IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 12^TH DAY OF NOVEMBER, 2025 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MRS. JUSTICE K.S. HEMALEKHA WRIT PETITION NO.20754 OF 2021 (GM-KEB)

BETWEEN:

1. THE EXECUTIVE ENGINEER, MAJOR WORKS, KPTCL, SUB-DIVISION-I, JSR EXTENSION, 3^RD CROSS (EAST), CHITRADURGA-577536.

2. THE ASSISTANT EXECUTIVE ENGINEER, MAJOR WORKS, KPTCL, SUB-DIVISION-1, JSR EXTENSION, 3^RD CROSS, (EAST), CHITRADURGA-577536.

…PETITIONERS (BY SMT. RAKSHITHA D.J., ADVOCATE)

Digitally signed by MAHALAKSHMI B M AND:

Location: HIGH COURT OF RAVINDRAREDDY .K KARNATAKA S/O K.T. RAMAKRISHNAREDDY, AGED ABOUT 53 YEARS, RESIDENT OF DODDASIDDAVVANAHALLY VILLAGE (D.S.HALLY)

DODDASIDDAVVANAHALLY POST, KASABA HOBLI, CHITRADURGA TALUK-577536, CHITRADURGA DISTRICT.

…RESPONDENT (BY SRI R. SHASHIDHARA, ADVOCATE)

THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO QUASH THE ORDER DATED 27.07.2021 IN CIVIL MISC NO.158/2020 PASSED BY THE I ADDITIONAL DISTRICT AND SESSIONS JUDGE CHITRADURGA PRODUCED AT ANNEXURE-A TO THE WRIT PETITION.

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

ORAL ORDER

The petitioners-Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation Limited (KPTCL) seek to challenge the order dated 27.07.2021 passed by the I Additional District and Sessions Judge, Chitradurga (hereinafter referred to as the 'District Court' for short) in Civil Misc. No.158/2020, whereby the Court awarded diminution value compensation in favour of the respondent.

2. Respondent (Land owner) filed Civil Misc.

No.158/2020 under Section 16 (3) of the Indian Telegraphic Act, 1885 (‘Telegraphic Act’ for short), claiming additional compensation for alleged loss caused due to the installation of 220 KV transmission line / tower over his land bearing Sy. No.5/3, measuring 9.05 acres situated at Doddasiddavvanahally Village, Kasaba Hobli, Chitradurga Taluk. The ground urged by the respondent in the petition was that the KPTCL erected towers over about 3 acres of his land, destroyed standing crops (maize and Bengal gram), reduced the fertility and market value of the land causing total loss of `10,00,000/- and sought `96,00,000/- with interest for diminishing of the land value.

3. The petitioners (KPTCL) filed objections contending that they have already paid a sum of `3,71,966/- as full and final compensation for the diminution land value as per the Deputy Commissioner's order dated 14.06.2019, and the respondent accepted the compensation without protest, that no crops existed on the land at the time of drawing the line in 2018. The transmission line was drawn in the existing corridor originally established in 1980-81.

4. The Trial Court partly allowed the miscellaneous petition and awarded additional compensation of `2,42,587/- with 6% interest.

5. Heard the learned counsel for the petitioners-

KPTCL and the learned counsel appearing for the respondent- claimant.

Petitioners’ contention:

6. Learned counsel for the petitioners submits that the full compensation has already been paid towards the diminution in land value as fixed by the Deputy Commissioner for a sum of `3,71,966/-. The compensation has been voluntarily received by the respondent without any objections and the respondent never challenged Ex.R1. Hence, reopening the compensation is impermissible. It is submitted that once the diminution land value was assessed and paid, awarding additional compensation amount towards diminution would amount to duplication. Further, the 220 KV line and towers were drawn within an existing transmission corridor established in 1980-1981. The impugned order has no finding on the Deputy Commissioner's assessment and this amounts to the perversity, which warrants interference by this Court.

Respondent's contention:

7. Per contra, learned counsel for the respondent contends that the respondent is the owner and cultivator of Survey No.5/3 measuring 8 acres, wherein various cr