IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 26^TH DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SURAJ GOVINDARAJ WRIT PETITION NO. 22615 OF 2016 (GM-BWSSB)

BETWEEN JAIN INTERNATIONAL RESIDENTIAL SCHOOL THE JGI GROUP JAN GLOBAL CAMPUS JAKKASANDRA POST KANAKAPURA TALUK RAMANAGARA DISTRICT-56212 REPRESENTED HEREIN BY ITS DIRECTOR PROJECTS & FACILITIES ... PETITIONER (BY SRI. S.SRIRANGA., SR. ADVOCATE FOR SMT. SUMANA NAGANAND., ADVOCATE)

AND

1. STATE OF KARNATAKA DEPARTMENT OF URBAN DEVELOPMENT VIKASA SOUDHA, BANGALORE-560001 Digitally signed REPRESENTED HEREIN BY ITS by SHWETHA RAGHAVENDRA PRINCIPAL SECRETARY Location: HI GH COURT OF

2. BANGALORE WATER SUPPLY AND SEWERAGE BOARD KARNATAKA CAUVERY BHAVAN, BANGALORE-560009 REP. HEREIN BY ITS CHIEF ENGINEER(M)

3. ASSISTANT EXECUTIVE ENGINEER NO.2, CAUVERY HEAD WORKS SUB DIVISIN BWSSB, HAROHALLI-562112 KANAKAPURA TALUK …. RESPONDENTS (BY SRI. MAHANTESH SHETTAR., AGA A/W SRI. BOPPANNA BELLIYAPPA., AGA FOR R1;

SRI. RAVI B. NAIK., SR. ADVOCATE FOR SMT. SUMANGALA GACHCHINAMATH., ADVOCATE FOR R2 & R3)

THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 & 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO ISSUE A WRIT IN THE NATURE OF WRIT OF MANDAMUS OR ANY OTHER APPROPRIAE WRIT, ORDER OR DIRECTION DECLARING THAT THE PETITIONER IS NOT LIABLE TO PAY ‘PRO-RATE’ CHARGES AS DEMANDED BY THE RESPONDENTS AND ETC.

THIS WRIT PETITION COMING ON FOR ORDERS AND HAVING BEEN RESERVED FOR ORDERS ON 28.01.2026, THIS DAY, THE COURT PRONOUNCED THE FOLLOWING:

CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SURAJ GOVINDARAJ

CAV ORDER

1. The Petitioner is before the Court seeking for the following reliefs:

1) Declare that the Petitioner is not liable to pay 'pro-

rata' charges as demanded by the Respondents;

2) Quash the communication dated 18.02.2016 bearing No.BWSSB/EIC/CE(M)-III/DCE(M)-I/TA(M)-III

14483/15-16 (Annexure P);

3) Quash the communication dated 2.4.2016 bearing No. BWSSB/EIC/CE(M)/ACE(M)-III/DCE(M)-1/TA(M)-

10/83/2015-16 (Annexure Q):

4) Direct the Respondents to refund to the Petitioner Rs

1,01,91,510/-, being the excess tariff collected:

5) Pass such other orders as this Hon'ble Court may deem fit in the interests of justice and equity.

2. The Petitioner is an educational institution established by the Sri. Bhagavan Mahaveer Jain Educational and Cultural Trust, which runs various Educational and Charitable Institutions. The said trust has established and runs various educational institutions in different parts of the country and has established five institutions in Kanakapura Taluk viz., i. Jain Vidyanikethan, which is a State Board School;

ii. Jain Public School which imparts CBSE syllabus; iii. Jain College which is a Pre-University and Degree College;

iv. Jain University Global Campus; and v. Jain International Residential School.

3. It is claimed that there are 3000 local students pursuing studies in these institutions, and the remaining have come from various parts of the country, as well as from diverse backgrounds. It is further claimed that the said campus provides employment for more than 2500 local residents.

4. The Petitioner, Jain International Residential School, was established in the year 1999. At the time of establishment, it was utilising water from underground borewells to meet the needs of the school. Since the said water was not fit for human consumption, causing severe skin problems, allergies etc., a representation has been made to respondent No.2 on 19.05.2003, requesting for 9 lakh litres of water to be supplied to the school at a concessional rate from Harohalli Pumping Station in Kanakapura Taluk, and a feasibility report has already been submitted.

5. On 12.06.2003, the Petitioner addressed yet another letter to respondent No.2, bringing to its notice that over a thousand children and staff are on the campus, requiring potable water, as the PPM levels in the water from the borewells were alarmingly high. On 21.02.2004, the Government of Karnataka was pleased to issue a Government Order sanctioning the su