- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:19490 WP No. 16254 of 2025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 6TH DAY OF JUNE, 2025 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE S SUNIL DUTT YADAV WRIT PETITION NO. 16254 OF 2025 (GM-RES) BETWEEN: 1. SRI GANGAPARAMESHWARI MULTI PURPOSE FISHERMEN CO OP. SOCIETY LTD PARANGICHIKKANAPALYA, KASABA HOBLI, MAGADI TALUK, RAMANGARA DISTRICT- 562 159 REPTD. BY ITS SECRETARY SHRI SHIVANNA S/O SIDDALINGAIAH AGED ABOUT 59 YEARS, R/O PARANGICHIKKANAPALYA, KASABA HOBLI, MAGADI TALUK, RAMANAGARA DISTRICT-562 159 KARNATAKA SOUHARDA SAHAKARI ACT, 1957. … PETITIONER (BY SRI. S. VISHWESHWARAIAH, ADVOCATE) AND: 1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA REPTD BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY, DEPARTMENT OF ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND FISHERIES, DR. AMBEDKAR VEEDHI, BENGALURU-560 001 Digitally signed by VIDYA G R Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:19490 WP No. 16254 of 2025 2. THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF FISHERIES 1ST FLOOR, GOVERNMENT OFFICES COMPLEX, AGADI TALUK, RAMANAGARA DISTRICT-562 159 … RESPONDENTS (BY SRI. MOHAMMED JAFFAR SHAH, AGA FOR R1 & R2) THIS W.P. IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA, PRAYING TO QUASH THE AUCTION NOTIFICATION DATED 22.05.2025 ISSUED BY THE R2 PRODUCED AT ANNEXURE-A BY ALLOWING THE WRIT PETITION AND ETC. THIS PETITION COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY HEARING THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR JUSTICE S SUNIL DUTT YADAV ORAL ORDER The petitioner has called in question the validity of the Notification at Annexure-'A' dated 22.05.2025 whereby the respondent Authority has invited the tenders for grant of lease rights in the lake for fishing purpose. Several contentions have been raised including that the notification at Annexure-'A' dated 22.05.2025 is contrary to the Government Policy which provides for priority to be given for Co-operative Societies. Reliance has been placed on the Government Policy, copy of which is produced at Annexure-'D'. - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:19490 WP No. 16254 of 2025 2. It is noticed that this Court has set aside the very same Notification as per the order passed in W.P.No.15379/2025 on 06.06.2025. Accordingly, the present petition also requires to be allowed by setting aside the notification at Annexure-'A' in terms of the order dated 06.06.2025 passed in W.P.No.15379/2025. 