High Court Dismisses Writ Appeals by Appellant Challenging Land Acquisition for APMC Mega Market -- Acquisition Upheld Under Land Acquisition Act, 1894 and Karnataka Amendment Act 33/1991

Sub Category: Karnataka High Court Bench: BENGALURU

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2026-02-25 05:48:49

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Case Note & Summary

Appellant filed writ appeals against the dismissal of its writ petitions challenging land acquisition for an APMC Mega Market. The Trust owned lands in Srigandada Kaval and Herohalli villages, which were acquired through notifications under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 and Karnataka Amendment Act 33/1991. The Trust argued that the acquisition lapsed under Section 11A due to delay in award and challenged the validity of notifications and the dispensing of Section 5A enquiry. The High Court found the writ petitions barred by laches due to significant delay in filing, upheld the acquisition as valid for public purpose, and dismissed the appeals, affirming the Single Judge's order.

Headnote

The High Court of Karnataka at Bengaluru dismissed Writ Appeal filed by Appellant challenging the common order dated 03.02.2025 of the learned Single Judge, which had dismissed the writ petitions -- The appeals pertained to acquisition of lands in Srigandada Kaval village (subject 'A' property) and Herohalli village (subject 'B' property) for establishing a Mega Market by the Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) under the Karnataka Agricultural Produce Marketing (Regulation and Development) Act, 1966 -- The Trust contended that the acquisition proceedings had lapsed under Section 11A of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 (LA Act) due to delay in making the award, and challenged the notifications under Sections 4(1) and 6 of the LA Act -- For subject 'B' property, the Trust also challenged the use of Section 17 of the Karnataka Amendment Act 33/1991 to dispense with the enquiry under Section 5A of the LA Act -- The Court held that the writ petitions were barred by laches as the Trust had delayed in challenging the acquisition proceedings, and the acquisition was valid under the LA Act and Karnataka Amendment -- The Court upheld the dismissal of the writ petitions, affirming the acquisition for public purpose

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Issue of Consideration: The Issue of whether the land acquisition proceedings for establishing a Mega Market by the Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 and Karnataka Amendment Act 33/1991 were valid and whether the writ petitions were barred by laches

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Final Decision

The High Court dismissed the writ appeals, upholding the common order dated 03.02.2025 of the learned Single Judge. The Court held that the writ petitions were barred by laches due to significant delay in challenging the acquisition proceedings, and the acquisition was valid under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 and Karnataka Amendment Act 33/1991 for public purpose.

2026 LawText (KAR) (01) 6

Writ Appeal No. 250 of 2025 (LA-RES) C/W Writ Appeal No. 260 of 2025 (LA-RES)

2026-01-30

Hon'ble Mr. Vibhu Bakhru, Chief Justice, Hon'ble Mr. Justice C.M. Poonacha

Sri. Udaya Holla, Senior Advocate a/w Sri. Rajeswara P N, Advocate for Appellant, Sri. Kiran.V. Ron, AAG a/w Smt. Namitha Mahesh B.G., AGA for Respondents 1 to 3, Sri. Jayakumar S Patil, Senior Advocate a/w Sri. Nanda Kishore, Mr. Chetan Ramesh and Mr. Arvind Ramesh, Advocates for Respondent 4

Jamnalal Bajaj Seva Trust represented by its Special Power of Attorney Holder Col. B K Nair

State of Karnataka, Deputy Commissioner Bengaluru District, Special Land Acquisition Officer, Agricultural Produce Market Committee Yeshwanthpura Bengaluru

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Nature of Litigation: Writ appeals challenging land acquisition proceedings for public purpose under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 and Karnataka Amendment Act 33/1991

Remedy Sought

The appellant sought to set aside the order dated 03.02.2025 of the learned Single Judge and declare the acquisition proceedings lapsed under Section 11A of the LA Act, with writs of certiorari to quash notifications

Filing Reason

The Trust filed writ petitions challenging the acquisition of its lands for an APMC Mega Market, alleging lapse due to delay in award and invalid notifications

Previous Decisions

The learned Single Judge dismissed the writ petitions via common order dated 03.02.2025, leading to the present appeals

Issues

Whether the acquisition proceedings lapsed under Section 11A of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 due to delay in making the award Whether the writ petitions were barred by laches due to delay in challenging the acquisition notifications Whether the use of Section 17 of the Karnataka Amendment Act 33/1991 to dispense with Section 5A enquiry was valid

Submissions/Arguments

The appellant argued that the award was not made within two years as per Section 11A, causing lapse of acquisition The appellant contended that the notifications under Sections 4(1) and 6 were invalid and challenged the dispensing of Section 5A enquiry The respondents argued that the writ petitions were barred by laches as the Trust delayed in filing challenges, and the acquisition was valid for public purpose under the LA Act and Karnataka Amendment

Ratio Decidendi

Writ petitions challenging land acquisition proceedings can be dismissed on grounds of laches if there is undue delay in filing, as per principles of writ jurisdiction -- Acquisition proceedings under the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 do not lapse under Section 11A if the delay is attributable to the landowner's actions or other valid reasons -- The use of Section 17 of the Karnataka Amendment Act 33/1991 to dispense with Section 5A enquiry is permissible for urgent public purposes like establishing a Mega Market

Judgment Excerpts

The present appeals are filed by the writ petitioner impugning the common order dated 03.02.2025, whereunder the learned Single Judge has dismissed the writ petitions -- Para 1 The Trust filed Writ Petition No.3884/1999 challenging the acquisition made in respect of the subject 'A' property and sought for declaration that the entire acquisition proceedings have lapsed on account of the award not having been made within a period of two years in terms of Section 11A of the Land Acquisition Act -- Para 5 During the pendency of the said writ petition a preliminary notification dated 13.04.1999 was issued under Section 4(1) read with Section 17(4) of the Karnataka Amendment Act 33/1991 to the LA Act -- Para 7 The Trust filed Writ Petition No.37140/2000 challenging the acquisition of subject 'B' property seeking writ of certiorari to quash the impugned notifications -- Para 8

Procedural History

The Trust filed Writ Petition No.3884/1999 in 1999 challenging acquisition of subject 'A' property, with interim stay on dispossession on 08.02.1999 -- During pendency, preliminary notification for subject 'B' property was issued on 13.04.1999 under Karnataka Amendment Act 33/1991 -- The Trust filed Writ Petition No.37140/2000 in 2000 challenging acquisition of subject 'B' property -- The learned Single Judge dismissed both writ petitions via common order dated 03.02.2025 -- The Trust filed Writ Appeal Nos. 250 and 260 of 2025 under Section 4 of the Karnataka High Court Act, 1961 to set aside the Single Judge's order -- The Division Bench heard and reserved the appeals, pronouncing judgment on 30.01.2026