- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:32890-DB WP No. 19232 of 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 2ND DAY OF JULY, 2026 PRESENT THE HON'BLE MR. VIBHU BAKHRU, CHIEF JUSTICE AND THE HON'BLE MRS. JUSTICE K.S. HEMALEKHA WRIT PETITION NO. 19232 OF 2026 (GM-MMS) BETWEEN: 1. M/S O K STONE CRUSHER REP., BY PARTNER IRANNA DUNDAPPA ROTTI HAVING ITS UNIT AT 175/1, 175/5 GANIKOPPA VILLAGE BAILHONGAL TALUK AND DISTRICT BELAGAVI R/O., No. 2274, BASAVSHRI BAGEWADI, P.O. HIREBAGEWADI BELAGAVI - 591 109 …PETITIONER (BY SRI GOUTHAM BHARADWAJ, ADVOCATE FOR SRI GOUDAR PRASHANTH FAKKERAGOUDA, ADVOCATE) AND: 1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY KHANIJA BHAVANA RACE COURSE ROAD BENGALURU - 560 001 2. THE DIRECTOR/ SENIOR GEOLOGIST DEPARTMENT OF MINES AND GEOLOGY Digitally signed by AMBIKA H B Location: High Court of Karnataka - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:32890-DB WP No. 19232 of 2026 KHANJIA BHAVANA RACE COURSE ROAD BENGALURU - 560 001 3. THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR DEPARTMENT OF MINES AND GEOLOGY DISTRICT BELAGAVI BAUXITE ROAD KUMARSWAMY LAYOUT BELAGAVI - 590 019 4. KARNATAKA STATE REMOTE SENSING APPLICATIONS CENTRE, (KSRSAC) DEPARTMENT OF PERSONNEL AND ADMINISTRATIVE REFORMS (E-GOVERNANCE) OFFICE AT DOORA SAMVEDI BHAVANA MAJOR SANDEEP UNNIKRISHNAN ROAD DODDABETTAHALLI BENGALURU - 560 097 REPRESENTED BY ITS DIRECTOR …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI K.S. HARISH, GOVERNMENT ADVOCATE) THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO ISSUE A WRIT OF CERTIORARI, DIRECTION OR ORDER QUASHING THE IMPUGNED DEMAND NOTICE BEARING GaBhuE/UNi/BeVi/OTS- NOTICE-2026-27/1168 DATED 18.05.2026 ISSUED BY THE RESPONDENT No. 3 PRODUCED VIDE ANNEXURE-A AND THE IMPUGNED DEMAND NOTICE BEARING GaBhuE/UNi/BeVi/OTS- NOTICE-2026-27/1166 DATED 18.05.2026 ISSUED BY THE RESPONDENT No. 3 PRODUCED VIDE ANNEXURE-A1 AND ETC. THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY HEARING, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:32890-DB WP No. 19232 of 2026 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 impugning the demand notices dated 18.05.2026 issued under Rule 44-A of the Karnataka Minor Mineral Concession Rules, 1994 [KMMC Rules], calling upon the petitioner to pay sums of `1,38,40,120/- and `1,08,83,950/- as penalty for extracting excess quantity of 1,97,716 metric tonnes and 1,55,485 metric tonnes of mineral from the respective quarry leases. The petitioner also sought issuance of directions to respondent No.3 for furnishing the documents, records and reports as requested by the petitioner in its reply dated 16.06.2026 vide Annexure-B. 2. As per the demand notices, the petitioner is also called upon to visit the concerned office (Office of the Deputy Director, Department of Mines and Geology) within a period of seven days along with appropriate documents regarding the penalty amount and for settlement of the matter. However, the petitioner has also been called upon to pay the stipulated penalty within a period of six - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:32890-DB WP No. 19232 of 2026 months from the date of service of the notice. The notice also sets out that the petitioner is also permitted to pay the penalty in four equal installments with one installment due every 45 days. 3. One of the contentions advanced by the petitioner is that the said demands are vitiated as they have been issued without following the principles of natural justice and despite the petitioner responding by letter dated 16.06.2026 to the demand notices, the same has not been considered. 4. The learned Government Advocate fairly submits that the impugned demand notices be considered as show cause notices and the petitioner would be at liberty to respond to the said notices within a period of two weeks from date along with all the documents that the petitioner considers necessary and relevant. The concerned authority is also required to consider the said applications seeking documents and shall pass final orders and ensure that the principles of natural justice are duly complied with. 5. We clarify that all rights and contentions of the parties are reserved including the petitioner's contention that the one time - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:32890-DB WP No. 19232 of 2026 settlement [OTS] as contemplated under Rule 44-A of the KMMC Rules, is voluntary and at the option of the lease/licence holder. 6. The petition is, disposed of, in the aforesaid terms. Sd/- (VIBHU BAKHRU) CHIEF JUSTICE Sd/- (K.S. HEMALEKHA) JUDGE AHB List No.: 2 Sl No.: 17