- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:31441-DB WP No. 104418 of 2025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 14TH 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. 104418 OF 2025 (GM-MMS) BETWEEN: 1. MUNIRASAB S/O BUDANASAB BELAKERI AGE 53 YEARS OCC: STONEMASON R/O SHIVAJINAGAR KARURU HAVERI-581145. 2. BASAVARAJ HAVANUR S/O GAUDAPPA AGE 59 YEARS OCC: STONEMASON R/O KARUR HAVERI-581145. 3. JAGADISH S/O VIRAPPA AMARAVATI AGE 53 YEARS OCC: STONEMASON R/O VIDYA NAGARA NEAR SARASWATI SCHOOL KARUR KARUR RANEBENNUR HAVERI-581145. Digitally signed by SUMATHY KANNAN Location: High Court of Karnataka - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:31441-DB WP No. 104418 of 2025 4. PRAKASH S/O NINGAPPA KOLJER AGE 51 YEARS OCC: STONEMASON R/O KARUR CHALAGERI HAVERI-581145. 5. KARABASAPPA S/O BASPPA BAKKAJJI AGE 48 YEARS OCC: STONEMASON R/O SHIVAJI NAGAR KARUR DIST: HAVERI-581145. 6. JULOJI S/O HALAPPA BAKKAJJI AGE 63 YEARS OCC: STONEMANSON R/O SHIVAJI NAGAR KARUR HAVERI-581145. 7. CHITRAPPA S/O SOMALINGAPPA ELIGAR AGE 53 YEARS OCC: STONEMANSON R/O VALMIKI NAGARA KARURU HAVERI-581145. 8. CHIKKAPPA S/O GUDDAPPA TAVARAGONDI AGE 60 YEARS OCC: STONEMASON R/O SHIVAJI NAGARA KARUR - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:31441-DB WP No. 104418 of 2025 KARUR RANEBENNUR HAVERI-581145. 9. MALATESH S/O LAKSHMAPPA KARIGAR AGE 38 YEARS OCC: STONEMASON R/O SHIVAJI NAGARA KARURU VTC: KARUR, PO: KARUR DISTRICT HAVERI-581145. 10. KRISHANAJI S/O HANUMANTAPPA ANANDI AGE 50 YEARS OCC: STONEMASON R/O HUCHCHANGEMMA NILAY SHANTINAGAR KARUR HAVERI-581145. …PETITIONERS (BY SRI. NANDISH PATIL.,ADVOCATE) AND: 1. RANGE FOREST OFFICER WILDLIFE SUB-DIVISION MEDLERI ROAD RANEBENNUR-581115 2. JUNIOR GEOLOGIST DEPARTMENT OF MINES AND GEOLOGY HAVERI DIST: HAVERI-581110 …RESPONDENTS (BY SMT. NILOUFER AKBAR.,AGA) - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:31441-DB WP No. 104418 of 2025 THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO, A) ISSUE WRIT IN THE NATURE OF CERTIORARI QUASHING THE IMPUGNED NOTICES ISSUED BY IMPUGNED NOTICES ISSUED BY RESPONDENT DATED 31.05.2025 BRG. NO. VA AA / VA JI RA BE/KA. GA.NO./2025-26/70, BRG. NO. VA AA / VA JI- RA BE/ KA.GA.NO./2025-26/78 DTD. 2/6/2025 BRG. NO. VA A A / VA JI- RA BE/ KA.GA.NO./2025-26/66 DTD. 31-5-2025 BRG. NO. VA A A /VA JI-RA BE/KA.GA.NO./2025-26/76 DTD. 2/6/2025 BRG. NO. VA A A / VA JI-RA BE/ KA.GA.NO./2025-26/77 DTD. 2/6/2025 AND IMPUGNED NOTICE DATED. 31.05.2025 BRG NO. VA AA/VA JI-RA BE/KA.GA.NO/2025-26/ 69 DTD. 31-5-2025 BRG. NO. VA AA/VA JI-RA BE/KA.GA.NO./2025-26/74 DTD. 2/6/2025 BRG. NO. VA AA/VA JI-RA BE/KA.GA.NO./2025-26/75 DTD. 2/6/2025 BRG. NO. VA AA/VA JI-RA BE/KA.GA.NO./2025-26/68 DTD. 31-5-2025 BRG. NO. VA AA/VA JI-RA BE/KA.GA.NO./2025- 26/65 DTD. 31-5-2025 VIDE ANNEXURE-D, D1, D2, D3, D4, D5, D6, D7, D8 AND D9 IN THE INTEREST OF JUSTICE AND EQUITY & 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 petitioners have filed the present petition, inter alia, praying as under: "A) Issue Writ in the nature of certiorari quashing the impugned notices issued by impugned notices issued by - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:31441-DB WP No. 104418 of 2025 respondent dated 31.05.2025 brg. No. Va A A / va Ji Ra Be/Ka.Ga.No./2025-26/70, brg. No. Va A A / Va Ji- Ra Be/ Ka.Ga.No./2025-26/78 dtd. 2/6/2025 brg. No. Va A A / Va Ji- Ra Be/ Ka.Ga.No./2025-26/66 dtd. 31-5-2025 brg. No. Va A A / Va Ji- Ra Be/ Ka.Ga.No./2025-26/76 dtd. 2/6/2025 brg. No. Va A A / Va Ji- Ra Be/ Ka.Ga.No./2025-26/77 dtd. 2/6/2025 and impugned notice dated. 31.05.2025 brg. No. Va A A / Va Ji- Ra Be/ Ka.Ga.No/2025-26/ 69 dtd. 31-5- 2025 brg. No. Va A A / Va Ji- Ra Be/ Ka.Ga.No./2025-26/74 dtd. 2/6/2025 brg. No. Va A A / Va Ji- Ra Be/ Ka.Ga.No./2025-26/75 dtd. 2/6/2025 brg. No. Va A A / Va Ji- Ra Be/ Ka.Ga.No./2025-26/68 dtd. 31-5-2025 brg. No. Va A A / Va Ji- Ra Be/ Ka.Ga.No./2025-26/65 dtd. 31-5- 2025 vide Annexure-D, D1, D2, D3, D4, D5, D6, D7, D8 and D9 in the interest of justice and equity. B) Issue such other suitable order/s or directions as this Hon'ble Court deems fit and proper in the nature and circumstances of the case, in the interest of justice and equity." 2. In terms of the notices issued by the Range Forest Officer, Wildlife Zone, Ranebennur, the petitioners had been called upon to appear before the concerned officials and produce documents in their possession regarding the quarrying activity and provide a statement. - 6 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:31441-DB WP No. 104418 of 2025 3. It is the petitioners' case that they have been carrying on quarrying activities manually, for the past three generations. However, the learned counsel for the petitioners admits that the petitioners have no valid permission to carry on the said activity. He, however, submits that the wildlife officials have no jurisdiction to question the said activity. 4. Since it is established that the petitioners are carrying on quarrying activities contrary to law, we are unable to accept that any relief can be granted to the petitioners. 5. Petition is accordingly, dismissed. Sd/- (VIBHU BAKHRU) CHIEF JUSTICE Sd/- (C M JOSHI) JUDGE KS List No.: 1 Sl No.: 7