- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:33966 WP No. 25052 of 2025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 1ST DAY OF SEPTEMBER, 2025 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE B M SHYAM PRASAD WRIT PETITION NO. 25052 OF 2025 (GM-RES) BETWEEN: 1. SRI. RANGANATHA S/O REDDEPPA AGED ABOUT 45 YEARS R/AT JAYACHANDRA BADAVANE BORANAKANIVE HOISALAKATTE CHIKKANAYAKANAHALLI TALUK TUMKUR DISTRICT-572218. 2. SRI KUMAR S/O GANGAPPA AGED ABOUT 46 YEARS R/AT JAYACHANDRA BADAVANE BORANAKANIVE HOISALAKATTE CHIKKANAYAKANAHALLI TALUK TUMKUR DISTRICT -572218. …PETITIONERS (BY SRI. THYAGARAJA S.,ADVOCATE) AND: 1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA REPRESENTED BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY DEPARTMENT OF ANIMAL Digitally signed by VANAMALA N Location: High Court of Karnataka - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:33966 WP No. 25052 of 2025 HUSBANDRY AND FISHERIES M.S BUILDING, BENGALURU-560001. 2. THE DIRECTOR OF FISHERIES DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES 3RD BLOCK, PODIUM BLOCK DR. AMBEDKAR VEEDHI BENGALURU-560001. 3. THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF FISHERIES HIRIYUR TALUK CHITRADURGA DISTRICT-577598. …RESPONDENTS (BY SMT.NAVYA SHEKHAR., AGA) THIS W.P. IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO DIRECT THE RESPONDENTS NO.3 TO GRANT THE FISHING LICENSE TO THE PETITIONERS FOR FISHING IN VANI VILAS SAGARA DAM, HIRIYUR TALUK, CHITRADURGA DISTRICT IN TERMS OF THE GOVERNMENT ORDER NO. PASAMME 125 MEEE 2013 DATED 21/02/2014 AT PARA-4 (3), VIDE ANNEXURE-A, ISSUED BY THE 1ST RESPONDENT BY CONSIDERING AND DISPOSING OF THE APPLICATIONS SUBMITTED BY THE PETITIONERS FOR GRANT OF FISHING LICENSE DATED 08/08/2025 VIDE ANNEXURE-D AND E RESPECTIVELY. THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY HEARING, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE B M SHYAM PRASAD - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:33966 WP No. 25052 of 2025 ORAL ORDER The petitioners, asserting that they are residents of Boranakanive, Hoysalakatte, Chikkanayakanahalli Taluk, Tumkuru District, have filed this petition for issuance of writ of mandamus to the third respondent to permit them for fishing in Vani Vilas Sagara Dam, Hiriyur, Chitradurga District considering their applications. If Sri Thyagaraja S, the learned counsel for the petitioners, argues for an order in the light of the aforesaid, Smt Navya Shekhar, a learned Additional Government Advocate, who accepts notice for the respondents, submits that the petitioners have not furnished a copy of the application and they contend that their request is orally rejected. Significantly, the learned Additional Government Advocate also submits that in terms of the extant Fishing Policy, only those who live within a - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:33966 WP No. 25052 of 2025 radius of five kilometers of the dam would be granted rights to fishing and unless the petitioners bring forth those circumstances, there cannot be any reason for grievance. When queried, the learned Additional Government Advocate is categorical that if the petitioners file application with all the details with the third respondent, the same would be duly considered. In the light of the afore, the following: ORDER [a] The petition stands disposed of reserving liberty to the petitioners to apply with the third respondent once again along with a certified copy of this order within four [4] weeks from the date of receipt of a certified copy of this order. [b] The third respondent, if the applications are filed in terms of this liberty, is - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:33966 WP No. 25052 of 2025 directed to consider the same within four [4] weeks therefrom. SD/- (B M SHYAM PRASAD) JUDGE AN/-