- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:35769 WP No. 19311 of 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 10TH DAY OF JULY, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE SMT. JUSTICE LALITHA KANNEGANTI WRIT PETITION NO. 19311 OF 2026 (GM-KEB) BETWEEN: SMT. JAYAMMA W/O DANAPPA S AGED ABOUT 78 YEARS R/AT MEDEHALLI ROAD VIJAYANGARA CHITRADURGA-577501. …PETITIONER (BY SRI. ABHISHEK M.K., ADVOCATE) AND: 1. STATE OF KARNATAKA REP. BY THE PRINCIPAL SECRETARY DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY ROOM NO.236, 2ND FLOOR VIKASA SOUDHA DR. AMBEDKAR VEEDHI BENGALURU-560 001. 2. THE MANAGING DIRECTOR KARNATAKA POWER TRANSMISSION CORPORATION LTD HAVING OFFICE AT: KAVERI BHAVAN K G ROAD BENGALURU-560 009. 3. THE ASISTANT EXECUTIVE ENGINEER PROJECTS SUB-DIVISION 1 KPTCL, JCR CIRCLE, 3RD CROSS (EAST) Digitally signed by SUVARNA T Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:35769 WP No. 19311 of 2026 CHITRADURGA-577 501. …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI. MANJUNATH B., AGA FOR R1; SRI. H.V. DEVARAJU, ADVOCATE FOR R2 AND R3) THIS WP IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA, PRAYING TO ISSUE A WRIT OF CERTIORARI OR ANY OTHER APPROPRIATE WRIT, ORDER OR DIRECTION QUASHING THE ORDER DATED 11.03.2026 PASSED BY THE 3RD RESPONDENT (ANNEXURE-G) AND ETC. THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY HEARING IN 'B' GROUP, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE SMT. JUSTICE LALITHA KANNEGANTI ORAL ORDER The present writ petition is filed seeking the following prayer: “WHEREFORE, the Petitioner respectfully prays that this Hon'ble Court may be pleased to: a) Issue a writ of Certiorari or any other appropriate writ, order or direction quashing the order dated 11.03.2026 passed by the 3rd Respondent (ANNEXURE-G); b) Issue a writ of Mandamus or any other appropriate writ, order or direction directing the Respondents to furnish the route map, alignment sketch and other relevant materials relied upon for finalization of the proposed transmission line alignment and thereafter reconsider the Petitioner's - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:35769 WP No. 19311 of 2026 objections afresh, strictly in accordance with law and in the light of the observations made by this Hon'ble Court in W.P.No.38245/2025, after affording an effective opportunity of hearing to the Petitioner; vide Annexure-C; c) Direct the Respondents to examine the feasibility of the alternative alignment suggested by the Petitioner while reconsidering the matter and to adopt the alignment causing least prejudice, if found technically feasible; d) Grant such other reliefs as this Hon'ble Court deems fit in the facts and circumstances of the case, in the interest of justice and equity.” 2. It is a case of the petitioner that the petitioner is the absolute owner and possessor of agricultural land bearing Sy.No.27/3 measuring 1 acre 30 guntas situated at Basavanashivanakere village, Bharamasagara Hobli, Chitradurga Taluk. Respondent No.3 has issued a notice on 09.12.2025 proposing to draw a 220 KV transmission line through the petitioner's land and she was called upon to furnish E-stamp paper for obtaining compensation. Questioning that the petitioner has filed WP No.38245/2025, whereby this Court has disposed of writ petition on 09.12.2025 holding that the notice dated 09.12.2025 shall be treated as a show-cause notice and the petitioner shall file the objections and the respondent shall consider the same and pass orders. In the - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:35769 WP No. 19311 of 2026 light of the said order they have passed an order dated 11.03.2026. Petitioner is before this court questioning the said order. The petitioner has raised several grounds before this court. 3. Sri H.V Devaraju, learned counsel appearing on behalf of respondent Nos. 2 and 3, submits that if there is any obstruction, the competent authority is the District Magistrate. They will approach the District Magistrate and obtain necessary orders under Section 16(1) of the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885. Until such time, they will not take any coercive steps. 4. Learned counsel for the respondent submits that the petitioner does not seek compensation; they seek the realignment of the line. Even in that case, the remedy available to the petitioner is before the District Magistrate. In that view of the matter, this Court is passing the following: ORDER i. The impugned order dated 11.03.2026 is set aside. - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:35769 WP No. 19311 of 2026 ii. Either the petitioner or the respondents, whoever is aggrieved, has to approach the District Magistrate as per Section 16(1) of the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885. iii. The District Magistrate, after considering the case of both the parties, shall pass an appropriate order in accordance with law. iv. Till such time, the respondents herein shall not lay the lines in the land pertaining to the petitioner. v. Accordingly, the writ petition is disposed of. vi. All pending I.As., in the writ petition shall stand closed. SD/- (LALITHA KANNEGANTI) JUDGE PKN List No.: 1 Sl No.: 39