SRI. MOHAN vs THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER

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IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA
AT DHARWAD

TH
DATED THIS THE 14 DAY OF OCTOBER, 2026

BEFORE

THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE M.G.S. KAMAL

WRIT PETITION NO.101326 OF 2025 (GM-KEB)

BETWEEN:

1. SRI. MOHAN
S/O. ANNAPPA SHANALLI,
AGE. 71 YEARS,
OCC. AGRICULTURE,
R/O. SANTHEPETE ROAD,
BANAVASI,
TQ. SIRSI, DIST. KARWAR-581318.

2. SRI. MUNAVAR KHAN
S/O. INAYAT KHAN KHAZI,
AGE. 55 YEARS,
OCC. AGRICULTURE,
KHAZI GALLI,
BANAVASI,
TQ. SIRSI, DIST. KARWAR-581318.

3. SRI. VINAYAK
S/O. SUBRAYA REVANKAR,
AGE. 71 YEARS,
OCC. AGRICULTURE,
R/O. MAHAVEER ONI,
BANAVASI,
TQ. SIRSI, DIST. KARWAR-581318.

4. SRI. SAINATH
S/O. DATTATREY SHANALLI,
AGE. 51 YEARS,
OCC. AGRICULTURE,

Digitally
signed by
SAROJA
HANGARAKI
Location:
high court of
karnataka,
dharwad
bench

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R/O. MARKET ROAD,
BANAVASI,
TQ. SIRSI, DIST. KARWAR-581318.
…PETITIONERS
(BY SRI DINESH M. KULKARNI, ADVOCATE)

AND:

1. THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER,
UTTARA KANNADA,
KARWAR-581318.

2. THE EXECUTIVE ENGINEER (ELEC),
MAJOR WORKS DIVISION,
SUB-DIV, KPTCL,
SIRSI, DIST. UTTARA KANNADA-581318.

3. THE ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER,
SIRSI SUB DIVISION, SIRSI,
DIST. UTTARA KANNADA-581318.
…RESPONDENTS
(BY SRI PRASHANTH V. MOGALI, HCGP FOR R1 AND R3;
SRI SRIRANGA SUBBANNA, SENIOR COUNSEL FOR
SRI CHANDRASHEKHAR R. HIREMATH, ADV. FOR R2)

THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227
OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA, PRAYING TO ISSUE WRIT IN THE
NATURE OF CERTIORARI TO SET ASIDE THE IMPUGNED ORDER
BEARING NO. /20/2022-23 DATED 12/02/2025 VIDE
¨sÀÆ ¸Áé/«£À
ANNEXURE-P PASSED BY THE RESPONDENT NO.1 AS NULL AND
VOID & ETC.

THIS WP COMING ON FOR FINAL HEARING, THIS DAY, ORDER
WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER:

CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE M.G.S. KAMAL

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ORAL ORDER

1. This is the third round of litigation by the petitioners who
are aggrieved by the proposed construction/installation of
electricity lines 1X10 M.V.A., 110/11K.V Electric Sub-
Division Station at Banavasi requiring installation of electric
transmission lines through the lands in Sy.Nos.159/1A,
159/3 and 157/1 belonging to the petitioners. Admittedly,
the respondent/authorities have already installed electric
lines up to land Sy.No.155 only the stretch which proposed
to run through the lands the petitioners is required to be
completed.

2. This Court on earlier occasion vide order dated 13.01.2023
passed in W.P.No.100059 of 2023 while quashing the
endorsements dated 16.12.2022 issued by the Executing
Engineer declining their request, had directed the
Executive Engineer-respondent No.1 to reconsider the
matter, which did not yield any result.

3. Petitioners being aggrieved, once again approached this
Court by filing Writ Petition W.P.No.104615 of 2024. By
order dated 05.08.2024 this Court again remitted the

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matter to the Deputy Commissioner. At paragraph Nos.8
and 9 of the said order, the Co-ordinate Bench of this
Court has observed as under:
8. Taking note of the said submission as well as
Annexure-M, a specific observation is made that
already 66% of work has been carried out and
now it is not possible to shift the line, when such
reasoning is given and also immediate to the
property of the petitioner, only forest land is
available and for other lands again the owners will
object for the same. When such being the case,
having considered Sections 10, 11 and 16 of the
Indian Telegraphic Act, 1885 and also the same
has been discussed by the Coordinate Bench of
the Kalaburagi Bench, as well as in the order
passed by this Court in Writ Petition
No.100428/2022 and also another order passed by
this Court in W.P.No.102481/2022, as a matter of
right the petitioners are not having any right to
question the same. However, the petitioners can
also approach the Deputy Commissioner in view of
the observations made by this Court as discussed
above, since the very contention of the
respondents is also that the Deputy Commissioner
has not been made as party and he has to
consider the representations of the petitioners. In
view of the submission of the petitioners’ counsel
also that the other land of 04 Acres is available, if
the same is feasible, they can approach the
Deputy Commissioner for shifting of the line.
9. With these observations, Writ Petition is disposed
of. The petitioners are given liberty to approach
the Deputy Commissioner within a period of two
weeks from today and till the decision is taken by
the Deputy Commissioner, respondents are
directed not to take any precipitate action in
respect of the petitioners, for a period of one
month, from the date of two weeks of

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representation made to the Deputy Commissioner,
as directed.”

