI RAITA SANGHA (REGD.) SOCIETY REGISTERED UNDER THE SOCIETIES REGISTRATION ACT, 1960 BADAMI - 587201, BAGALKOTE REPRESENTED BY ITS PRESIDENT SRI PUNDALIKAPPA KAVADIMATTI S/O LATE SANJIVAPPA AGED ABOUT 62 YEARS R/AT 3507, WAD NO.5, SAINAGAR, NEAR URDU SCHOOL, BADAMI, BAGALKOT, KARNATAKA 2. VEERABADRESHWARA YUVAKA SANGHA SOCIETY REGISTERED UNDER THE SOCIETIES REGISTRATION ACT, 1960 CHOLACHAGUDDA, BADAMI - 587 201 BAGALKOT, REPRESENTED BY ITS PRESIDENT SRI BASAVARAJA SARAGANACHARI S/O MADIVALAYYA, AGED ABOUT 52 YEARS R/AT 205, WARD NO.1, NEAR VEERABHADRESHWARA TEMPLE, CHOLACHAGUDDA BADAMI, BAGALKOTE - 587 201 3. SRI VEERANNA GOUDA PATIL S/O RUDRAGOUDA AGED ABOUT 45 YEARS R/AT HIRANASABAI BAGALKOTE KARNATAKA - 587114 Digitally signed by PRABHAKAR SWETHA KRISHNAN Location: High Court of Karnataka - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:43042-DB WP No. 25945 of 2025 4. SRI MUTTAPPA NAGANA GOWDA RANADA AGED ABOUT 50 YEARS R/AT SHAVABADAGI BADAMI, BAGALKOTE KARNATAKA - 587 201 …PETITIONERS (BY SRI S. VIVEKANANDA, ADVOCATE) AND: 1. CHIEF SECRETARY /PRINCIPAL SECRETARY GOVERNMENT OF KARNATAKA PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT VIDHANA SOUDHA M.S. BUILDING, BENGALURU - 560 001. 2. GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS NATIONAL HIGHWAYS (NORTH ZONE), BELAGAVI - 590 001 REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY. 3. CHIEF ENGINEER NATIONAL HIGHWAYS (NORTH ZONE) BELAGAVI - 590 001. …RESPONDENTS (BY SMT. NILOUFER AKBAR, AGA FOR R-1) 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 APPROPRIATE WRIT, ORDER OR DIRECTION, DIRECTING THE RESPONDENTS NOT TO PROCEED WITH THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE PROPOSED BRIDGE ACROSS THE MALLAPRABHA RIVER AT HIRENASABI- NAGARAL VILLAGE JUNCTION ON NATIONAL HIGHWAY 367, UNTIL A COMPREHENSIVE TECHNICAL, ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT IS CONDUCTED & ETC. THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR ORDERS, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:43042-DB WP No. 25945 of 2025 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. The petitioners have filed the present public interest litigation, inter alia, praying that appropriate orders be issued to the respondents not to proceed with the construction of the proposed bridge across the Malaprabha river at Hirenasabi-Nagaral Village junction on National Highway 367, until a comprehensive technical, environmental and social impact assessment is conducted. 2. The petitioners also seek that directions be issued to the respondents to redesign the proposed bridge to ensure a minimum linear waterway of 900 metres based on hydrological and flood history of the area. 3. It is the petitioner's case that the span of the proposed bridge is less than what is required to avoid floods. 4. The learned counsel for the petitioners also submits that the that the span of the bridge up-stream is wider than what is now - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:43042-DB WP No. 25945 of 2025 proposed. He earnestly contends that the faulty design of the bridge would result in flooding, which would affect the livelihood of various persons who are in the vicinity or near the banks of the said river. 5. We are not persuaded to accept that interference by this Court is required in matters regarding the design of the bridges. The same is a matter within the domain of experts and the concerned authorities. However, since the petitioners have flagged this issue, we expect that the concerned authorities would take note of the same, if not already considered. 6. The petition is disposed of with the aforesaid observations. Sd/- (VIBHU BAKHRU) CHIEF JUSTICE Sd/- (C.M. POONACHA) JUDGE KPS List No.: 1 Sl No.: 10