- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:32789-DB WP No. 20801 of 2025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 22ND DAY OF AUGUST, 2025 PRESENT THE HON'BLE MR. VIBHU BAKHRU, CHIEF JUSTICE AND THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE C M JOSHI WRIT PETITION NO. 20801 OF 2025 (GM-MM-S) BETWEEN: 1. SMT RENUKA BAI AGED 45 YEARS PUNABHAGATTA THANDA PUNABHAGATTA POST HARAPANAHALLI TALUK DAVANAGERE DISTRICT - 583 131. …PETITIONER (BY SRI. MALLAIAH M.R., ADVOCATE) AND: 1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA REP. BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY DEPT. OF MINES AND GEOLOGY VIDHAN SOUDHA, BANGALORE - 560 001. 2. SENIOR GEOLOGIST DEPT. OF MINES AND GEOLOGY DAVANAGERE - 577 005. 3. THE MEMBER SECRETARY DISTRICT SAND COMMITTEE DAVANAGERE DISTRICT DAVANAGERE-577005 …RESPONDENTS (BY SMT. NILOUFER AKBAR, AGA) Digitally signed by SUMATHY KANNAN Location: High Court of Karnataka - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:32789-DB WP No. 20801 of 2025 THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO ISSUE AN APPROPRIATE WRIT IN THE NATURE OF CERTIORARI QUASHING THE ENDORSEMENT/ LETTER OF 2ND RESPONDENT DATED 21.03.2025 DENYING EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY TO THE PETITIONER AS PER ANNEXURE-F & ETC. 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 MR. JUSTICE C M JOSHI ORAL ORDER (PER: HON'BLE MR. VIBHU BAKHRU, CHIEF JUSTICE) 1. The petitioner has filed the present petition, impugning an endorsement dated 21.03.2025 [impugned order], whereby the petitioner was informed that Rule 31-U of the Karnataka Sub-Mineral Concession (Amendment) Rules, 2023 does not contain any reference to reservations for women in sand mining. 2. The petitioner had applied and submitted her bill for disposal of sand blocks in River Tungabadra, pursuant to the notice inviting tenders floated on 01.03.2025. The petitioner's bid was not competitive and therefore was not accepted. Thereafter, the petitioner sent a letter dated 15.03.2025 to the Senior Geologist, - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:32789-DB WP No. 20801 of 2025 Davanagare, requesting that her bid be considered under the women's reservation quota. She also followed up the said request with other letters to the similar effect. 3. The petitioner's application dated 15.03.2025 to the aforesaid effect, was rejected in terms of the endorsement dated 21.03.2025, whereby the petitioner was informed that while reservation had been provided for notified Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and physically handicapped as per the roster points, there was no reservation for women in sand mining. 4. Learned counsel for the petitioner is unable to point out to any policy or provision providing reservation for women in sand mining or in allocation of sand mining blocks. In view of the above, the relief as sought for by the present petitioner, cannot be granted. 5. The petition is accordingly, dismissed. Sd/- (VIBHU BAKHRU) CHIEF JUSTICE Sd/- (C M JOSHI) JUDGE KS