4. Perusal of the aforesaid directions indicate that, the
petitioners herein had contended existence of alternate
land which could be utilized for completion of the work of
the power station. However, the said alternate land was
stated to be a forest land. A report was apparently
submitted to the Deputy Commissioner by the Executive
Engineer contending that obtaining requisite permission
from the Forest Department under the Forest
(Conservation) Act was time consuming and was not a
viable option. Taking note of the said report, the Deputy
Commissioner disposed of the application of the petitioner.
The said impugned order of the Deputy Commissioner is
put in question.

5. Heard learned counsel for the petitioner and the senior
counsel for respondent No.2-KPTCL.

6. The order of the Deputy Commissioner produced at
Annexure-P dated 12.02.2025 reads as under:
“¥Àæ¸ÁÛªÀ£É:-

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A B
¸À.£ÀA. 159/1 , 159/ , 157/1 ªÀÄvÀÄÛ 159/3 PÀqÀUÉÆÃqÀ UÁæªÀÄ
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EgÀÄvÀÛzÉ.

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G¥ÀAiÉÆÃUÀzÀ GzÉÝÃ±À ºÉÆA¢gÀÄªÀÅzÀ®èzÉÃ ¸ÀgÀPÁgÀzÀ §ÈºÀvï
A B
AiÉÆÃd£ÉAiÀiÁVgÀÄvÀÛzÉ. ¥ÀæAiÀÄÄPÀÛ ¸À.£ÀA. 159/1 , 159/ , 157/1 ªÀÄvÀÄÛ
159/3 PÀqÀUÉÆÃqÀ UÁæªÀÄ §£ÀªÁ¹ ºÉÆÃ§½ ²gÀ² vÁ®ÆPÀ (G.PÀ.)
eÁUÉAiÀÄ°è ±ÀQÛ±Á° «zÀÄåvï ¥Àæ¸ÀgÀt eÁ®zÀ PÁªÀÄUÁj PÉÊ©lÄÖ ¨ÉÃgÉqÉ
ªÀiÁUÀð §zÀ°¸À®Ä ¸ÁzsÀå«gÀzÀ PÁgÀt G¯ÉèÃTvÀ (1)gÀ CfðUÀ¼À£ÀÄß
«¯ÉÃUÉÆ½¹ DzÉÃ²¹zÉ.”

7. The impugned order read in the light of the directions
issued by the Coordinate Bench of this Court indicate that
except taking on record the report submitted by the
Executive Engineer, the Deputy Commissioner has neither
visited the spot nor has examined availability of any other
alternate land or possibility and feasibility of realigning the
electric lines in the proposed project.

8. Learned counsel for the petitioner referring to the survey
map indicating construction/establishment of the power
station and the electric line which is passing through
various lands, points out that on the northern side of the
land belonged to the petitioner there lies a government
land which in the revenue records stated to be, “jungle”.
He refers to one of the copies of RTCs and point out that
the said land has been utilized for the purpose of
construction of a school. He also submits that it is not very
clear as to whether the said land is a forest land or the

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government land. If it is not a forest land, the reasons
assigned in the impugned order by the Deputy
Commissioner accepting the report submitted by the
Executive Engineer that the process of obtaining the
permission under the Forest (Conservation) Act would be
time consuming is without any basis. He submits that, the
Deputy Commissioner has not ascertained whether or not
said land is forest land or the Government land. Therefore
he insists the Deputy Commissioner be directed to
ascertain whether the said land i.e., land in Sy.No.165
situated on the northern side of the land belonging to the
petitioner is available and could be utilized for the purpose
of drawing the electric line instead drawing the same
through the lands of the petitioner.

9. That learned Senior Counsel appearing for respondent
No.2/KPTCL fairly submits that despite the direction thas
aspect of the matter has not been ascertained. He submits
that if that land is available the authorities will re-examine
the feasibility of realigning taking into consideration the
minimum cost that could be incurred. Learned senior

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counsel further submits that petitioner No.2 has already
given consent for drawing up of electric line on his land.

10. Learned HCGP submits that revenue records indicate that
the land to be a “jungle land”, but however, it will be
examined, if it is a notified forest land, accordingly
appropriate orders will be passed.

11. The aforesaid submissions are placed on record.

12. As noted above, the impugned order passed by the Deputy
Commissioner does not speak as to any examination /
verification having been conducted by the Deputy
Commissioner to ascertain the feasibility of realignment as
well as availability of any other alternate land. Now that it
is vehemently contented by learned counsel for the
petitioner, that the land in Sy.No.165 is not a notified
forest land and is merely shown as a “jungle” in the RTC
records, the Deputy Commissioner shall verify and
ascertain this aspect of the matter as well.

13. Parties shall be given opportunity of being heard and if
required the Deputy Commissioner shall visit the spot and

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verify along with the Executive Engineer of Respondent
No.2/KPTCL regarding feasibility of realignment of the
electric line as sought to be done by the petitioner.

14. With the above observation, petition is disposed of
relegating the matter to the Deputy Commissioner who
shall re-examine the matter, keeping in mind the
observation made hereinabove and pass appropriate order
within 4 weeks from the date of receipt of certified copy of
this order.

15. All contentions of the parties are kept open.

Sd/-
(M.G.S. KAMAL)
JUDGE

EM
CT:VP
LIST NO.: 1 SL NO.: 111