IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 10^TH DAY OF APRIL, 2026 PRESENT THE HON'BLE MRS. JUSTICE ANU SIVARAMAN AND THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE T.M.NADAF WRIT APPEAL No. 331 OF 2023 (S-RES)

BETWEEN:

1. M/S MANGALORE ELECTRICITY SUPPLY COMPANY LIMITED (MESCOM)

A GOVERNMENT OF INDIA UNDERTAKING ATTAVAR, MANGALORE - 575 001 DAKSHINA KANNADA DISTRICT REPRESENTED BY THE MANAGING DIRECTOR. 2. THE EXECUTIVE ENGINEER (ELECTRICAL)

DIVISIONAL OFFICE MANGALORE ELECTRICITY SUPPLY COMPANY LIMITED (MESCOM)

BANTWAL-574 219.

DAKSHINA KANNADA DISTRICT.

…APPELLANTS (BY SRI BHARATH S, ADVOCATE FOR SRI BADRI VISHAL, ADVOCATE)

AND:

1. SRI K GOPALKRISHNA S/O LATE GANAPATHI @ GANESHARAYA AGED ABOUT 36 YEARS.

2. SRI K ASHOK KUMAR S/O LATE GANAPATHI @ GANESHARAYA AGED ABOUT 35 YEARS.

BOTH RESPONDENTS No.1 AND 2 ARE RESIDING AT KUNTALE HOUSE UVETTA VILLAGE, GURUVAYANAKERE POST BELTHANGADI TALUK-574 217 DAKSHINA KANNADA DISTRICT.

3. M/S. KARNATAKA POWER TRANSMISSION CORPORATION LIMITED A GOVERNMENT OF INDIA UNDERTAKING CAUVERY BHAVAN, K.G.ROAD BENGALURU - 560 009.

REPRESENTED BY THE MANAGING DIRECTOR-

RESPONDENT No.1.

…RESPONDENTS (BY SRI L MURALIDHAR PESHWA, ADVOCATE FOR R1 & R2 SRI B L SANJEEV, ADVOCATE FOR