Vishakanta N Vs the State of Karnataka

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1 - NC: 2025:KHC:50054 WP No. 35222 of 2025

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HC-KAR

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IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU

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DATED THIS THE 2^ND DAY OF DECEMBER, 2025

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BEFORE

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THE HON'BLE MRS. JUSTICE K.S. HEMALEKHA WRIT PETITION NO. 35222 OF 2025 (LA-KIADB)

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BETWEEN:

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VISHAKANTA N, S/O. LATE NINGEGOWDA, AGED ABOUT 63 YEARS, R/AT. NO.C-3 BLOOMING MEADOWS, 2^ND FLOOR, 9^TH MAIN ROAD, KRISHNA GARDEN, RR NAGAR, BENGALURU-560 098.

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

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P. NAGRAJ, S/O. PUTTASWAMMANNA, R/AT. NO.287/31, 17 CROSS, MTS LAYOUT, KENGERI UPANAGARA, BANGALORE SOUTH, BANGALORE- 560 060.

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(BY SRI. SHARAN N.MAJAGE.,ADVOCATE)

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&PETITIONERS

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AND:

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THE STATE OF KARNATAKA BY ITS SECRETARY, DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRIES, VIDHANA SOUDHA, BANGALORE-560 001.

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KARNATAKA INDUSTRIAL AREAS DEVELOPMENT BOARD

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NC: 2025:KHC:50054 WP No. 35222 of 2025

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HC-KAR

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REP. BY ITS CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER AND EXECUTIVE MEMBER, KHANIJA BHAVANA, RACE COURSE ROAD, BENGALURU-560 001.

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THE SPECIAL LAND ACQUISITION OFFICER, KARNATAKA INDUSTRIAL AREAS DEVELOPMENT BOARD, NO.14/3, 1^ST FLOOR, CFC BUILDING, MAHARSHI ARAVINDA BHAVAN, NRUPATUNGA ROAD, BANGALORE-560 001.

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METRO RAIL CORPORATION LIMITED, BMTC COMPLEX, 3RD FLOOR, K.H. ROAD, SHANTINAGAR, BENGALURU-560 027. REP. BY ITS MANAGING DIRECTOR.

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&RESPONDENTS

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(BY SRI. HARISHA A.S, AGA FOR R1; SRI.H.L.PRADEEP KUMAR., ADVOCATE FOR R2 AND R3)

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THIS WP IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF THE CONSTITUION OF INDIA PRAYING TO QUASH THE GENERAL AWARD BEARING NO.KIADB/METRO/BHUSWA. R2E-122A/2020-21 DATED 15.12.2020 PASSED BY THE R3 IN RESPECT OF LAND IN SY. NO. 159/28, PROPERTY IDENTIFICATION NO. R2E-122A (4525/159/28) MEASURING TO AN EXTENT OF 120 SQ. MTRS SITUATED AT KENGERI VILLAGE, KENGERI HOBLI, BANGALORE SOUTH IN SO FAR AS THE PETITIONERS PROPERTIES ARE CONCERNED WHICH IS PRODUCED AT ANNX-D AND ETC.

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

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NC: 2025:KHC:50054 WP No. 35222 of 2025

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HC-KAR

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

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ORAL ORDER

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Learned Addl. Government Advocate accepts notice

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for respondent No.1.

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Petitioner is before this Court seeking for the

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following reliefs:

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<i) Issue writ of certiorari quashing the General Award bearing No.KIADB/METRO/BhuSwa/R2EA/2020-21 dated:15.12.2020 passed by the Respondent No.3 in respect of land in Sy. No.159/28, Property Identification NO.R2E-122A (4525/159/28) measuring to an extent of 120 Sq.Mtrs situated Kengeri Village, Kengeri Hobli, Bangalore South, in so far as the Petitioners properties are concerned, which is produced as ANNEXURE-D.

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ii) Issue any suitable order, direction or writ in the nature of mandamus directing the respondents herein to consider the case of the petitioners as per Section 29(2) of the KIAD Act.

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HC-KAR

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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 ."

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3 . Learned counsel on both sides submit that the

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issue involved in this writ petition is squarely covered by several decisions of this Court.

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Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that

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the petitioner is the absolute owner of the land bearing Sy.No.159/28 measuring 32 Guntas, situated at Kengeri Village, Kengeri Hobli, Bangalore South (for short 'the schedule property'). The said land has been acquired by the respondent-State for the benefit of respondent No.4. It is further submitted that the Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board (KIADB) has passed a general award and being aggrieved, the petitioner has approached this Court.

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5. Learned counsel for the petitioner further submits

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that the petitioner is willing to accept compensation by

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HC-KAR

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way of a consent award under Section 29(2) of the Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Act, 1966 (8KIAD Act, 19669 for short).

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Learned counsel for respondent Nos.2 and 3-KIADB submits that if the petitioner is willing to accept the compensation in terms of Section 29(2) of the KIAD Act, 1966, the same will be duly considered by the authority in accordance with law.

