- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:38625-DB WP No. 29287 of 2025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 25TH DAY OF SEPTEMBER, 2025 PRESENT THE HON'BLE MR. VIBHU BAKHRU, CHIEF JUSTICE AND THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE C M JOSHI WRIT PETITION NO. 29287 OF 2025 (GM-RES-PIL) BETWEEN: 1. K.P. AJITH S/O. PONNAPPA AGED 39 YEARS KOTHANAHALLI VILLAGE BETTADALLI POST SOMWARPET TALUK SOMWARPET - 561 236 KODAGU DISTRICT. 2. CHETHAN.C S/O. CHANDRA AGED 34 YEARS KOTHANAHALLI VILLAGE BETTADALLI POST SOMWARPET TALUK SOMWARPET - 561 236 KODAGU DISTRICT. PRESENTLY AT: NO.E-347, 8TH CROSS NEAR OM SHAKTHI TEMPLE SANJIVINAGARA HEGGANAHALLI CROSS BANGALORE NORTH - 560 091. 3. SHARATH.K S/O. KRISHNEGOWDA Digitally signed by AMBIKA H B Location: High Court of Karnataka - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:38625-DB WP No. 29287 of 2025 AGED 29 YEARS KOTHANAHALLI VILLAGE BETTADALLI POST SOMWARPET TALUK SOMWARPET - 561 236 KODAGU DISTRICT. PRESENTLY AT NO.6/1, 3RD MAIN ROAD 7TH CROSS NEAR OM SHAKTHI TEMPLE SANJIVINAGARA HEGGANAHALLI CROSS BANGALORE NORTH - 560 091. …PETITIONERS (BY SMT. VINITHA P.C, ADVOCATE) AND: 1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA BY THE CHIEF SECRETARY VIDHANA SOUDHA DR. B.R. AMBEDKAR ROAD BANGALORE - 560 001. 2. THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER KODAGU DISTRICT MADIKERI - 571 201. 3. THE SUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE KODAGU DISTRICT MADIKERI - 571 201. 4. THE CHIEF CONSERVATOR OF FOREST MADIKERI - 571 201 KODAGU DISTRICT. 5. THE ASSISTANT CONSERVATOR OF FOREST SOMWARPET DIVISION SOMWARPET- 561 236. 6. THE RANGE FOREST OFFICER PUSHPAGIRI WILDLIFE ZONE SOMWARPET - 561 236 KODAGU DISTRICT. - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:38625-DB WP No. 29287 of 2025 7. BELLADALLI GRAMAPANCHAYATH BETTADALLI SOMWARPET TALUK SOMWARPET - 561 236 KODAGU DISTRICT REPRESENTED BY PANCHAYATH DEVELOPMENT OFFICER. 8. THE KARNATAKA POLLUTION CONTROL BOARD ZONAL OFFICE , MADIKERI KODAGU DISTRICT REPRESENTED BY ITS CHAIRMAN. 9. A.V.ENTERPRISES NO.24/1, ALLEKATTE ROAD NEAR PADMA CANTEEN SOMWARPET SOMWARPET TALUK - 561 236 KODAGU DISTRICT BY ITS PROPRIETOR ARUN KUMAR D.K. 10. THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER ZILLA PANCHAYATH MADIKERI, KODAGU DISTRICT BY ITS CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER. …RESPONDENTS (SMT. NILOUFER AKBAR, AGA FOR R-1 TO 6) THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO ISSUE A WRIT OF MANDAMUS DIRECTING THE RESPONDENT AUTHORITIES TO RESTRAIN THE 9TH RESPONDENT FROM CONDUCTING TEAM12 OFF ROAD DEEP AND DIRTY EVENT AT KOTHANALLI VILLAGE, BETTADALLI GRAMA PANCHAYATH, SOMWARPET TALUK, KODAGU DISTRICT IN THE RESERVED AND PROTECTED PUSHPAGIRI FOREST AREA PART OF WESTERN GHATS AND ETC. THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY HEARING, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:38625-DB WP No. 29287 of 2025 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. Issue notice. The learned Additional Government Advocate accepts notice for respondent Nos.1 to 6. 2. The petitioners have filed the present petition, inter alia, praying that directions be issued to the respondent authorities to restrain respondent No.9 from conducting "Team 12 off road deep and dirty event" at Kothanalli Village, Bettadalli Grama Panchayat, Somwarpet Taluk, Kodagu District, which is in the reserved and protected Pushpagiri Forest area, part of Western Ghats. The petitioners also state that, in the alternative, directions be issued to respondent No.2 to consider the representation made by the petitioners and take action for protection of the environment, wildlife and general public. 3. It is the petitioners' case that the proposed off road rally within the eco-sensitive zone ought not to be permitted as it could cause damage to the environment. It is also contended that no - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:38625-DB WP No. 29287 of 2025 such event could be held without the permission of the forest authorities and organisers of the event (respondent No.9) have not taken any such permission. 4. We note that the event in question is scheduled to be held the day after tomorrow (27.09.2025). In the aforesaid circumstance, we consider it apposite to direct respondent Nos.1 to 6 to consider the averments made in the present petition and if it is found that the rally is being held contrary to law, to take necessary steps in that regard after affording respondent No.9 opportunity to be heard. 5. The petition is disposed of in the aforesaid terms. Sd/- (VIBHU BAKHRU) CHIEF JUSTICE Sd/- (C M JOSHI) JUDGE AHB List No.: 1 Sl No.: 17