- 1 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010493642026 NC: 2026:KHC:39438-DB WP No. 22143 of 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 29TH 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. 22143 OF 2026 (GM-MM-S) BETWEEN: 1. H.M. SHANTHAPPA AGED ABOUT 75 YEARS S/O. LATE MUDDABASAPPA NO.205, GNANA MARGA SIDDHARTHANAGAR MYSORE - 560 011 …PETITIONER (BY SRI JAYANTH VENKATRAM, ADVOCATE) AND: 1. STATE OF KARNATAKA REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRIES VIKASA SOUDHA BANGALORE - 560 001 2. THE DIRECTOR DEPARTMENT OF MINES AND GEOLOGY KHANIJA BHAVAN R.C. ROAD BANGALORE - 560 001 Digitally signed by K P SWETHA Location: High Court of Karnataka - 2 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010493642026 NC: 2026:KHC:39438-DB WP No. 22143 of 2026 3. SENIOR GEOLOGIST DEPT. OF MINES AND GEOLOGY NO.316, 317, 3RD FLOOR DISTRICT ADMINISTRATIVE BUILDING CHAMARAJANAGAR - 571 313 …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI K.S. HARISH, GOVERNMENT ADVOCATE) THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLE 226 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO ISSUE A WRIT OR CERIORARI OR ANY OTHER WRIT OR ORDER QUASHING THE NOTICE DATED 16.05.2026 BEARING No. GaBhuE/HiBhuVi/ Chamara/OTS-Notice/2026-27/415 ISSUED BY THE RESPONDENT No. 3 (i.e. ANNEXURE-A) AS BEING VIOLATIVE OF ARTICLES 14, 19 (1) (g) AND 21 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA & 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 MRS. JUSTICE K.S. HEMALEKHA ORAL ORDER (PER: HON'BLE MR. VIBHU BAKHRU, CHIEF JUSTICE) 1. The learned Government Advocate accepts notice for the respondents. 2. The petitioner has filed the present petition impugning the demand notice dated 16.05.2026 [impugned order] issued under - 3 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010493642026 NC: 2026:KHC:39438-DB WP No. 22143 of 2026 Rule 44A of the Karnataka Minor Mineral Concession Rules, 1994 [KMMC Rules], calling upon the petitioner to pay a sum of `10,56,510/-. The said demand is premised on the allegation that the petitioner has extracted and transported building stone in the licensed quarry area without payment of the requisite royalty. 3. One of the contentions advanced by the petitioner is that the said demand is vitiated as it has been issued without following the principles of natural justice. 4. The learned Government Advocate clearly states that the impugned demand notice may be considered as a show cause notice. The petitioner may file a response to the same within a period of two weeks from date and the concerned authority shall pass a final order after affording the petitioner an opportunity to be heard. 5. In view of the aforesaid statement, no orders are required to be passed in this petition, except that the respondents would be bound down to the statement, made on their behalf. We clarify that we have not examined the merits of the demand and nothing stated in this order should be construed as such. - 4 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010493642026 NC: 2026:KHC:39438-DB WP No. 22143 of 2026 6. We clarify that all rights and contentions of the parties are reserved including the petitioner's contention that the one time settlement [OTS] as contemplated under Rule 44A of the KMMC Rules, is voluntary and at the option of the lease/licence holder. 7. The petition is disposed of in the aforesaid terms. Sd/- (VIBHU BAKHRU) CHIEF JUSTICE Sd/- (K.S. HEMALEKHA) JUDGE KPS, List No.: 2 Sl No.: 14