3. The order dated 06.06.2025 passed in W.P.No.15379/2025 reads as follows:- "Petitioner has sought for issuance of writ of mandamus to set aside the proceedings dated 09.04.2025 at Annexure-A and has further sought for grant of lease hold rights of Bhargavathi Lake to the petitioner - Society, in light of its eligibility, in terms of the policy of the Government dated 21.02.2014. 2. It is the case of the petitioner that it is a Society registered under the Karnataka Co-operative Societies Act and the lease hold rights of fishing of the Bhargavathi Lake is sought to be given by the Government and in regard to which, the petitioner - Society has made several representations. It is further submitted that the respondent - Authorities have sought for granting of lease hold rights of - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:19490 WP No. 16254 of 2025 fishing of the Bhargavathi Lake by way of public auction. 3. It is specifically contended that public auction is open to all without taking note of the priority that is contained in the Policy of the Government encapsulated in the Order dated 21.02.2014 at Annexure-D. It is the specific case that in terms of the policy referred to above, first priority is with respect to eligible fishing co-operative societies and only in the absence of such societies, other steps can be taken. 4. Learned AGA submits that the Government is bound by the policy contained in terms of Annexure-D and would adhere to the same. 5. It is noticed that the notification at Annexure-K which provides for public auction makes it open for all to apply for lease. The policy of granting lakes for lease of fishing contains a priority. The policy as contained in the Government Order dated 21.02.2014 at Clause (IV) is extracted below: "IV) ಅಅಅಅ ೆಗಳ ೆಗಳ ೆಗಳ ೆಗಳ:- ಕಂ ಕಂ ಕಂ ಕಂ ೆೆೆೆ-4:- ೇೇೇೇಾಾಾಾ ಾನಗಳ ಾನಗಳ ಾನಗಳ ಾನಗಳ 1) UÀÄwÛUÉ:- 1) UÀÄwÛUÉ:- 1) UÀÄwÛUÉ:- 1) UÀÄwÛUÉ:- (ಅ) ಜಲಸಂಪನೂಲಗಳನು ದಲು ದಲು ದಲು ದಲು ಅಹ ಅಹ ಅಹ ಅಹ ೕನು ೕನು ೕನು ೕನು ಾರರ ಾರರ ಾರರ ಾರರ ಸಹ ಸಹ ಸಹ ಸಹಾರ ಾರ ಾರ ಾರ ಸಂಘಗ ಸಂಘಗ ಸಂಘಗ ಸಂಘಗಂದ ಂದ ಂದ ಂದ ಅಅಅಅ# # # #ಗಳನು ಗಳನು ಗಳನು ಗಳನು ಆಆಆಆ%%%%ಾಾಾಾ&'( &'( &'( &'( ಗಗಗಗಷಷಷಷ**** 5 ವಷ ವಷ ವಷ ವಷಗಳ ಗಳ ಗಳ ಗಳ ಅವ ಅವ ಅವ ಅವ, , , , ೆೆೆೆ ಗು ಗು ಗು ಗು-. -. -. -. ೆೆೆೆ ೆೆೆೆ ''''ೕಡ ೕಡ ೕಡ ೕಡ ಾಗುವ ಾಗುವ ಾಗುವ ಾಗುವ0000ದು ದು ದು ದು. ಅ# ಸ12(ದ ೕನು ಾರರ ಸಹಾರ ಸಂಘಗಳ ಈ ಆ4ೇಶದ ಅನುಬಂಧ ಅನುಬಂಧ ಅನುಬಂಧ ಅನುಬಂಧ-1ರರರರ12121212 - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:19490 WP No. 16254 of 2025 ನಮೂ9(ರುವ ಅಹ:ೆಗಳನು %ೊಂ9ರ;ೇಕು %ಾಗೂ 4ಾಖ ಾ-ಗಳನು ಸ12ಸ;ೇಕು. (ಆ) ಪ=- ಅಹ ೕನು ಾರರ ಸಹಾರ ಸಂಘೆ>, ಆ ಸಂಘದ ;ೈ ಾ ಪ=ಾರ, ಅದರ ಾಯ ಾAB.ಯ12 ಗಷ* 300 %ೆೆCೕD' ಜಲ(.