- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:27240 WP No. 16675 of 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 8TH DAY OF JUNE, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE R. NATARAJ WRIT PETITION NO. 16675 OF 2026 (LA-RES) BETWEEN: SRI. V.M. PRAKASH S/O MUSALAPPA, AGED ABOUT 50 YEARS, RESIDING AT VENGASANDRA VILLAGE, KYASAMBALLI HOBLI, K.G.F. TALUK, KOLAR DISTRICT-563116 …PETITIONER (BY SRI. K. VIJAYA KUMAR, ADVOCATE) AND: 1. DEPUTY COMMISSIONER OF ARBITRATOR (NATIONAL HIGHWAY) KOLAR DISTRICT, KOLAR-563101. 2. SPECIAL LAND ACQUISITION OFFICER AND APPROPRIATE AUTHORITY, BENGALURU-CHENNAI EXPRESS WAY (KM 0/000 TO KM 78/870 AND KM 82/150 TO 83/350) NO.678/3, NEERBHAVI KEMPANNA LAYOUT, HEBBAL, BENGALURU-560024. 3. DEPUTY CO-ORDINATOR (TECHNICAL) AND PLANNING DIRECTOR, NHAI AND PIU BENGALURU-CHENNAI EXPRESSWAY, NO.84/11, UTTARAHALLI MAIN ROAD, KENGERI, BENGALURU-560060. …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI. ADITYA DIWAKAR, AGA FOR R1. SRI.SHOBITH N. SHETTY, ADVOCATE FOR R2 AND R3) Digitally signed by HEMALATHA J Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:27240 WP No. 16675 of 2026 THIS WP IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO QUASH THE ORDER DATED 30.01.2024 PASSED BY RESPONDENT NO.1 IN CASE NO.A.R.B./B.C.E/K.G.F/374/2021-22 (ANNEXURE-A) IN RESPECT OF LAND IN SY. NO. 193, MEASURING 1576 SQ. METERS, SITUATED AT VENGASANDRA VILLAGE, KYASAMBALLI HOBLI, K.G.F. TALUK, KOLAR DISTRICT. THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY HEARING, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE R. NATARAJ ORAL ORDER The petitioner has sought for a writ in the nature of certiorari to quash an order bearing No.J.Dgï.©./©.¹.E/PÉ.f.J¥sï/374/2021-22 dated 30.01.2024 passed by respondent No.1, in respect of the land bearing Sy.No.193, situated at Vengasandra Village, Kyasamballi Hobli, K.G.F. Taluk, Kolar District. 2. The petitioner claims that he is the owner of land in Sy.No.193 of Vengasandra Village, Kyasamballi Hobli, K.G.F. Taluk, Kolar District, the portion of which was acquired for the purpose of the Bengaluru-Chennai expressway. An award bearing No.J¯ï.J.PÀÆå/E.JPïì,¦.©.¹/J¸ï.Dgï/©.¦.n..30/2016-17 dated - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:27240 WP No. 16675 of 2026 31.01.2017 was passed, determine the compensation payable at a sum of Rs.2,54,330/-. An award notice was issued to the petitioner on 12.07.2017. In view of the COVID-19 pandemic, the petitioner approached the respondent No.1 with request for enhancement of the compensation on 04.10.2021. The said application was rejected in terms of the impugned order on the ground that the request was not made within three years from the date of the service of the notice of the award. Being aggrieved by the same, the petitioner is before this Court. 3. The learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that the notice of the award was served on the petitioner on 12.07.2017 and that a reference for enhanced compensation was maintainable within three years therefrom. However, by the time the outer limit prescribed expired, the country was gripped by COVID-19 pandemic and therefore, the petitioner could not file the request for enhancement within the three years time prescribed. He submits that the Hon’ble Apex Court in Miscellaneous Application No.29/2022 in Miscellaneous Application No.665/2021 in Suo Motu Writ Petition (C) No.3/2020, has held that wherever time is fixed and expires - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:27240 WP No. 16675 of 2026 during the COVID-19 pandemic, the same should be excluded for the purpose of determining the limitation. He therefore submits that the application filed by the petitioner for enhancement was well within time and hence the impugned order passed by the respondent No.1, is liable to be set at nought. 4. Learned counsel for the respondents after receipt of notice submitted that the issue is squarely covered by various judgments of this Court. 5. In view of the above, the contentions of the learned counsel for the petitioner that the application could not be filed within the time prescribed merits acceptance. Consequently, the following order is passed: ORDER i. The petition is allowed; ii. The impugned order bearing No. J.Dgï.©./©.¹.E/PÉ.f.J¥sï/374/2021-22 dated 30.01.2024 passed by the respondent No.1 is quashed and the respondent No.1 is directed to - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:27240 WP No. 16675 of 2026 refer the request of the petitioner for enhancement of compensation as prescribed under Section 3(G)(5) of the National Highways Act, 1956. This shall be done within a period of three months from the date of receipt of certified copy of this order. Learned Additional Government Advocate for respondent No.1 and Sri.Shobith N Shetty, learned counsel for respondent Nos.2 and 3 are permitted to file memo of appearance within ten days. Sd/- (R. NATARAJ) JUDGE BKN List No.: 1 Sl No.: 72