Karnataka High Court
CCC/511/2026 of HUCHIRE GOWDA Vs S. RANGAPPA on 22 September 2026
CNR: KAHC010301642026 NC: 2026:KHC:52090-DB CCC No. 511 of 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 22ND DAY OF SEPTEMBER, 2026 PRESENT THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE JAYANT BANERJI AND THE HON'BLE MS. JUSTICE TARA VITASTA GANJU CIVIL CONTEMPT PETITION NO.511 OF 2026 BETWEEN:
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IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU
DATED THIS THE 22ND DAY OF SEPTEMBER, 2026
PRESENT
THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE JAYANT BANERJI
AND
THE HON'BLE MS. JUSTICE TARA VITASTA GANJU
CIVIL CONTEMPT PETITION NO.511 OF 2026
BETWEEN:
1.
HUCHIRE GOWDA
S/O HALAGEGOWDA,
AGED ABOUT 67 YEARS,
2.
HUCHIRE GOWDA,
S/O EREGOWDA,
AGED ABOUT 75 YEARS,
3.
HALAGEGOWDA,
S/O MUDDEGOWDA,
AGED ABOUT 76 YEARS,
4.
RUDRESH,
S/O EREGOWDA,
AGED ABOUT 68 YEARS.
5.
LAKSHMAMMA
W/O MALLEHAPPA,
AGED ABOUT 66 YEARS.
6.
SHIVAKUMAR,
S/O HUCHIRE GOWDA,
AGED ABOUT 39 YEARS.
COMPLAINANT NOS.1 TO 6 ARE
R/O BALANA KOPPALU, KASABA HOBLI,
Digitally signed by
SUMATHY KANNAN
Location: HIGH
COURT OF
KARNATAKA
HC-KAR
NAGAMANGALA TALUK,
PADAVALAPATNA,
MANDYA DISTRICT - 571 432.
7.
K. KRISHNEGOWDA,
S/O CHIKKABOREGOWDA,
AGED ABOUT 60 YEARS,
R/O BASAVESHVARANAGARA,
K.R.PETE ROAD,
KANTHAPURA POST,
BASAVESHWANAGARA GRAMA,
NAGAMANGALA TALUK,
MANDYA DISTRICT - 571 432.
…COMPLAINANTS
(BY SRI. VINAY.D.HOSAMATH, ADVOCATE - ABSENT)
AND:
1.
S. RANGAPPA
S/O NOT KNOWN TO COMPLAINANTS,
AGED MAJOR,
THE DIRECTOR,
DEPARTMENT OF MINES AND GEOLOGY,
NO.49, KHANIJA BAVAN,
RACE COURSE ROAD,
BENGALURU - 560 001.
2.
DR. KUMAR,
S/O NOT KNOWN TO COMPLAINANTS,
AGED MAJOR,
THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER,
MANDYA DISTRICT,
MANDYA - 571 401.
3.
SRINIVAS.K.R,
S/O NOT KNOWN TO COMPLAINANTS,
AGED MAJOR,
THE ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER,
PANDAVAPURA SUB-DIVISION,
HC-KAR
MANDYA DISTRICT,
MANDYA - 571 401.
4.
ADARSH.G,
THE THASILDAR,
NAGAMANGALA TALUK,
MANDYA DISTRICT,
MANDYA - 571 401.
5.
T.V.PUSHPA,
W/O NOT KNOWN TO COMPLAINANTS,
AGED MAJOR,
THE SENIOR GEOLOGIST,
DEPARTMENT OF MINES AND GEOLOGY,
KHANIJA BHAVANA,
MANDYA DISTRICT,
MANDYA - 571 401.
…ACCUSED
6.
