- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:10614-DB WP No. 5571 of 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 20TH DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2026 PRESENT THE HON'BLE MR. VIBHU BAKHRU, CHIEF JUSTICE AND THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE C.M. POONACHA WRIT PETITION NO. 5571 OF 2026 (GM-MM_S) BETWEEN: M/S REDSTONE TRADING CORPORATION NO. 1-53, MS COMPLEX, MUDIPU KURNAD POST, BANTWAL TALUK, MANGALURU-574153 REPRESENTED BY ITS PARTNER MOHAMMED FAYAZ …PETITIONER (BY SRI. K.N. PHANINDRA, SENIOR ADVOCATE FOR SRI. AVINASH GOWDA G S, ADVOCATE) AND: 1. STATE OF KARNATAKA DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRIES 2ND FLOOR, 49, KHANIJA BHAVAN, RACE COURSE RD, RACECOURSE, GANDHI NAGAR, BENGALURU - 560001 2. THE DIRECTOR DEPARTMENT OF MINES AND GEOLOGY NO.49, KANIJA BHAVANA, RACE COURSE ROAD, BENGALURU -560 001 3. SENIOR GEOLOGIST Digitally signed by NIRMALA DEVI Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:10614-DB WP No. 5571 of 2026 DEPARTMENT OF MINES AND GEOLOGY JUGAL TOWERS, MALLIKATTE MANGALURU 575 002. …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI. K.S. HARISH, GA) THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLE 226 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO ISSUE A WRIT OF MANDAMUS, DIRECTING THE RESPONDENT No. 2 TO CONSIDER THE REPRESENTATION OF THE PETITIONER DATED 22.01.2026 PRODUCED HERETO AS ANNEXURE-A AND 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. POONACHA ORAL ORDER (PER: HON'BLE MR. VIBHU BAKHRU, CHIEF JUSTICE) 1. Issue notice. 2. Learned AGA accepts notice for respondents. 3. Petitioner has filed the present petition inter alia praying as under: 1. Issue a Writ of Mandamus, directing the Respondent No.2 to consider the representation of the Petitioner dated 22.01.2026 produced hereto as Annexure-A. - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:10614-DB WP No. 5571 of 2026 2. Consequently, direct the Respondent No.2 to announce the Petitioner as the preferred bidder in regard to the tender notice dated 16.03.2023 issued for bauxite mining in Niddodi Bauxite Block in Dakshina Kannada. 3. Pass such other orders and grant such other reliefs as this Hon'ble Court deems fit to grant in the circumstances of the case and in the interest of justice and equity. 4. The respondents had issued a notification dated 16.03.2023 inviting tenders for the grant of a composite licence for gold and bauxite blocks. 5. In terms of the said notification, bids were invited in respect of three blocks. The petitioner submitted its bid for the Niddodi Bauxite Block in Dakshina Kannada, for a concession covering 0.528 square kilometres. The petitioner also paid the tender fee of `2,00,000/- [Rupees two lakh only] as required. 6. The petitioner states that on 24.07.2023, a Corrigendum was issued setting out the revised time schedule for completion of the tender process. In terms of the said schedule, the letter of intent for the composite license is required to be issued within a period of 225 days after the publication of the notice dated 16.03.2023. - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:10614-DB WP No. 5571 of 2026 7. The technical bids were opened on 11.09.2023, and the petitioner's bid was considered as technically responsive. The petitioner was declared technically qualified. Thereafter, the petitioner participated in the auction and claims that its bid was the highest. Notwithstanding the same, the respondents have not declared the petitioner as a preferred bidder. 8. In the aforesaid context, the petitioner filed representations, including one dated 22.1.2026. The petitioner prays that the said representation be considered. 9. In view of the above, we allow the present petition and direct the respondents to consider the representations made by the petitioner and communicate the decision as expeditiously as possible and preferably within a period of eight weeks from date. 10. The interlocutory pending application is also disposed of. Sd/- (VIBHU BAKHRU) CHIEF JUSTICE Sd/- (C.M. POONACHA) JUDGE BS - List No.: 2 Sl No.: 16