Shri Arvind Bhimbhat Pujar Vs the Union of India — Writ and Judicial Review | Karnataka HC (2026)

Shri Arvind Bhimbhat Pujar Vs the Union of India — Writ and Judicial Review | Karnataka HC (2026)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Writ petition disposed of in terms of the affidavit filed by the Assistant Executive Engineer, National Highway Sub-Division, Yelburga, undertaking to modify the road level and form the road suitably to ensure smooth movement of the religious chariot; no adjudication on merits.

Issue for consideration

Whether the impugned notifications for acquisition dated 08/12/2023 and 18/01/2024 (Annexures-B and C) issued by Respondent No. 1 should be quashed in so far as petition property RS No. 161 is concerned. +1 more

Ratio / Principle

In view of the affidavit of the Assistant Executive Engineer undertaking to modify the road level and form the road suitably to ensure smooth movement of the religious chariot, the grievance of the petitioner stands substantially redressed by the assurance given by the authorities.

Key takeaways

Given the categorical undertaking placed on record and the submission of petitioner's counsel, no further adjudication on merits is required; the writ petition stands disposed of in terms of the affidavit filed.ratio¶¶50

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Land acquisition - National highway widening - Article 226 - Petitioner, a priest resident of Cholachagudda (Badami taluk, Bagalkot), challenged notifications dated 08/12/2023 and 18/01/2024 issued by Respondent No. 1 (Annexures-B and C) and sought mandamus to stop acquisition and road widening in so far as his property RS No. 161 was concerned, the raised road being an impediment to pulling the religious chariot (rathothsava). The Assistant Executive Engineer, National Highway Sub-Division, Yelburga filed an affidavit recording that, per the Devastana Committee's requirements, road level would be reduced and the road formed suitably for smooth chariot movement; alignment fixed and approved by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, New-Delhi could not be changed; acquisition proceedings stood completed with substantial widening done and only the junction and one more layer remaining. Petitioner's counsel sought disposal in terms of the affidavit. Held: the grievance stands substantially redressed by the authorities' assurance; no further adjudication on merits is required; writ petition disposed of in terms of the affidavit.

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NC: 2026:KHC-D:1776 WP No. 103690 of 2025

HC-KAR

IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA, AT DHARWAD DATED THIS THE 6^TH DAY OF FEBRUARY 2026 BEFORE

THE HON'BLE MRS JUSTICE K.S.HEMALEKHA

WRIT PETITION NO. 103690 OF 2025 (LA-RES)

BETWEEN:

SHRI. ARVIND BHIMBHAT PUJAR AGE: 50 YEARS, OCC: PRIEST, R/O. CHOLACHAGUDDA, TQ: BADAMI, DIST: BAGALKOT-587 201.

…PETITIONER

(BY SRI. SHIVRAJ S.BALLOLI, ADVOCATE)

AND:

THE UNION OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS TRANSPORT BHAWAN 1, SANSAD MARG, NEW DELHI-110 001, REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY.

GIRIJA A. BYAHATTI

Digitally signed by GIRIJA A. BYAHATTI Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA DHARWAD BENCH Date: 2026.02.18 10:30:30 +0530

NATIONAL HIGHWAYS AUTHORITY OF INDIA AN AUTHORITY CONSTITUTED UNDER THE NATIONAL HIGHWAYS ACT, HAVING ITS CORPORATE HEAD OFFICE AT G 5 AND 6, DABRI-GURGAON ROAD, SECTOR 10 DWARKA, DWARKA, DELHI-110075, REPRESENTED BY ITS DIRECTOR.

THE PUBLIC IMPLEMENTATION UNIT NATIONAL HIGHWAY AUTHORITY OF INDIA, RAJATAGIRI, GANDHINAGAR, DHARWAD-580004.

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NC: 2026:KHC-D:1776 WP No. 103690 of 2025

HC-KAR

THE ASSISTANT EXECUTIVE ENGINEER NATIONAL HIGHWAY SUB-DIVISION, TQ: YALBURGA, DIST: KOPPAL-583236.