THE STATE OF KARNATAKA
BY ITS SECRETARY
DEPARTMENT OF MINES AND GEOLOGY
#49, KHANIJA BHAVAN
RACE COURSE ROAD
BENGALURU - 560 001
…PROFORMA R6
(BY SMT. SUKANYA B BALIGA, AGA FOR PROFORMA R6 & A1
TO A5 )
THIS CCC IS FILED UNDER SECTION 11 AND 12 OF THE
CONTEMPT OF COURT ACT, 1971 BY PRAYING TO INITIATE
PROCEEDINGS FOR CONTEMPT OF COURT AGAINST THE
ACCUSED'S
FOR
THEIR
WILLFUL
AND
DELIBERATE
DISOBEDIENCE OF THE FINAL ORDER DATED 16.10.2025
PASSED BY THIS HON'BLE COURT IN W.P.NO.29853/2025 (GM- MM-S) PRODUCED AT ANNEXURE-A AND PUNISH THEM FOR
THE SAME IN THE INTEREST OF JUSTICE AND EQUITY.
HC-KAR
THIS PETITION COMING ON FOR ORDERS THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER:
CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE JAYANT BANERJI
and
HON'BLE MS. JUSTICE TARA VITASTA GANJU
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ORAL ORDER
(PER: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE JAYANT BANERJI)
No one appears for the complainant.
2. This complaint is filed alleging non-compliance of the order dated 16.10.2025, passed in Writ Petition No.29853/2025.
3. The complainant's case before the writ Court was that grant of mining leases in Survey No.54 of Sankanahalli Village, Nagamangala Taluk, Mandya District would affect their livelihood. The petition was disposed of directing the respondents to consider the representation made by the accused, by an informed decision at the earliest.
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4. In the compliance affidavit filed on 27.08.2026, an information memorandum dated 11.05.2026 is enclosed as Annexure R1. This compliance affidavit is sworn to by Lt.Col. Dr. Ashok S.U, currently serving as the Tahsildar. In the information memorandum, it is stated that a report was sought for in which it is reported that the total extent of Survey No.54 as per Akarbandh Register is 168 acres, 28 guntas and the same is recorded as B- Kharab land. As per the original survey records, the land is classified as “Kharadayilla Gomal” (non-assessed Government grazing land).
5. The quarry leases applied for by the applicants under Rule 3F of the Karnataka Minor Mineral Concession (Amendment) Rules, 2024 (for short ‘KMMC Rules’) is in respect of rocky terrain and suitable for quarrying operations. The lands are not suitable for agricultural cultivation or for growing any trees or vegetation. The revenue inspector had further reported that 16 quarry
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leases had already been granted in Survey No.54. The existing lessees are carrying on quarrying operations adjacent to the agricultural lands of the neighboring farmers. For transportation of quarried stones, roads have been formed through agricultural lands of the farmers.
6. Due to the noise of lorries/tippers and the dust caused by the movement of heavy vehicles, the neighboring farmers are facing serious hardships in carrying on agricultural activities. Although applications for quarry leases had been rejected in the year 2015, fresh applications seeking grant of quarry leases are submitted repeatedly.
7. The applicants who had submitted applications under Rule 3F of KMMC Rules are dependent upon traditional manual stone quarrying as their means of livelihood. They belong to the Bhovi community, a Scheduled Caste, and have obtained traditional stone quarrying certificates issued by the Tahsildar. The report
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of the Tahsildar has been referred to, that since 17 quarry leases have already been granted in the said area for carrying on quarrying by non-traditional methods, the applicants who had applied under Rule 3F of KMMC Rules for carrying on traditional manual stone quarrying may also be granted quarry leases.
8. In view of the reports submitted, it was concluded that as 17 quarry leases have already been granted in Survey No.54 of Sankanahalli Village for quarrying by non-traditional methods, the grant of quarry leases under Rule 3F of KMMC Rules to the applicants, who intend to carry on traditional manual stone quarrying would not result in any of the difficulties or inconvenience alleged by the neighbouring landowners in their objections.
9. A recommendatory report had been submitted to the higher authorities recommending grant of quarry leases to the applicants under Rule 3F of KMMC Rules.
HC-KAR
10. In view of the aforesaid, we find that the order of the writ Court has been complied with, as the representation of the respondents has been considered. This contempt case is therefore consigned.
Sd/- (JAYANT BANERJI) JUDGE
Sd/- (TARA VITASTA GANJU) JUDGE
JJ List No.: 1 Sl No.: 17