Reserved on : 10.03.2026 Pronounced on : 27.04.2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA DHARWAD BENCH DATED THIS THE 27^TH DAY OF APRIL, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE M. NAGAPRASANNA WRIT PETITION No.71665 OF 2012 (LA - KIADB)

BETWEEN:

MURARILAL AGARWAL S/O A.P.AGARWAL EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, M/S. AGARWAL SPONGE AND ENERGY PVT. LTD.

NO. 899A, 899B AND 900, HARAGINADONI ROAD VENIVEERAPURA CROSS, KUDITHINI VILLAGE, BALLARI – 585 104.

... PETITIONER (BY SRI GURUDAS S.KANNUR, SR.ADVOCATE A/W SRI SRINAND A.PACHHAPURE, ADVOCATE)

AND:

1 . THE STATE OF KARNATAKA BY THE PRINCIPAL SECRETARY DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRIES, M.S. BUILDING, BENGALURU.

2 . SPL. LAND ACQUISITION OFFICER KARNATAKA INDUSTRIAL AREA DEVELOPMENT BOARD, DHARWAD.

3 . THE SPL. DISTRICT COMMISSIONER KARNATAKA INDUSTRIAL AREA DEVELOPMENT BOARD, M.S. BUILDING, BENGALURU.

4 . ARCELOR MITTAL LTD., A COMPANY REGISTERED UNDER THE COMPANIES ACT HAVING ITS REGISTERED OFFICE AT:

UPPAL PLAZA, M6, 6^TH FLOOR, JASOLA DISTRICT CENTRE, NEW DELHI – 110 025.

... RESPONDENTS (BY SRI KESHAVA REDDY, AAG FOR R-1;

SMT.SHARMILA PATIL, ADVOCATE FOR R-2 AND R-3;

SRI NITIN PRASAD, ADVOCATE FOR R-4)

THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLE 226 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO (a) ISSUE A WRIT IN THE NATURE OF CERTIORARI OR ANY OTHER WRIT OF APPROPRIATE NATURE TO QUASH NOTIFICATION NO.CI/86/SPQ/2010 DATED:04.05.2010, IN SO FAR IT RELATES TO SY.NO.902B MEASURING 6 ACRES 86 CENTS (SL.NO.233), SY.NO.907A MEASURING 6 ACRES 10 CENTS (SL.NO.239) AND SY.NO.907B MEASURING 6 ACRES 38 CENTS (SL.NO.240) OF KUDITHINI VILLAGE; (b) PASS SUCH OTHER ORDERS AS MAY BE DEEMED APPROPRIATE UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE CASE, IN THE ENDS OF JUSTICE; (c) ISSUE THE WRIT IN THE NATURE OF CERTIORARI OR ANY OTHER WRIT OF APPROPRIATE NATURE TO QUASH THE NOTIFICATION DATED 05.02.2010 GAZETTED ON 06.02.2010 BEARING NO.CI/86/SPQ/2010 ISSUED BY THE RESPONDENT NO.3 WHICH IS PRODUCED AND MARKED AS ANNEXURE-G TO THE WRIT PETITION; (d) THIS HON’BLE COURT BE PLEASED TO DECLARE THAT THE ENTIRE ACQUISITION PROCEEDINGS INITIATED BY THE RESPONDENT NO.1 HAVE BEEN ABANDONED IN SO FAR AS THE PETITION SCHEDULE PROPERTIES ARE CONCERNED.

THIS WRIT PETITION HAVING BEEN HEARD AND RESERVED FOR ORDERS ON 10.03.2026, COMING ON FOR PRONOUNCEMENT THIS DAY, THE COURT MADE THE FOLLOWING:-

CORAM: THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE M.NAGAPRASANNA

CAV ORDER

The petitioner is before this Court seeking the following reliefs:

(a) Issue a writ in the nature of certiorari or any other writ of appropriate nature to quash Notification No.CI/86/SPQ/2010 dated 04-05-2010, insofar as it relates to Sy.No.902B measuring 6 acres 86 cents (Sl.No.233) Sy.No.907A measuring 6 acres 10 cents (Sl.No.239) and Sy.No.907B measuring 6 acres 38 cents (Sl.No.240) of Kudithini Village and (b) Pass such other orders as may be deemed appropriate under the circumstances of the case, in the ends of justice.

(c) Issue the writ in the nature of certiorari or any other writ of appropriate nature to quash the Notification dated 05-02-2010 gazetted on 06-02-2010 bearing No.CI/86/SPQ/2010 issued by the respondent No.3 which is produced and marked as Annexure-G to the writ petition.

(d) This Hon’ble Court be pleased to declare that the entire acquisition proceedings initiated by the respondent No.1 have been abandoned insofar as the petition schedule properties are concerned.”

2. Heard Sri Gurudas S. Kannur, learned senior counsel appearing for the petitioner; Sri Keshava Reddy, learned Additional Advocate General appearing for respondent No.1; Smt. Sharmila Patil, learned counsel appearing for respondents 2 and 3 and Sri Nitin Prasad, learned counsel appearing for respondent No.4.

3. Facts in brief, germane, are as follows: -

3.1. The petitioner is the Executive Director of one M/s Agarwal Sponge & Energy Private Limited (‘the Company’ for short).

The Company is operating a sponge iron unit and a power plant unit in an area of 24.75 acres in Kuditini Village, Bellary District. The Company also holds a sanctio