THE SPECIAL LAND ACQUISITION OFFICER NATIONAL HIGHWAYS, MINI VIDHANA SOUDHA, DHARWAD-580008.

THE CHIEF ENGINEER

NATIONAL HIGHWAYS DIVISION, GOVERNMENT OF KARNATAKA, SECOND FLOOR, PWD ANNEXE BUILDING, BEHIND TREASURY OFFICE, K.R.CIRCLE BENGALURU-560001.

…RESPONDENTS

(BY SRI. M.B.KANAVI, ADVOCATE FOR R1; SRI. B.P.MATHAPATI, ADVOCATE FOR R2 AND R3; SRI. PRAVEEN K.UPPAR, AGA FOR R4 TO R6)

THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLE 226 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO ISSUE A WRIT OF CERTIORARI QUASHING THE IMPUGNED NOTIFICATION FOR ACQUISITION ISSUED BY RESPONDENT NO. 1 DATED 08/12/2023 AND 18/01/2024 VIDE ANNEXURE-B AND ANNEXURE-C IN SO FAR AS PETITION PROPERTY I.E., RS NO. 161 IS CONCERNED; ISSUE A WRIT OF MANDAMUS DIRECTING THE RESPONDENTS TO STOP THE ACQUIRING OF LAND AND WIDENING OF ROAD IN SO FAR AS PETITION PROPERTY I.E., RS NO. 161 IS CONCERNED AND ETC.

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

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

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NC: 2026:KHC-D:1776 WP No. 103690 of 2025

HC-KAR

ORAL ORDER

The petitioner is before this Court seeking the reliefs:

a. Issue a Writ of Certiorari quashing the Impugned Notification for acquisition issued by Respondent No. 1 dated 08/12/2023 and 18/01/2024 vide Annexure-B and AnnexureC in so far as Petition Property i.e., RS No. 161 is concerned.

b. Issue a writ of Mandamus directing the Respondents to stop the acquiring of land and widening of Road in so far as Petition Property i.e., RS No. 161 is concerned.

c. Pass any such other orders that this Hon'ble Court may deem fit to in meeting the ends of justice and equity.

The Assistant Executive Engineer, National Highway Sub-Division, Yelburga, Dist.Koppal, has filed an affidavit. In paragraphs Nos.4 and 5 of the affidavit, it is stated as under:

“ 4. I state that, as per the requirements of the Devastana Committee, the respondents authorities have taken steps for smooth movement of religious chariot / rathothsava.

4 - NC: 2026:KHC-D:1776 WP No. 103690 of 2025

HC-KAR

The road is mound (height) for which it would be impediments for pulling religious chariot. For which, the respondent authorities has taken steps to reduce Road level for religious processions for which there is no effect to the petitioners or public in pulling the chariot.

5. I state that, as the prayer of the petitioner is to change the alignment of the road and they have made a representation to the SLAO. Since the widening of the Road and alignment is fixed by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, New-Delhi and to that effect, they have approved the map also. Therefore, now alignment cannot be changed. But grievance of the petitioner is to be addressed by forming road to enable easy / smooth movement of chariot. Moreover, acquisition proceedings are completed and substantial part of the forming / widening of the road is also carried out. Now, only the junction and laying of one more layer is remained. Therefore the widening of the road would be completed considering the grievance of the petitioner for smooth movement of the religious chariot only.”

The said affidavit is taken on record.

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NC: 2026:KHC-D:1776 WP No. 103690 of 2025

HC-KAR

Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that in view

of the undertaking given in the affidavit, the writ petition may be disposed of in terms thereof.

Having regard to the affidavit filed by the Assistant Executive Engineer, National Highway Sub-Division, Yelburga, Dist.Koppal, undertaking to modify the road level and form the road suitably to ensure smooth movement of the religious chariot, the grievance of the petitioner thus stands substantially redressed by the assurance given by the authorities.

In view of the categorical undertaking placed on record, and the submission of the learned counsel for the petitioner, no further adjudication on merits is required. Accordingly, the writ petition stands disposed of in terms of the affidavit filed.

Sd/JUSTICE K.S.HEMALEKHA

gab Ct:VH List No.: 1 Sl No.: 1