Smt Puttathayamma Vs State of Karnataka — Writ and Judicial Review | Karnataka HC (2025)

Smt Puttathayamma Vs State of Karnataka — Writ and Judicial Review | Karnataka HC (2025)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Respondent No.2 (Chairman, BWSSB) directed to consider the petitioner's representation dated 07.08.2023 at Annexure-D and pass appropriate orders in accordance with law within an outer limit of 8 weeks from receipt of certified copy of the order; no opinion expressed on merits.

Issue for consideration

Whether a writ of mandamus should be issued directing respondent No.2 (Chairman, Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board) to consider the petitioner's representation dated 07.08.2023 (Annexure-D) and to release the compensation stated to be lying with respondent No.2.

Court's answer

Writ petition disposed of; respondent No.2 directed to consider the petitioner's representation dated 07.08.2023 at Annexure-D and pass appropriate orders in accordance with law within an outer limit of 8 weeks from the date of receipt of certified copy of the order.

Key takeaways

The Court expressly did not express any opinion on the merits or demerits of the petitioner's claim, leaving the merits open.obiter¶¶43

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Land acquisition compensation – disbursal of award amount – successor of deceased landowner – unactioned representation. Writ petition (LA-RES) under Articles 226 and 227 of the Constitution by Smt. Puttathayamma, who succeeded to the estate of her late father Eregowda, whose land was acquired for laying the Cauvery Water Supply pipeline to Bengaluru City (award dated 26.06.2019), seeking a mandamus to respondent No.2 (Chairman, Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board) to consider her representation dated 07.08.2023 (Annexure-D) and release the compensation lying with it. Counsel for respondent No.2 submitted that the representation would be considered in a time-bound manner. The Court disposed of the petition, directing respondent No.2 to consider the representation and pass appropriate orders in accordance with law within an outer limit of 8 weeks from receipt of certified copy of the order, expressly reserving any opinion on the merits or demerits of the claim.

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NC: 2025:KHC:48163 WP No. 32544 of 2024

HC-KAR

IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU

DATED THIS THE 21^ST DAY OF NOVEMBER, 2025

BEFORE

THE HON'BLE MRS. JUSTICE K.S. HEMALEKHA WRIT PETITION NO. 32544 OF 2024 (LA-RES)

BETWEEN:

SMT. PUTTATHAYAMMA DAUGHTER OF EREGOESA @ VEEREGOWDA W/O RAJEGOWDA AGED ABOUT 55 YEARS R/AT ADCHHALU VILLAGE SATHANUR HOBLI, KANAKAPURA TALUK RAMANGARA DIST - 562 117.

…PETITIONER

(BY SMT. VASUNDARA T.P.,ADVOCATE FOR SRI. SIDDAMALLAPPA P.M., ADVOCATE)

AND:

Digitally signed by MAHALAKSHMI B M Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA

STATE OF KARNATAKA REP. BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY DEPARTMENT OF LOCAL BODY AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT M S BUILDING DR. AMBEDKAR ROAD BENGALRUU 560 O01.

THE CHAIRMAN

BANGALORE WATER SUPPLY AND SEWERAGE BOARD, CAUVERY BHAVAN K G ROAD, BNEGALURU - 560 009.

THE SPECIAL LAND ACQUISITION OFFICER ATTACHED TO BWSSB T K HALLI, MALAVALLI TALUK MANDYA DISTRICT - 567 421.

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NC: 2025:KHC:48163 WP No. 32544 of 2024

HC-KAR

NATIONAL HIGHWAY AUTHORITIES OF INDIA LTD., TAMIL NADU KARNATKA BORDER NH 209 MALAVALLI TALUK MANDYA DISTRICT - 571 430.

SPECIAL LAND ACQUISITON OFFICER TAMIL NADU KARNATAKA BORDER, NH 209 MALAVALLI TALUK, MANDYA DISTRICT - 571 430.

…RESPONDENTS

(BY SRI. HARISHA A.S.,AGA FOR R1 & R5; SMT. SUMANGALA GACHCHINAMATH., ADVOCATE FOR SRI. GURUDEV GACHCHINAMATH., ADVOCATE FOR R2 & R3;

SMT. SHILPA SHAH., ADVOCATE FOR R4)

THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO DIRECTING THE R-2 TO CONSIDER THE REPRESENTATION DATED 07.07.2023 ANNX-D SUBMITTED BY THE PETITIONER FOR CONSIDERATION AND THEREBY TO PASS SUITABLE ORDER OR TO TAKE NECESSARY DECISION IN DISBURSING THE COMPENSATION AMOUNT WHICH IS NOW UNDER THE CUSTODY OF R-2.

THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY HEARING IN 'B' GROUP, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER:

CORAM: HON'BLE MRS. JUSTICE K.S. HEMALEKHA

3 - NC: 2025:KHC:48163 WP No. 32544 of 2024

HC-KAR

ORAL ORDER

The petitioner has approached this Court seeking a writ of mandamus directing the respondent No.2 to consider her representation dated 07.8.2023 at Annexure-D and to release the compensation stated to be lying with respondent No.2.

It is averred that the land originally stood in the name of petitioner's father -Eregowda and upon his demise, she has succeeded to the estate. The said land was acquired for the purpose of laying Cauvery Water Supply pipeline to Bengaluru City. An award dated 26.06.2019 has been passed.

It is the grievance of the petitioner that despite the petitioner's representation on 07.08.2023 requesting disbursal of compensation, no orders have been passed till date.

Learned counsel for the respondent No.2 submits that representation so submitted shall be

4 - NC: 2025:KHC:48163 WP No. 32544 of 2024

HC-KAR

considered in accordance with law within a time bound manner. The grievance of the petitioner would stand addressed if necessary directions are issued to the respondent No.2.

Accordingly, this Court pass the following;

ORDER

i. Writ petition is disposed of.

ii. Respondent No.2 is directed to consider the petitioner's representation dated 07.08.2023 at Annexure-D and pass appropriate orders in accordance with law within an outer limit of 8 weeks from the date of receipt of certified copy of this order.

This Court has not expressed any opinion on merits or demerits of the claim of the petitioner.

Sd/-

_____________________________ JUSTICE K.S. HEMALEKHA

RU, List No.: 1 Sl No.: 23