ೕಣೆ> ೕರದಂ:ೆ ಗಷC ಎರಡು ೆGೆ ಅಥಾ ಈ ಆ4ೇಶದ ಅನುಬಂಧ ಅನುಬಂಧ ಅನುಬಂಧ ಅನುಬಂಧ-2 ರರರರ12121212 ಪIC Jಾ ರುವ ಗಷC ಒಂದು ಜ ಾಶಯದ ಅಥಾ ಗಷ* ಎರಡು ನ9 Lಾಗ Jಾತ= ಗು-. ೆ ೆ 'ೕಡುವ0ದು. (300 %ೆ. ಜಲ(.ೕಣ ೕದ ಜಲಸಂಪನೂಲಗದN ಸಂದಭದ12 ೇವಲ ಒಂದು ಜಲಸಂಪನೂಲದ ೕನು Pಾಶುಾರು ಹಕ>ನು Jಾತ= ಗು-. ೆ ಪQೆಯಲು ಸದ ೕನು ಾರರ ಸಹಾರ ಸಂಘ ಅಹ:ೆಯನು %ೊಂ9ರುತ.4ೆ.) (ಇ) ಒಂ4ೇ ೆGೆ ೆ, ೆGೆಯ ಾAB.ಯ ಹಲಾರು ೕನು ಾೆ ಸಹಾ ಸಂಘಗಳ ಅ#ಗಳನು ಸ12(ದ12 ದಲSೆಯ ಆದA:ೆಯನು ಾ=ಮ ಮಟCದ ೕನು ಾೆ ಸಹಾರ ಸಂಘೆ>, ನಂತರದ ಆದA:ೆಯನು ಅನುಕ=ಮಾU %ೋಬ ಮಟCದ, :ಾಲೂ2ಕು ಮಟCದ ಅಥಾ # ಾ2 ಮಟCದ ೕನು ಾರರ ಸಹಾರ ಸಂಘೆ> 'ೕಡುವ0ದು. (ಈ) ಒಂ4ೇ ಆದA:ೆಯ12 ಬರುವ ಒಂದV>ಂತ %ೆWXನ ೕನು ಾರರ ಸಹಾರ ಸಂಘಗಳ ಒಂ4ೇ ಜಲಸಂಪನೂಲೆ> ಅ# ಸ12(ದN12, ಅ# ಸ12(ರುವ ಅಹ ೕನು ಾರರ ಸಹಾರ ಸಂಘಗಳ ನಡುೆ Jಾತ= ಹGಾಜು ನQೆ( ೇಾ Jಾಡುವ0ದು. (ಉ) ೆಲವ0 ಆಯN ನ9 Lಾಗಗಳನು / ಅೆಗಳನು Jಾತ= ೕನು ಾರರ ಸಹಾರ ಸಂಘಗಳ `ಅಥಾ ಮತ.Z ಪ=Lೇದಗಳ ಸಂರ[\ೆ #ೕವ ೈಧAಗಳ ಸಂರ[\ೆ ಅಥಾ ಕSಾಟಕದ ]ೇಷ ೕನು ಪ=Lೇದಗಳ ಸಂರ[\ೆ ೋಸ>ರ ಸಂಘI(ರುವ ವನA #ೕ ಸಂಘಗಳ, #ೕವ ೈಧA ಸಂರ[\ಾ ಸಂಘಗ ೆ - ಗಷC ಎರಡು ನ9 Lಾಗಗಳನು Jಾತ= ಗು-. ೆ 'ೕಡಬಹುದು. ಈ ವನA #ೕ ಸಂಘಗಳ Sೋಂ4ಾ^ತ ಸಂಘಗ_ಾUರ;ೇಕು. ೕನು ಪ=Lೇದಗಳ ಸಂರ[\ೆಯ12 :ೊಡU(ೊಂ ರ;ೇಕು. %ಾಗೂ ಅವರ ;ೈ ಾಗಳ12 ೕನು ಸಂರ[\ೆ ಒಂದು ಪ=ಮುಖ ಉ4ೆNೕಶಾUರ;ೇಕು." 6. It is clear that in terms of the priority, the first right is reserved to eligible fishing co- - 6 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:19490 WP No. 16254 of 2025 operative societies. Even under such category, in terms of the Clause - IV(1) and sub-clause therein, there are further sub categorization of priorities depending on the geographical unit. Needless to state that, if there are co-operative societies, then, the public auction must be limited to those societies and cannot be reserved for other claimants. 7. Taking note of the tender notification at Annexure-K, clearly the tender notification does not take note of the priority at Clause (IV) of Annexure-D referred to above. 8. Accordingly, the notification at Annexure-K is set aside. It is clarified that the petitioner cannot insist for grant of fishing rights except as per the procedure provided for in the Government Order at Annexure-D. Accordingly, liberty is reserved to the respondent - State to take fresh steps as is permissible for grant of lease rights for fishing in terms of the Government Order at Annexure-D. In light of the above, petition is disposed off." 4. Accordingly, the notification at Annexure-'A' dated 22.05.2025 is set aside. The directions issued in the - 7 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:19490 WP No. 16254 of 2025 order dated 06.06.2025 in W.P.No.15379/2025 are to be kept in mind by the Government while proceeding further. In light of the above, petition is disposed off. Sd/- (S SUNIL DUTT YADAV) JUDGE VGR