Karnataka High Court
WP/28666/2026 of SRI. ROHAN Vs THE STATE OF KARNATAKA, on 24 September 2026
CNR: KAHC010631082026 NC: 2026:KHC:52764-DB WP No. 28666 of 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 24TH DAY OF SEPTEMBER, 2026 PRESENT THE HON'BLE MR. VIBHU BAKHRU, CHIEF JUSTICE AND THE HON'BLE MRS. JUSTICE K.S. HEMALEKHA WRIT PETITION NO. 28666 OF 2026 (GM-MM-S)
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IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU
DATED THIS THE 24TH DAY OF SEPTEMBER, 2026
PRESENT
THE HON'BLE MR. VIBHU BAKHRU, CHIEF JUSTICE
AND
THE HON'BLE MRS. JUSTICE K.S. HEMALEKHA
WRIT PETITION NO. 28666 OF 2026 (GM-MM-S)
BETWEEN:
1.
SRI ROHAN
S/O. SHASHIKANT KOTHIWALE
AGED ABOUT 36 YEARS
OCC: BUSINESS
R/O. 67/2, SHINTRE COLONY
BEHIND VSM HIGH SCHOOL
NIPPANI (RURAL), NIPPANI POST
CHIKKODI TALUK
BELAGAVI - 591 237
…PETITIONER
(BY SRI SHIVALLI SHIVAYOGI YALLAPPAGOUDA, ADVOCATE)
AND:
1.
THE STATE OF KARNATAKA,
REP. BY ITS CHIEF SECRETARY
2.
THE SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT
COMMERCE AND INDUSTRIES DEPARTMENT
(MSME AND MINES), ROOM NO. 135
1ST FLOOR, VIKAS SOUDHA
BENGALURU-560 001
Digitally
signed by K
P SWETHA
Location:
High Court
of Karnataka
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3.
THE DIRECTOR AND COMMISSIONER
DEPT. OF MINES AND GEOLOGY
KHANIJA BHAVAN
RACE COURSE ROAD
BENGALURU - 560 001
4.
THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR
DEPARTMENT OF MINES AND GEOLOGY
BELAGAVI - 590 001
5.
KARNATAKA STATE REMOTE SENSING
CENTRE (KSRSAC)
REPRESENTED BY ITS DIRECTOR
DOOARA SAMVEDI BHAVANA
MAJOR SANDIP UNNIKRISHNAN ROAD
DODDABETTAHALLI VIDYARANYAPURA
BENGALURU - 560 097
…RESPONDENTS
(BY SRI K.S. HARISH, GOVERNMENT ADVOCATE)
THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND
227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO ISSUE A WRIT
OF CERTIORARI OR ANY OTHER ORDER OR DIRECTION
DIRECTING TO QUASH OR SET ASIDE THE IMPUGNED NOTICE
BEARING NO.GaBhuEe/Uni/BeVi/OTS-Notice: 2026-27/1104 DATED
16/05/2026 ISSUED BY 4TH RESPONDENT DEPUTY DIRECTOR
PRODUCED
AT
ANNEXURE-A,
IN
TERMS
OF
GUIDELINES
PUBLISHED IN THE OFFICIAL GAZETTE DATED 09/03/2026
FORMULATED UNDER NEWLY INSERTED RULE 44-A OF THE
KMMC RULES AND ETC.
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THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY HEARING, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER:
CORAM: HON'BLE MR. VIBHU BAKHRU, CHIEF JUSTICE
and
HON'BLE MRS. JUSTICE K.S. HEMALEKHA
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ORAL ORDER
(PER: HON'BLE MR. VIBHU BAKHRU, CHIEF JUSTICE)
1. The learned Government Advocate accepts notice for the respondents.
2. The petitioner has filed the present petition impugning a notice dated 16.05.2026 issued under Rule 44A of the Karnataka Minor Mineral Concession Rules, 1994 [KMMC Rules], calling upon the petitioner to pay the total sum of `33,99,270/- as penalty for extracting excess quantity of 48561 metric tons.
3. The petitioner is also called upon to visit the concerned office within a period of seven days alongwith appropriate documents regarding the penalty amount and for settlement of the matter. However, the petitioner has also been called upon to pay the stipulated penalty within a period of six months from the date of
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service of the notice. The notice also set out that the petitioner is also permitted to pay the penalty in four equal installments with one installment due every 45 days.
4. One of the contentions advanced by the petitioner is that the said demand is vitiated as it has been issued without following the principles of natural justice and despite the petitioner responding by letter dated 02.06.2026 to the demand notice, the same has not been considered.
5. The learned Government Advocate fairly states that the present petition be disposed of by directing that the impugned notice be considered as a show cause notice. He states that the petitioner's response would be considered and an order would be passed after affording the petitioner an opportunity of being heard.
6. In view of the above, the present petition is disposed of, directing that the respondents are bound down to the statement made on their behalf. The impugned order shall be considered as a show cause notice and appropriate orders would be passed after following the principles of natural justice.
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7. We clarify that all rights and contentions of the parties are reserved including the petitioner's contention that the one time settlement [OTS] as contemplated under Rule 44-A of the KMMC Rules, is voluntary and at the option of the lease/licence holder.
Sd/- (VIBHU BAKHRU) CHIEF JUSTICE
Sd/- (K.S. HEMALEKHA) JUDGE
KPS List No.: 2 Sl No.: 3