- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:30440 WP No. 5580 of 2023 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 19TH DAY OF JUNE, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE M.G.S. KAMAL WRIT PETITION NO. 5580 OF 2023 (GM-FOR) BETWEEN: 1. SRI HANUMANTHAPPA S/O SRI NAGAPPA AGED ABOUT 45 YEARS, 2. SRI.GNANESH K S/O YENKAPPA AGED ABOUT 50 YEARS, 3. SRI.HANUMANTHAPPA S/O THIMMANNA AGED ABOUT 62 YEARS, 4. SRI.BASAVATHAPPA S/O KUKKALI ERAPPA, AGED ABOUT 65 YEARS, 5. SRI.BASAVANTHAPPA S/O SRI DHYAVAPPA AGED ABOUT 49 YEARS, 6. SRI.NINGAPPA S/O SRI NAGAPPA, AGED ABOUT 35 YEARS, 7. SMT.HANUMAKKA W/O THIMMANNA THEPEKUNDA AGED ABOUT 65 YEARS, ALL ARE R/AT YENNEKOPPA VILLAGE AND POST, ANAVATTI HOBLI, SORABA TALUK, Digitally signed by SUMA B N Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:30440 WP No. 5580 of 2023 SHIVAMOGGA-577 413. 8. SRI.SHEKARAPPA S/O SRI LOKAPPA AGED ABOUT 55 YEARS, R/AT KAMANAVALLI VILLAGE, ANAVATTI HOBLI, SORABA TALUK SHIVAMOGGA-577 413. …PETITIONERS (BY SRI. CHAMARAJ M., ADVOCATE) AND: 1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA REP. BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY, MS BUILDING, BENGLAURU-560 002. 2. THE PRINCIPAL CHIEF CONSERVATOR OF FOREST, ARANYA BHAVANA, 18TH CROSS, MALLESHWARAM, BENGALURU-560 003. 3. THE CHIEF CONSERVATOR OF FOREST SHIVAMOGGA CIRCLE, SHIVAMOGGA-577 205. 4. THE ASST. CONSERVATOR OF FOREST SAGAR DIVISION, SAGAR, SHIVAMOGGA-577 429. 5. THE ZONAL FOREST OFFICER ANAVATTI ZONE, SORABA TALUK, SHIVAMOGGA-577 413. …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI. MAHANTESH SHETTAR, AGA FOR R1 TO R5) THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA, PRAYING TO (i) - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:30440 WP No. 5580 of 2023 DIRECT THE R-1 TO 5 CONSIDER THE REPRESENTATION MADE BY THE PETITIONERS IN ANNEXURE A1 TO A7 DATED 30/07/2019. (ii) ALLOW THIS WRIT PETITION WITH COSTS. THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY HEARING IN 'B' GROUP, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE M.G.S. KAMAL ORAL ORDER Petitioners, occupants of certain land bearing Sy.No.306 of Yennekoppa Village, Anavatti Hobli, Sagara Taluk, Shivamogga District, complaining interference of their peaceful possession and enjoyment by the respondent-Forest Department, are before this Court. 2. Learned counsel for petitioners submits that as many as seven representations have been given right from the years 2014 till 2023 inviting the respondent authorities to enquire and regularise the occupation of the petitioners over the said land which have met no result. Hence the petitioners seeking direction to the respondent Nos.1 to 5 to consider the same. 3. Though petitioners have not made out a legal ground warranting issuance of direction to the respondent authorities to consider representation, in the light of averments made in - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:30440 WP No. 5580 of 2023 the petition and the submission by the learned counsel respondent No.4, respondent No.4 is directed to look into the matter and take appropriate steps as contemplated under the provisions of the Karnataka Forest Act, 1963 by issuing notices and calling for responses regarding their occupation, if the land found to be forest land and pass appropriate order strictly in accordance with law after affording sufficient opportunity. Till such orders are passed, no coercive action shall be taken against the petitioners. Sd/- (M.G.S. KAMAL) JUDGE SBN List No.: 1 Sl No.: 62