The Executive Engineer (Ele) v. Shri.Madivala Veerabasappa @ M.Veerabasappa
Limitation – Compensation under Section 16(3) of Indian Telegraph Act, 1885
Case brief
What is this about?
Karnataka High Court (Bengaluru), single judge Ravi V Hosmani, WP No. 8641 of 2025 (GM-KEB), decided 23.09.2025. Executive Engineer (ELE), Karnataka Power Transmission Limited challenged under Articles 226 & 227 the order dated 08.09.2024 of II Addl. District and Sessions Judge, Davanagere in C.Misc.no.60/2020 awarding Rs.43,358/- to Madivala Veerabasappa for crop damage and diminution of land value from a 66 KV HT line drawn in 2014 over Sy.no.61/B6, Komaranahalli village. Claim under Section 16(3) Indian Telegraph Act 1885 filed nearly six years late; three-year bar per Article 137 Limitation Act as per Kerala State Electricity Board v. TP Kunhaliumma, AIR 1977 SC 282 (also followed in WP no.22208/2019). Following W.P.no.8738/2025 (decided 09.09.2025), writ petition allowed and award quashed as barred by limitation. Keywords: Telegraph Act S.16(3) compensation; limitation Article 137; certiorari; KPTCL HT line; quashing of award.