In a significant development related to the long-pending Shivsruthi road issue in Shahapur, the Dharwad Bench of the High Court of Karnataka has directed the Belagavi City Corporation to pay compensation of ₹2.18 crore to the Gargatti family, whose land was used for the road in front of Shivsruthi.
The bench has also instructed the City Corporation to file an affidavit in the matter and has granted a two-week deadline for compliance.
Earlier, in December, the court had taken a serious view of the non-payment of compensation and initiated punitive action against the Managing Director of the Smart City Scheme. A fine of ₹25,000 was imposed and a bailable arrest warrant was issued. However, during subsequent hearings, Smart City Managing Director Kavita Warangal appeared before the bench and informed the court that the road had been officially transferred to the City Corporation, supported by a government order.
Based on this submission, the court has now shifted the responsibility of paying compensation from the Belagavi Smart City to the City Corporation.
The issue of liability had remained unclear since October 27, when the compensation order was first passed. At that time, both the posts of Municipal Commissioner and Smart City Managing Director were held by Shubha B., but no final decision was taken, resulting in the matter initially falling under the Smart City Department. With the transfer of Smart City works to the Corporation, the responsibility has now formally moved to the civic body.
While the court had earlier ordered compensation of ₹17.99 lakh on October 27, 2025, the revised liability now stands at ₹2.18 crore, to be paid by the City Corporation. The latest order comes at a time when efforts are underway to reopen the closed road, adding urgency to the Corporation’s next course of action.