- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:10869-DB WP No. 15735 of 2025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 21ST 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. 15735 OF 2025 (GM-MM-S) BETWEEN: 1. SRI VINCENT JOSEPH NEELIYARA S/O LATE JOSEPH NEELIYARA AGED ABOUT 57 YEARS R/AT ROSE HOUSE BALMATTA MANGALURU TALUK D.K DISTRICT- 575 003 …PETITIONER (BY SRI. SANATH KUMAR SHETTY K.,ADVOCATE) AND: 1. STATE OF KARNATAKA REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY MINES AND GEOLOGY DEPARTMENT VIDHANA SOUDHA BENGALURU 560 001. 2. THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR MINES AND GEOLOGY DEPARTMENT 1ST FLOOR, JUGAL TOWERS MALLIKATTA MANGALURU 575 003. …RESPONDENTS (BY SMT. NILOUFER AKBAR, AGA) Digitally signed by SRIDEVI S Location: High Court of Karnataka - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:10869-DB WP No. 15735 of 2025 THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLE 226 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO ISSUE A WRIT IN THE NATURE OF CERTIORARI TO QUASH THE DEMAND NOTICE DATED 13/02/2025 ISSUED BY THE 1ST RESPONDENT DEPUTY DIRECTOR IN REFERENCE NO.GBHOOE/UN(MANGALURU)/DCB/2024-25/5420) VIDE 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. The petitioner has filed the present petition, inter alia. impugning the demand notice dated 13.02.2025 issued by respondent No.2. One of the contentions advanced by the petitioner is that the said demand notice has been issued without affording the petitioner any opportunity to be heard. 2. The learned Additional Government Advocate appearing for the State submits that the said demand notice has been considered as a show cause notice and the petitioner has been issued a notice for a personal hearing to be held on 23.02.2026 at 03.00 p.m. - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:10869-DB WP No. 15735 of 2025 3. The petitioner is also at liberty to file his written submissions before the concerned authority at the time of the hearing. The concerned authority shall consider the same and pass an appropriate order. All contentions of the parties are reserved. 4. The petition is accordingly disposed of. Sd/- (VIBHU BAKHRU) CHIEF JUSTICE Sd/- (C.M. POONACHA) JUDGE SD List No.: 1 Sl No.: 12