- 1 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010547232026 NC: 2026:KHC:44093-DB WP No. 24752 of 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 18TH DAY OF AUGUST, 2026 PRESENT THE HON'BLE MR. VIBHU BAKHRU, CHIEF JUSTICE AND THE HON'BLE MRS. JUSTICE K.S. HEMALEKHA WRIT PETITION NO.24752 OF 2026 (GM-MM_S) BETWEEN: SHARAVANKUMAR S/O HEMRAJ SHARMA, AGED ABOUT 49 YEARS, PROPRIETOR OF SHARAVANA CRUSHIG WORKS HAVING ITS UNIT AT R.S NO.130 HALAVARTHI VILLAGE, KOPPAL TALUK AND DISTRICT. …PETITIONER (BY SRI. ARJUN A. HEBBAR, ADVOCATE FOR MS. ADITI P. GOUDAR, ADVOCATE) AND: 1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY, DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY, KHANIJA BHAVANA, RACE COURSE ROAD, BENGALURU - 560001. 2. THE DIRECTOR/ SENIOR GEOLOGIST DEPARTMENT OF MINES AND GEOLOGY KHANIJA BHAVANA, RACE COURSE ROAD, BENGALURU-560001. Digitally signed by C K LATHA Location: High Court of Karnataka - 2 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010547232026 NC: 2026:KHC:44093-DB WP No. 24752 of 2026 3. THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR/SENIOR GEOLOGIST DEPARTMENT OF MINES AND GEOLOGY DC OFFICE, KOPPAL. 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-560097 REPRESENTED BY ITS DIRECTOR. …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI. K.S. HARISH, GOVERNMENT ADVOCATE) THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 & 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO ISSUE A WRIT OF CERTIORARI QUASHING THE IMPUGNED DEMAND NOTICE BEARING NO.GABHUI/HIBHUVI/OTS-NOTICE/ KOPPAL: 2026-27/470 ISSUED BY THE RESPONDENT NO.3 DATED 21.04.2026 PRODUCED 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 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 21.04.2026 [impugned order] issued under - 3 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010547232026 NC: 2026:KHC:44093-DB WP No. 24752 of 2026 Rule 44A of the Karnataka Minor Mineral Concession Rules, 1994 [KMMC Rules], calling upon the petitioner to pay a sum of ` 11,51,752 as penalty for extracting encroachment quantity of 8,226.80 metric tons of building stone. 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 and that despite the petitioner's response to the demand notice vide letter dated 28.04.2026, calling upon the respondent No.3 to furnish documents relied upon while issuing the impugned demand notice, respondent No.3 failed to furnish the said documents or afford the petitioner an opportunity to be heard and proceeded to issue the endorsement dated 15.06.2026. 4. The learned Government Advocate fairly states that the present petition be disposed of by directing that the impugned notice be considered as a show cause notice. He states that the petitioner's response would be considered and an order would be passed after affording the petitioner an opportunity of being heard. - 4 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010547232026 NC: 2026:KHC:44093-DB WP No. 24752 of 2026 5. In view of the above, the present petition is disposed of, directing the respondents are bound down to the statement made on their behalf. The impugned order shall be considered as a show cause notice and appropriate orders would be passed after following the principles of natural justice. 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 CKL List No.: 2 Sl No.: 6