IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 17^TH DAY OF OCTOBER, 2025 PRESENT THE HON'BLE MR. VIBHU BAKHRU, CHIEF JUSTICE AND THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE C.M. POONACHA WRIT PETITION NO. 28122 OF 2025 (GM-RES)

BETWEEN:

SRI AKASH S S/O SUNIL AGED ABOUT 24 YEARS, R/A 24-2-136, N G ROAD, NEAR CHAKARAPANI TEMPLE, ATTAVAR, MANGALURU - 575001 ADHAR NO. 361684218642 PAN NO. NLFPS2525R MOB NO. 7619255713 EMAIL ID AKASHSKLEGAL@GMAIL.COM …PETITIONER Digitally (BY SRI. SACHIN S NAYAK, ADVOCATE FOR signed by SMT. AKHILESHWARI, ADVOCATE)

NIRMALA DEVI Location: AND:

HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA

1. UNION OF INDIA REPRESENTED BY SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS (MORTH)

TRANSPORT BHAWAN, 1 PARLIAMENT STREET, NEW DELHI 110001

2. NATIONAL HIGHWAYS AUTHORITY OF INDIA (NHAI)

REPRESENTED BY CHAIRMAN, NHAI PLOT NO. G-5 AND 6, SECTOR-10, DWARKA, NEW DELHI - 110075

3. PROJECT DIRECTOR,NHAI PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION UNIT (PIU), REPRESENTED BY PROJECT DIRECTOR DOOR NO. 3-29, BETHEL, THARETHOTA, NEAR PUMPWELL, NH-66, MANGALURU 575005

4. NEW MANGALORE PORT ROAD COMPANY LTD. (NMPRCL)

REPRESENTED BY MANAGING DIRECTOR

2ND FLOOR, D-21 CORPORATE PARK, DWARKA SECTOR-21, NEW DELHI 110077

5. BRAHMARAKOTLU TOLL PLAZA / NMPRCL REPRESENTED BY TOLL PLAZA MANAGER BRAHMARAKOTLU TOLL PLAZA, MANGALORE - DHARMASTALA HIGHWAY, BRAHMARAKOTLU, KALLIGE, KARNATAKA - 574219

6. HEJAMADI TOLL PLAZA / UDUPI TOLLWAY PVT. LTD.

REPRESENTED BY MANAGING DIRECTOR

1ST FLOOR, CHAINAGE NO. 347.2 KM, NH-66, HEJAMADI TOLL PLAZA, HEJAMADI, UDUPI - 574103

7. STATE OF KARNATAKA REPRESENTED BY PRINCIPAL SECRETARY, DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS, PORTS AND INLAND WATER TRANSPORT VIDHANA SOUDHA, BENGALURU 560001

8. MANGALURU CITY CORPORATION (MCC)

REPRESENTED BY COMMISSIONER, LALBAGH, M.G. ROAD, MANGALURU 575003

9. DEPUTY COMMISSIONER, DAKSHINA KANNADA DISTRICT PRAJA SOUDHA, PADIL, MANGALURU 575007

10. COMMISSIONER OF POLICE, MANGALURU CITY PANDESHWAR, MANGALURU - 575001 …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI. SHANTHI BHUSHAN H, DSGI FOR R1 SMT. NILOUFER AKBAR, AGA FOR R7,R9 & R10)

THIS WP IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 & 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO ISSUE A WRIT OF MANDAMUS OR ANY OTHER APPROPRIATE WRIT, ORDER OR DIRECTION DECLARING THAT THE CONTINUING INACTION AND NEGLECT OF THE RESPONDENTS IN ENSURING SAFE, MOTORABLE AND SCIENTIFICALLY MAINTAINED ROADS ON NATIONAL HIGHWAY-66, NATIONAL HIGHWAY-275 AND OTHER ARTERIAL ROADS OF COASTAL KARNATAKA CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF THE CITIZENS FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS GUARANTEED UNDER ARTICLE

19(1)(d) AND 21 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA AND ETC.

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

CORAM: HON'BLE MR. VIBHU BAKHRU, CHIEF JUSTICE and HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE C.M. POONACHA

ORAL ORDER

(PER: HON'BLE MR. VIBHU BAKHRU, CHIEF JUSTICE)

1. Issue notice.

2. Learned Deputy Solicitor General of India accepts notice for respondent No.1.

3. Learned Additional Government Advocate accepts notice for respondent Nos.7, 9 and 10.

4. The petitioner has filed the present petition inter alia alleging that the National Highway 66, National Highway 275 and other arterial road in coastal Karnataka are in a state of disrepair. It is also submitted that the various accidents are taking place on the said roads on account of potholes and denuded surface. The petitioner complains that the National Highways and arterial roads are not being maintained as required.

5. In the aforesaid circumstances, petitioner inter alia prays that direction be issued for identifying black spots and accident-prone zones; ensuring Public Grievance Redressal System through a transparent and accessible complaint system; and fixing accountability on all contractors and project concessionaires.

6. In view of the averments made in the present petition, we direct the concerned respondents to examine the complaint of the petitioner as articulated in the present petition and take such steps as it considers warranted.

7. Petition is disposed of with the aforesaid directions.

Sd/-

(VIBHU BAKHRU)

CHIEF