- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:29852 WP No. 6126 of 2022 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 1ST DAY OF AUGUST, 2025 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE RAVI V HOSMANI WRIT PETITION NO. 6126 OF 2022 (GM-KEB) BETWEEN: RATHNAMMA, W/O LATE SHIVALINGAPPA, AGED ABOUT 74 YEARS, AGRICULTURIST, R/O VEERAPURA, SIDDAPURA POST, MOLAKALMURU TALUK, CHITRADURGA DISTRICT 577 001. …PETITIONER (BY SRI SPOORTHY HEGDE N., ADVOCATE) AND: 1. EXECUTIVE ENGINEER, MAJOR WORKS DIVISON, KPTCL, JCR BADAVANE, 3RD CROSS (EAST), CHITRADURGA. 2. ASSISTANT EXECUTIVE ENGINEER (ELECT) MAJOR WORKS DIVISION, KPTCL OFFICE, KPTCL, 3RD CROSS (EAST) JCR BADAVANE, CHITRADURGA. …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI SHIRISH KRISHNA, ADVOCATE) THIS WP IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 & 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA, PRAYING TO CALL FOR THE RECORDS IN CIVIL MIS.NO.316/2018 ISSUE DIRECTION MODIFYING THE JUDGMENT AND AWARD dtd.15.7.2019 AS PER ANENXURE-D AND E PASSED BY THE 1ST ADDL. DISTRICT AND SESSIONS JUDGE, AT CHITRADURGA IN MIS.NO.310/2018. THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY HEARING IN B-GROUP, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE RAVI V HOSMANI Digitally signed by GEETHAKUMARI PARLATTAYA S Location: High Court of Karnataka - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:29852 WP No. 6126 of 2022 ORAL ORDER Challenging order passed by District Judge determining compensation under Section 16 of Indian Telegraph Act, 1885 ('Act' for short) payable for damages sustained by land- owner/petitioner due to installation of 400 KV Power Line/Towers over petitioner's lands, this writ petition is filed. 2. Sri Spoorthy Hegde Nagaraj, learned counsel for petitioner submitted, petitioner was owner of land measuring 3 Acres 3 guntas, in Sy.no.31 of Veerapura village, Devasamudra Hobli, Molakalmur Taluk, Chitradurga District. It was submitted during year 2016-17, respondents installed 400 KV power line/tower over petitioner's land. It was submitted, same not only caused damage/destruction of crops grown on petitioner's land but also led to acute diminution of value of land. It was submitted, at time of installation, respondents/authorities paid compensation only towards damage to crops etc. and not towards diminution of value of land. Therefore, petitioner filed petition for determination of compensation, claiming that value of petitioner's land was Rs.5 - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:29852 WP No. 6126 of 2022 Lakhs per acre and seeking for award of Rs.17.5 Lakhs with 24% interest. 3. Petition was registered as Civil Misc.No.310/2018 and notices were issued. 4. On appearance, respondent-authorities opposed petitioner's claim. 5. Based on pleadings, learned District Judge framed following points for consideration: 1. Whether petitioner is entitled for damages/compensation under the head decrease of the value of the land in view of the installation of power line? 2. If petitioner is entitled for compensation, what is the quantum of compensation? 3. What order? 6. Thereafter, petitioner deposed as PW.1 and got marked Exhibits P.1 to P.3. Respondent no.1 got marked one document as Exhibit R.1 with consent. 7. On consideration, point no.1 was answered in affirmative, point no.2 partly in affirmative and point no.3 by determining Rs.34,552/- as compensation towards diminution of value of land, with interest at 6% per annum. - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:29852 WP No. 6126 of 2022 8. Aggrieved by said determination as being inadequate, petitioner is before this Court. 9. It was firstly submitted, due to installation, petitioner was permanently prevented from cultivating land utilized for installation, which was akin to acquisition of land under provisions of The Right for Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation And Resettlement Act, 2013, ('RFCTLARR Act', for short). Therefore, learned District Judge erred in taking Sub-Registrar Guidance Value ('SRGV', for short) instead of market value of land while determining diminished value of land. 10. It was secondly submitted, fact that not only land directly falling under Towers and Lines, but also surrounding area suffered from restricted user and therefore required to be considered while determining compensation. 11. It was thirdly submitted, fact that restriction of user was perennial was also not considered. 12. It was lastly submitted, petitioner's land was adjacent to National Highway and therefore, consideration of - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:29852 WP No. 6126 of 2022 30% of SRGV instead of 50% was erroneous. On above grounds, impugned award called for interference. 13. Sri Shirish Krishna, learned counsel for respondents no.1 to 3 opposed petition. It was submitted, installation of Towers/Line by respondent authorities was in accordance with law after payment of damages to crops/trees/constructions as applicable, which was admitted. 14. It was submitted, learned District Judge had duly appreciated each ground of claim while assessing compensation and there was no scope for interference. 15. It was submitted, acquisition of land under provisions of Land Acquisition Act, 1894, and under RFCTLARR Act, differed from utilization of land for installation under provisions of Act. It was submitted, there was no deprivation of title or possession. Even after installation, owners could cultivate lands. Restriction of user was partial. Therefore, provisions for assessment of compensation under Land Acquisition enactments would not apply. - 6 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:29852 WP No. 6126 of 2022 16. It was submitted, in case of lands abutting Highways, Division Bench of this Court had upheld determination of diminished value of land at 50% of SRGV and in case of other lands at 30% of SRGV. And as determination of compensation was not only taking area directly coming under installations, but also area under restricted user, there was no scope for interference. 17. Insofar as claim of petitioner about land abutting Highway, attention was drawn to admission in cross- examination about not submitting any document to substantiate said fact. 18. Under above circumstances, there was no scope for interference under Article 227 of Constitution of India and sought dismissal of writ petition. 19. Heard learned counsel and perused writ petition record. 20. In view of above, only point that would arise for consideration is: - 7 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:29852 WP No. 6126 of 2022 "Whether determination of compensation towards diminished value of land by District Judge under Section 16 (3) of Act, calls for interference?" 21. Facts and circumstances of present case as well as contentions urged by respective learned counsel have received consideration by this Court in W.P.no.6309/2022, while dismissing writ petition. Said findings would squarely apply to present case also. 22. Hence, for reasons stated in order passed by this Court in WP no.6309/2022 disposed of on 01.08.2025, consequently, this petition is also dismissed. Sd/- (RAVI V HOSMANI) JUDGE PSG/AV List No.: 1 Sl No.: 40