- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC-D:1029 WP No. 100063 of 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA, AT DHARWAD DATED THIS THE 28TH DAY OF JANUARY, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE SMT. JUSTICE LALITHA KANNEGANTI WRIT PETITION NO.100063 OF 2026 (GM-RES) BETWEEN: REKHA W/O. SHIVALINGAYYA PUJAR, AGE. 29 YEARS OCC. HOUSE WIFE, R/O. NEAR GADAGESHWAR TEMPLE, BELAGALAPETH, TQ. HAVERI, DIST. HAVERI-581104. …PETITIONER (BY SRI. KIRANKUMAR CHATTIMATH, ADVOCATE) AND: 1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA, DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY, REP. BY ITS ADDITIONAL CHIEF SECRETARY, VIKAS SOUDHA, AMBEDKAR VEEDHI, BENGALURU-560001. 2. THE DEPUTY ELECTRICITY INSPECTOR, HAVERI-581104. 3. THE ASSISTANT EXECUTIVE ENGINEER (E), KA AND PA SUB DIVISION, HESCOM HAVERI, HAVERI-581115. 4. THE STATION HEAD OFFICER, HANGAL POLICE STATION, HANGAL, HAVERI-581115. …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI. T. HANUMAREDDY, ADDL. GOVT. ADV. FOR R1 AND R4; SRI. BHUSHAN B.KULKARNI, ADVOCATE FOR R2 AND R3) THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF CONSTITUTION OF INDIA, PRAYING TO A) ISSUE A WRIT IN THE NATURE OF MANDAMUS DIRECTING THE RESPONDENT NO.1 TO TAKE THE FURTHER ACTION ON THE REPORT SUBMITTED BY THE RESPONDENT NO.2 DATED 06.09.2025 WITH REF NO.U VI PA/HA/VI.A/2025-26/623-633 VIDE ANNEXURE-F. B) ISSUE WRIT OF MANDAMUS BY DIRECTING THE RESPONDENT NO.1 TO RELEASE THE COMPENSATION TO THE PETITIONER AND ETC.,. Digitally signed by YASHAVANT NARAYANKAR Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC-D:1029 WP No. 100063 of 2026 THIS WRIT PETITION, COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY HEARING, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: THE HON'BLE SMT. JUSTICE LALITHA KANNEGANTI ORAL ORDER The present writ petition is filed seeking the following prayer: “PRAYER Wherefore, the Petitioners respectfully pray: a) To issue a writ in the nature of Mandamus directing the Respondent No.1 to take the further action on the Report submitted by the Respondent No.2 dated 06.09.2025 with ref no.U VI PA/HA/VI.A/2025-26/623- 633 vide Annexure-F. b) Issue writ of mandamus by directing the respondent No.1 to release the compensation to the Petitioner. c) To issue any other writ or direction as this Hon’ble Court may deem fit in the interest of justice and equity.” 2. It is the case that the petitioner’s husband had a land and in that land, he had a borewell and he obtained electricity connection from Respondent No.3 to dig the borewell. On 19.06.2025 at about 10.30 a.m, petitioner’s husband went to the land for flowing the water to the crops in the land and because of leakage of electricity and earthling the petitioner’s husband died due to electricity shock. The brother of the deceased filed complaint before Respondent No. 4 regarding the incident and the Respondent No. 4 had registered the UDR under Section 194 of BNSS 2023 and after getting the information of the incident, - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC-D:1029 WP No. 100063 of 2026 Respondent No.2 visited the spot and after proper enquiry, Respondent No.2 submitted a report on 06.09.2025 to Respondent No.1. In the said report, Respondent No.2 opined that the rubber bushing was not installed at the entrance of the starter box of the service wire pulled to the irrigation pump set plant on the land, when the wire shock in the wind, the wire repeatedly touched the sharp entrance box, the installation was destroyed and the phase wire came into contact with the box and electricity leaked. When the petitioner's husband touched the box, he died due to shock. The Respondent No.2 further opined that the incident occurred because of the negligence and mistake of the Respondent No.3 department. If they maintained the wire properly, the incident would have been avoided. 3. It is the grievance of the petitioner that respondent No.1 has not taken any action pursuant to the report submitted by respondent No.2. Hence, there may be a direction to respondent No.1 to take action on the report dated 06.09.2025. 4. Learned Additional Government Advocate appearing for the respondents submits that the petitioner cannot seek direction to respondent No.1 to release the compensation to the petitioner as the same has to be done as per the procedure. As far as - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC-D:1029 WP No. 100063 of 2026 taking further action by the respondent No.1 in accordance with law is concerned, a time frame may be fixed. 5. Considering the submission of the learned AGA appearing for the respondents and the fact that already a report dated 06.09.2025 is submitted to the respondent No.1, respondent No.1 ought to have taken action in accordance with law. Considering the same, this Court is passing the following: ORDER i. The respondent No.1 is directed to take action on the report submitted by respondent No.2 in accordance with law. ii. As far as prayer (b) is concerned, the petitioner is not entitled for any relief from this Court. iii. Accordingly, the writ petition is disposed of. iv. All I.As. in this petition shall stand closed. Sd/- JUSTICE LALITHA KANNEGANTI MEG CT: UMD List No.: 1 Sl No.: 89