01Facts
The petitioners’ lands were included in a preliminary notification dated 18 February 2022 under Section 11 of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013, for the Upper Krishna Project.
pp. 3–5They sought consideration of their representations, completion of the acquisition proceedings, and a consent award under the Government Order dated 9 October 2025.
pp. 3–5Relying on an earlier order in W.P. No. 107999 of 2026, they sought equivalent relief.
pp. 3–5The Court treated the matters as identical and allowed the petition
pp. 7–802Issues
i.1. Whether the petitioners were entitled to the benefits of the Government Order dated 9 October 2025 on the basis of the earlier orders concerning similarly situated landowners
pp. 4–7ii.2. Whether the respondents should be directed to process the petitioners’ claims and disburse an award or consent award within a specified period
pp. 7–803Law Applied
Section 11 of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013, provides for a preliminary notification in the acquisition process
p. 4The Court applied the Government Order dated 9 October 2025 and followed the directions in W.P. Nos. 100331 of 2024 and 106191 of 2024, under which the benefits of that Government Order were to be extended to the petitioners in those proceedings through an award or consent award
pp. 5–7It also relied on the order in W.P. No. 107999 of 2026, which directed that, where only a preliminary notification had issued, the final notification and subsequent award process should proceed in accordance with the Government Order
pp. 4–7Provisions in the judgment · 1 · Linked ones open on LawLens
Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013 Section 11
04Reasoning
The Court found the present dispute identical to the one addressed in W.P. No. 107999 of 2026 and granted the petitioners the same benefit as that directed in the earlier acquisition cases.
pp. 7–8It accordingly directed the petitioners to appear before the Special Land Acquisition Officer (SLAO), who must act in accordance with the Government Order dated 9 October 2025 and disburse the award or consent-award amount.
pp. 7–8The Court fixed an outer limit of one year from the petitioners’ first appearance
pp. 7–805Holding
The writ petition was allowed.
pp. 7–8The petitioners were granted the benefits of the Government Order dated 9 October 2025 in terms of W.P. Nos. 100331 of 2024 and 106191 of 2024, if not already granted.
pp. 7–8They were directed to appear before the concerned SLAO on 31 October 2026 at 11:00 a.m.; the SLAO must act in accordance with the Government Order and disburse the award or consent-award amount as expeditiously as possible, and in any event within one year of their first appearance.
pp. 7–8The State may seek an extension for valid reasons if compliance is not completed within that period
pp. 7–8Original Court PDF
SMT SWAPNA W/O SUDHEER @ SUDHEENDRA KULKARNIvsTHE STATE OF KARNATAKA
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