When Dues Go Unpaid: Court Locks Railway Office Over Farmer Compensation

Last Updated:February 17, 2026, 13:55 IST

While the land was taken for public infrastructure, the compensation provided was far below the market value. Railway department was supposed to pay Rs 50 lakh to the land owner.

In a striking display of judicial enforcement, the Senior Section Engineer’s (SSE) office of the Railway Department in Srirangapatna, Karnataka was seized on Wednesday after officials failed to settle a long-standing compensation debt owed to a local farmer.

The dispute dates back to the land acquisition process for the Bengaluru-Mysuru double-track railway project. During the expansion, the Railway Department acquired agricultural land belonging to Mahadevaiah, a resident of Baburayanakoppal village.

While the land was taken for public infrastructure, the compensation provided was far below the market value. As per the then prices of land in the area, the compensation agreed upon to be paid by Railway Department was Rs 50 lakh but it was never paid in full.

Seeking fair treatment, Mahadevaiah moved the court to demand enhanced compensation. Following a prolonged legal battle, the court ruled in his favour, ordering the Railway Department to pay the remaining balance along with accrued interest, totaling several lakhs of rupees.

The Seizure: Furniture and Computers Confiscated

Despite the clear judicial mandate and multiple follow-up notices, the railway authorities failed to release the funds. Exhausting his options, the farmer filed an Execution Petition (EP), prompting the court to authorize the attachment of the department’s movable property.

On Wednesday, court bailiffs arrived at the SSE office located near the Srirangapatna railway station. When officials were unable to produce the payment, the staff began clearing the office of its essential assets. The confiscated items included:

• Office desks and executive chairs.
• Computers, printers, and peripheral hardware.
• Steel cupboards and various office stationery.

The Aftermath

The seized assets were loaded into vehicles and transported to the court premises. Court officials have made it clear that if the compensation is not disbursed immediately, they will proceed with the next phase of legal attachment, which could include more significant departmental assets.

The incident has resonated strongly with the local farming community, serving as a rare example of a common citizen successfully holding a major government entity accountable through the power of the judiciary.

News india When Dues Go Unpaid: Court Locks Railway Office Over Farmer Compensation