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The submission is placed on record.

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Under identical circumstances, a Co-Ordinate

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Bench of this Court in the case of Sri V. Rudranagaraju Vs. The State of Karnataka and others¹ (V.Rudranagaraju) had quashed the general award and directed the respondent-Board to consider the representation of the land owner seeking determination of compensation under a consent award in terms of Section

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29 (2) of the KIAD Act and has held as under:

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1 W.P. No.22495/2023 D.D. 30.10.2023

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HC-KAR

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<This writ petition is filed seeking for following reliefs:

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(i) Issue a writ of certiorari quashing the General Award bearing No.KIADB:LAQ No.1203/202223 dated 27.12.2022 passed by respondent no.3 in respect of land bearing Sy.no.40/7 measuring 0-12.08 guntas, situated at Hadihosahalli Village, Thyamagoundlu Hobli, Nelamangala Taluk, Bangalore Rural District of petitioner is concerned, which is produced at Annexure-C;

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(ii) Issue any suitable order, direction or writ in the nature of mandamus directing the respondents herein to consider the case of the petitioner as per Section 29(2) of the KIAD Act and etc.

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2. Sri Omkara Murthy G & Sri M.S. Mohan, learned counsel for petitioner submits that petitioner was absolute owner of land bearing Sy.no.40/7, measuring of 12.08 guntas situated at Hadihosahalli Village, Thyamagondlu Hobli, Nelamangala Taluk, Bengaluru Rural District, in respect of which respondent - authorities had initiated acquisition proceedings for Multi Modal Logistics Park project.

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3. It was submitted that petitioner had no objection for acquisition of land by respondents - KIADB, but without issuing notice and granting opportunity to petitioner to avail compensation under consent award General Award, was passed. Since compensation under consent award was higher than under General Award, denial was contrary to law.

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4. It was submitted that under similar circumstances, this Court in W.P.no.22091/2022 disposed of on 30.11.2022, holding such denial as unsustainable, quashed General Award and directed respondents to consider petitioner's representation for passing consent award. Hence sought for passing similar order.

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5. Sri Yogesh D. Naik, learned AGA for respondent no.1 and Sri P.V. Chandrashekar, learned counsel for respondent nos.2 and 3 submitted that in view of earlier decisions, respondent no.3 would consider petitioner's representation if petitioner furnished relevant documents in support of claim over property and sought for disposal of writ petition.

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6. Heard learned counsel and perused writ petition record.

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HC-KAR

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7. From above, it is seen that in W.P.no.22091/2022, contention of petitioner therein about failure to provide opportunity to accept compensation under consent award which was higher than under General award was upheld and this Court set aside General Award and directed respondents to consider petitioner's representation for passing consent award. Said decision would squarely apply in this case.

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8. Accordingly, writ petition is disposed of, impugned General Award No.KIADB:LAQ No.1203/2022-23 dated 27.12.2022 vide Annexure-C passed by respondent no.3, insofar as it relates to petitioner's land in Sy.no.40/7, measuring 12.08 guntas situated at Hadihosahlli Village, Thyamagondlu Hobali, Nelamangala Taluk, Bangalore Rural District, is hereby set aside.

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9. Respondent No.3 - SLAO shall consider petitioner's representation and pass appropriate orders thereon within a period of eight weeks."

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(emphasis supplied)

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Relying upon the decision of V.Rudranagaraju,

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the Co-ordinate Bench of this Court in Mr. Abdul Aleem

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HC-KAR

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and others Vs. The State of Karnataka and others² (Abdul Aleem) has also passed a similar order, directing the respondent-KIADB to consider the request of the landowner for grant of compensation under a consent award in terms of Section 29 (2) of the KIAD Act, 1966.

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Likewise in the case of Smt.Rukminamma Vs. State of Karnataka and Others³ (Rukminamma) the Co-Ordinate Bench has taken an identical view. The said position of law is not disputed by either of the parties.

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In the present case, when the petitioner himself expresses willingness to accept compensation under a consent award, there exists no impediment for the authorities to consider such request. The purpose of Section 29 (2) of the KIAD Act is to facilitate voluntary and amicable settlement of compensation between the parties. Refusal to extend such benefit would defeat the very

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2 W.P . No.23799/2025, D.D. 11.08.2025

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3 W.P.No.3092/2025, D.D. 05.02.2025

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object of the statute. Accordingly, this Court pass the

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following:

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ORDER

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i) The writ petition is disposed of .

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ii) The impugned General Award dated 15.12.2020 passed by respondent No.3 (Annexure-D), insofar as the petitioner9s schedule property is concerned, is hereby

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quashed .

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iii) Respondent No.3 is directed to consider the case of the petitioner herein in terms of Section 29(2) of the KIAD Act, 1966, and pass appropriate orders within eight(8) weeks from the date of receipt of a certified copy of this order. Needless to state that, in the event of any dispute, the general award would stand restored.

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