IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 24^TH DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2026 PRESENT THE HON'BLE MR. VIBHU BAKHRU, CHIEF JUSTICE AND THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE C.M. POONACHA WRIT APPEAL NO. 1776 OF 2025 (GM-RES)

BETWEEN:

1. SRI A NATARAJ THE ASSISTANT EXECUTIVE ENGINEER (RETD)

PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT MAGADI SUB-DIVISION MAGADI TALUK - 562 120 BENGALURU SOUTH DISTRICT RESIDENCE ADDRESS:

SRI A. NATARAJ S/O. ASHWATHNARAYANA MURTHY Digitally signed by AGED ABOUT 63 YEARS SRIDEVI S R/AT SREE RAMA NILAYA Location:

VIDHYANAGAR High Court of Karnataka TUMAKURU TOWN - 572 101 …APPELLANT (BY SRI VIVEK S. REDDY, SENIOR ADVOCATE A/W SRI H.B. RAJU, ADVOCATE)

AND:

1. SRI T.N. CHANDRASHEKAR S/O. SRI N. NANJAPPA AGED ABOUT 67 YEARS PROP: SRI ASHWINI TEXTILE NARASIMHA CIRCLE KALYAGATE MAGADI TOWN - 562 120 (RAMANAGARA DISTRICT)

BENGALURU SOUTH DISTRICT

2. THE GOVERNMENT OF KARNATAKA BY ITS CHIEF SECRETARY VIDHANA SOUDHA BENGALURU - 560 001

3. THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER RAMANAGARA DISTRICT RAMANAGARAM - 562 159

4. THE TAHSILDAR MAGADI TALUK MAGADI - 562 120

5. SRI M.S. NIRANJAN BABU TAHSILDAR MAGADI TALUK MAGADI - 562 120

6. THE ASSISTANT EXECUTIVE ENGINEER PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT MAGADI SUB-DIVISION MAGADI TALUK - 562 120

7. THE MAGADI POLICE STATION BY ITS INSPECTOR OF POLICE MAGADI TALUK-562 120.

8. SRI H. RAVI CIRCLE INSPECTOR OF POLICE MAGADI TALUK - 562 120 9. SRI RAVI PRAKASH SUB-INSPECTOR MAGADI POLICE STATION MAGADI - 562 120

10. MAGADI TOWN MUNICIPALITY BY ITS CHIEF OFFICER MAGADI TOWN MAGADI - 562 120 …RESPONDENTS (BY SMT. NAMITHA MAHESH B.G., AGA FOR R-2 TO 9;

RESPONDENTS 1 & 10 ARE SERVED &

UNREPRESENTED)

THIS WRIT APPEAL FILED UNDER SECTION 4 OF THE KARNATAKA HIGH COURT ACT PRAYING TO SET ASIDE THE ORDER DATED 04.07.2024 IN WRIT PETITION No.44001/2011 (GM-RES) PASSED BY THE LEARNED SINGLE JUDGE OF THIS HON'BLE COURT AND ETC.

THIS APPEAL, COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY HEARING, THIS DAY, JUDGMENT WAS DELIVERED THEREIN AS UNDER:

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

ORAL JUDGMENT

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

1. For the reasons stated in the application - I.A.No.1/2025, the same is allowed and the delay caused in filing the appeal is condoned.

2. The appellant has filed the present appeal impugning an order dated 04.07.2024 passed by the learned Single Judge of this Court in WP.No.44001/2011 (GM-RES) [the impugned order]. By the impugned order, the learned Single Judge partly allowed the writ petition and directed respondent No.3 [the Deputy Commissioner] to conduct an enquiry and quantify the compensation/damages suffered by the writ petitioner. The operative part of the said impugned order is set out below:

“Order i) Writ Petition is allowed in-part.

ii) Respondent No.2-Deputy Commissioner is directed to conduct an enquiry, quantify the compensation/damages suffered by the petitioner due to the illegal acts of the respondents authorities in demolishing the building in contravention of law.

iii) The petitioner is at liberty to produce necessary evidence/material to justify the claim/quantum of compensation/damages.

iv) The Deputy Commissioner is directed to complete the exercise of quantification of compensation and disbursement of the same with applicable interest from date of demolition within three months from the date of receipt of copy of this order.

v) In view of the finding of this Court that demolition was illegal and in violation of the provisions of Karnataka Highways Act and also due to highhanded and arbitrary actions of the respondent-authorities, the Deputy Commissioner is directed to fix the liability on the concerned officials and recover the damages paid from the erring officials following due process of law and on compliance of principles of natural justice.

vi) The Deputy Commissioner to place the compliance report before this Court at the earliest.

This Court records appreciation of the assistance rendered by Mr. Harshith A, Law Intern.”

3. It is material to note that the State Gov