Karnataka High Court
Sri Ningegowda vs The State Of Karnataka on 1 July, 2025
Author: M.Nagaprasanna
Bench: M.Nagaprasanna
-1-
NC: 2025:KHC:23378
WP No. 17957 of 2025
HC-KAR
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU
DATED THIS THE 1ST DAY OF JULY, 2025
BEFORE
THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE M.NAGAPRASANNA
WRIT PETITION NO. 17957 OF 2025 (LA-KIADB)
BETWEEN:
SRI. NINGEGOWDA,
S/O. LATE. HONNAPPA,
AGED ABOUT 45 YEARS,
RESIDING AT BILLINAKOTE VILLAGE,
SOMPURA HOBLI, NELAMANGALA TALUK.
BENGALURU RURAL DISTRICT - 562 111.
...PETITIONER
(BY SRI. SHARAN N. MAJAGE, ADVOCATE)
AND:
1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA,
BY ITS SECRETARY,
Digitally signed DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRIES,
by NAGAVENI VIDHANA SOUDHA,
Location: High BANGALORE - 560 001.
Court of
Karnataka
2. KARNATAKA INDUSTRIAL
AREAS DEVELOPMENT BOARD,
REP. BY ITS CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER AND
EXECUTIVE MEMBER, KHANIJA BHAVANA,
RACE COURSE ROAD,
BENGALURU - 560 001.
3. THE SPECIAL LAND ACQUISITION OFFICER,
KARNATAKA INDUSTRIAL 39, SHANTHI GRUHA,
-2-
NC: 2025:KHC:23378
WP No. 17957 of 2025
HC-KAR
BHARATH SCOUTS AND GUIDES BUILDING,
4TH FLOOR, PALACE ROAD,
BANGALORE - 560 001.
...RESPONDENTS
(BY SRI. SPOORTHY HEGDE N, HCGP FOR R1;
SRI. H.L. PRADEEP KUMAR, ADVOCATE FOR R2 AND R3)
THIS WP IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF
THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO QUASH THE
GENERAL AWARD DATED 25.08.2021 BEARING NO.
KIADB/BHUSWA-2/2021-22 PASSED BY THE R3 IN RESPECT OF
LAND IN SY. NO. 121/14 MEASURING 11 GUNTAS SITUATED
AT BILLINAKOTE VILLAGE SOMPURA HOBLI, NELAMANGALA
TALUK, BANGALORE RURAL DISTRICT IN SO FAR AS THE
PETITIONERS ARE CONCERNED WHICH IS PRODUCED AT
ANNEXURE -D AND ETC.,
THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY
HEARING, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER:
CORAM: HON'BLE MR JUSTICE M.NAGAPRASANNA
ORAL ORDER
The petitioner is before this Court, seeking for the
following prayers:
" i) Issue writ of certiorari quashing the General
Award dated:25.08.2021 bearing No.
KIADB/BhuSwa-2/2021-22 passed by the
respondent No. 3 in respect of land in
Sy.No.121/14 measuring 11 Guntas, situated at
Billinakote Village, Sompura Hobli, Nelamangala
Taluk, Bangalore Rural District, in so far as the
NC: 2025:KHC:23378
HC-KAR
Petitioners are concerned, which is produced at
ANNEXURE-D.
ii) Issue any suitable order, direction or writ in the
nature of mandamus directing the respondent
herein to consider the case of the petitioner as
per section 29(2) of the KIAD Act.
iii) Pass such other order, writ or direction as the
Hon'ble Court deems fit in the facts and
circumstances of the case including costs."
2. Heard Shri Sharan N. Majage, learned counsel
appearing for the petitioner; Shri Spoorthy Hegde N., learned
High Court Government Pleader appearing for respondent No.1
and Shri H.L. Pradeep Kumar, learned counsel appearing for
respondents No.2 and 3.
3. Learned counsel appearing to the petitioner submits in
plethora of identical matters, coordinate benches of this Court
has considered the issue and answered in favour of the
petitioner. One such order passed by the coordinate bench of
this Court in W.P.No.12671/2025, disposed on 26.04.2025, has
allowed the petition and directed the respondents to consider
the case of the petitioner therein and pass necessary orders in
accordance with law.
NC: 2025:KHC:23378
HC-KAR
4. Learned High Court Government Pleader would not
dispute the position of law; the identical circumstance and
afore-quoted judgment rendered by the coordinate bench of
this Court.
5. This Court in W.P.No.12671/2025, disposed on
26.04.2025, has held as follows:
"2. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that
a General Award has been passed only on the ground that
the petitioner was absent when the matter was heard by
the Special Land Acquisition Officer for award of
compensation, as could be seen in the discussions made
in the General Award dated 24.08.2017 at Annexure-'D'.
3. Learned counsel submits that this Court has held
in several matters including the recent decision in the
case of Harisha.R /vs./ State of Karnataka and others in
W.P.No.12703/2023 dated 27.06.2023 following an
earlier decision in W.P.No. 6198/2015, that the land loser
would be entitled for a better price as compensation
instead of determination under a General Award. As a
consequence, all such matters where it was found that a
General Award was passed only on some technical ground
that the land loser was not present at the time of hearing
or such other technical reasons, this Court was of the
considered opinion that since the land loser would get a
better price if the compensation is awarded in terms of
the agreement and not under a General Award, the award
may be passed in terms of an agreement. Therefore, the
learned counsel submits that similar benefit should be
given to the petitioner.
4. On going through the following judgments, which
were rendered by this Court:
i) Smt. Rukmani v/s State of Karnataka-W.P
No.39611-39612/2016 dated 16.09.2016;
ii) Sri.Basavaraju vs. State of Karnataka
NC: 2025:KHC:23378
HC-KAR
- W.P.No.34071/2017 dated 28.08.2017;
iii) Sri.Rajanna vs. State of Karnataka -
W.P.No.51362/2016 dated 21.03.2018;
iv) Smt.Ningamma vs. state of Karnataka
- W.P.No.6198/2015 dated 25.08.2015;
v) Sri.Bhyraiah vs. State of Karnataka -
W.P.No.40896/2017 dated 24.01.2019.
this Court is of the considered opinion that the petitioner
is entitled for similar relief as was given in the cases
mentioned hereinabove.
5. Consequently, the following:
ORDER
(i) The writ petition is allowed.
(ii) The impugned General Award dated
24.08.2017 at Annexure-'D' insofar as the
petitioner's land is concerned is set aside.
(iii) The respondent-Special Land Acquisition
Officer, KIADB is directed to reconsider the
request of the petitioner for award of
compensation by way of an agreement
under Section 29(2) of the Karnataka
Industrial Areas Development Act, 1966 and
pass necessary orders within a period of
three months from the date of receipt of a
copy of this order.
(iv) The respondent - Special Land Acquisition
Officer, KIADB, is at liberty to withdraw the
amount that has been deposited by it
pursuant to the General Award before the
jurisdictional court.
(v) Needless to state that in the event of any
dispute, the General Award would stand
restored."
NC: 2025:KHC:23378
HC-KAR
Therefore, the issues as answered by the co-ordinate
bench of this Court supra and in the light of the issues standing
covered on all its fours, the writ petition stands disposed on the
very same findings and the directions.
Ordered accordingly.
Sd/-
(M.NAGAPRASANNA)
JUDGE
JY
CT:BHK
