- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:30597-DB WP No. 17632 of 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 22ND DAY OF JUNE, 2026 PRESENT THE HON'BLE MR. VIBHU BAKHRU, CHIEF JUSTICE AND THE HON'BLE MRS. JUSTICE K.S. HEMALEKHA WRIT PETITION NO.17632 OF 2026 (GM-POL) BETWEEN: M/S. LAKSHMIPRIYA STEELS PVT. LTD., A COMPANY REGISTERED UNDER THE COMPANIES ACT, 1956 REPRESENTED BY ITS DIRECTOR SMT. K.N. VASAVI, W/O PRAJWAL V., INDUSTRY AT: SY. NO.331/B6, 331/B7 OF DANANAYAKANAKERE AND SY. NO.61A, 61B OF GOLLARAHALLI HOSPET TALUK, VIJAYANAGARA DISTRICT, KARNATAKA - 583 222. …PETITIONER (BY SRI. SADANAND G. SHASTRI, ADVOCATE) AND: 1. THE KARNATAKA STATE POLLUTION CONTROL BOARD, REPRESENTED BY ITS CHAIRMAN, PARISARA BHAVANA, 4TH AND 5TH FLOOR, #49, CHURCH STREET, BENGALURU - 560001. 2. THE ENVIRONMENTAL OFFICER, VIJAYANAGAR ZONAL OFFICER, KARNATAKA STATE POLLUTION CONTROL BOARD, SRI SAI SHARAN PLAZA, Digitally signed by MAHALAKSHMI B M Location: High Court of Karnataka - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:30597-DB WP No. 17632 of 2026 NO.71/A, 2ND FLOOR, DAM ROAD, VIJAYANAGAR DISTRICT, HOSAPETE - 583 203. 3. THE MANAGING DIRECTOR, GULBARGA ELECTRICITY SUPPLY COMPANY LIMITED, STATION ROAD, KALABURAGI - 585 102. 4. THE EXECUTIVE ENGINEER, GULBARGA ELECTRICITY SUPPLY COMPANY LIMITED, STATION ROAD, KALABURAGI - 585 102. …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI. A. MAHESH CHOWDHARY, ADVOCATE FOR R-1 & R-2) THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO ISSUE A WRIT OF CERTIORARI OR ANY OTHER APPROPRIATE WRIT, ORDER OR DIRECTION QUASHING THE CLOSURE ORDER DATED 23.10.2025 AT ANNEXURE-F BEARING NO.PCB/SEO/MINES/PH-PRO/2025-26 ISSUED BY THE RESPONDENT NO.1 AND CONSEQUENTLY AND ETC. THIS PETITION COMING ON FOR ORDERS, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. VIBHU BAKHRU, CHIEF JUSTICE and HON'BLE MRS. JUSTICE K.S. HEMALEKHA ORAL ORDER (PER: HON'BLE MR. VIBHU BAKHRU, CHIEF JUSTICE) 1. The petitioner has filed the present petition, inter alia, impugning a closure order dated 23.10.2025, issued by respondent No.1-the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board [KSPCB]. In addition, the petitioner prays that the directions be issued to the respondents forthwith to consider and decide its representation - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:30597-DB WP No. 17632 of 2026 dated 05.05.2026 by passing a reasoned and speaking order within an outer limit of seven working days from the receipt of the said representation. The petitioner also prays that directions be issued to the KSPCB to renew the Consent for Operation [CFO] for the petitioner's Unit dated 11.08.2021, as expeditiously as possible. 2. The petitioner-Company is engaged in the business of manufacturing and sale of Sponge Iron. The petitioner operates a Unit, which is classified under the Red Category, situated at Danayakana Kere and Gollarhalli Village, Hosapete Taluk, Vijayanagara District. The petitioner is essentially aggrieved by a notice dated 23.10.2025, which is termed as a "closure notice". A plain reading of the said notice indicates that it contains a record of the proceedings of the hearing held by the KSPCB on 26.08.2025. The said notice further contains observations of non-compliance with measures required to prevent pollution. Undeniably, the petitioner was obligated to address the issues mentioned and contain pollution. Since, the petitioner had failed to do so, it was proposed to take the decision to issue a closure notice under Section 33(A) of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 and Section 31(A) of the Air (Prevention and control of - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:30597-DB WP No. 17632 of 2026 Pollution) Act, 1981, for closure of the petitioner's industry and to suspend it operations till it complies with all the relevant environmental requirements. 3. The learned counsel appearing for the KSPCB submits that a closure order was subsequently issued on 29.01.2026, as it was found that the petitioner had not complied with all the required environmental compliances. He submits that an inspection was conducted on 20.05.2026 and the inspection report now indicates that the petitioner has since taken steps to comply with the observations made by the KSPCB. However, the requirement regarding the development of a greenbelt has been met only partially. He submits that the petitioner was required to maintain a greenbelt covering 33% of the total project area. However, during inspection, it was found that the petitioner had planted approximately 6000 saplings around the industrial premises. He also submits that the greenbelt ought to have been developed way back in the year 2018, and therefore, the measures taken have been highly belated. 4. However, he fairly submits that since the petitioner complied with all observations, the KSPCB shall take an informed decision to - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:30597-DB WP No. 17632 of 2026 revoke the closure order at the next meeting. He also submits that the renewal of the CFO shall not be withheld on account of the closure order. 5. In view of the above, the present petition is disposed of by directing the KSPCB to take an informed decision regarding revocation of the closure order in light of the inspection report dated 20.05.2026, as expeditiously as possible and, in any event, within a period of four weeks from date. 6. The petitioner's operations shall not be interdicted from the aforesaid period of four weeks. 7. The petitioner's application seeking renewal of the CFO shall not be withheld on account of the subsisting closure order. In the event there is any delay in applying for the renewal of CFO or processing the application, it shall be condoned. Sd/- (VIBHU BAKHRU) CHIEF JUSTICE Sd/- (K.S. HEMALEKHA) JUDGE ATList No.: 2 Sl No.: 28