The Dharwad Bench of the High Court has strongly criticized Belgaum’s Municipal Corporation and Smart City officials for carrying out road works without completing the proper land acquisition process.
The court ordered that either ₹20 crore in compensation be paid to the landowners or the land should be returned. Additionally, the road must be removed, and the resulting losses borne by the authorities responsible. The court further directed that the officer responsible for the mistake should have this noted in their service record, preventing them from receiving promotions.
Justice Krishna S. Dixit, presiding over the case on Tuesday, expressed frustration, stating, “There seems to be no decency left in the current governments. Officials are taking advantage of the court’s leniency. I have never encountered such irresponsibility.” Addressing Municipal Corporation Commissioner Ashoka Dudgunti, the justice remarked, “You cannot seize private land without compensation. We are not asking for the Taj Mahal to be built, just for rightful compensation to be given to the affected landowners.”
The court ordered that the land should be returned within a day, with a personal fine of ₹5 lakh imposed on the commissioner. “If the land is not returned by Monday, September 23, I will sign the order,” the justice warned, issuing a final ultimatum. A lawyer for the Municipal Corporation, Chaitanya Munavalli, requested four additional days, arguing that Smart City officials were also to blame, as the road work had not been fully handed over to the corporation.
Justice Dixit questioned the delay, asking, “How did the council pass a resolution and announce compensation if the handover was incomplete?” Lawyer R.K. Patila, representing the affected landowners, argued that this was not an isolated issue, accusing the officials of wasting public funds and calling for the court to take this into account.
The dispute stems from the use of 23 tons of land for the construction of a two-way road on Belgaum’s SPM route in 2021, without completing the necessary land acquisition procedures. The compensation for the land had been set at ₹20 crore, but a disagreement arose during the council meeting over the high cost. Landowner Balasaheb Patil then approached the Dharwad High Court, which ordered the compensation to be paid. However, Municipal Corporation officials claimed they lacked the funds and offered to return the land instead.
Despite the High Court giving time until Tuesday, September 17, the land acquisition process was not completed, leading to the court’s harsh criticism of the authorities.
