- 1 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010573172026 NC: 2026:KHC:46121-DB WP No. 25913 of 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 27TH 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. 25913 OF 2026 (GM-MM-S) BETWEEN: 1. SRI K.M. BOPANNA S/O. LATE K.C. MEDAPPA AGED ABOUT 63 YEARS OCCUPATION: BUSINESS R/AT KALATHMADU VILLAGE AMMATHI HOBLI, VIRAJPET TALUK KODAGU DISTRICT - 571 211 …PETITIONER (BY SRI AKASH B. SHETTY, ADVOCATE) AND: 1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA REP. BY ITS SECRETARY DEPT. OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRIES VIKASA SOUDHA BENGALURU - 560 001 2. THE DIRECTOR, DEPT. OF MINES AND GEOLOGIST NO.49, RACE COURSE ROAD KHANJIA BHAVANA BENGALURU - 560 001 Digitally signed by SRIDEVI S Location: High Court of Karnataka - 2 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010573172026 NC: 2026:KHC:46121-DB WP No. 25913 of 2026 3. THE SENIOR GEOLOGIST, DEPARTMENT OF MINES AND GEOLOGY KODAGU DISTRICT MADIKERI - 571 201 …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, QUASHING THE DEMAND NOTICE DATED 04/07/2026 IN NO.GaBhuE/HiBhuV(ko)/OTS-Notice/2026-27/621, ISSUED BY THE 3RD RESPONDENT - SENIOR GEOLOGIST, DEMANDING RS.39,14,680/- AS FINE BY INVOKING THE PROVISIONS OF RULE 44-A OF THE KARNATAKA MINOR MINERALS CONCESSION (AMENDMENT) RULES, 2026 AS ONE TIME SETTLEMENT (OTS) WITH PENAL PROVISIONS IN CASE OF NON-COMPLIANCE WITHIN 30 DAYS FROM THE DATE OF RECEIPT OF SAID NOTICE, VIDE ANNEXURE-A & 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. - 3 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010573172026 NC: 2026:KHC:46121-DB WP No. 25913 of 2026 2. The petitioner has filed the present petition impugning a notice dated 04.07.2026 issued under Rule 44A of the Karnataka Minor Mineral Concession Rules, 1994 [KMMC Rules], calling upon the petitioner to pay the total sum of `39,14,680/- as penalty for extracting excess and encroachment quantity totaling to 39168 metric tons of mineral. The said demand is premised on the allegation that the petitioner has extracted and transported building stone in a licensed quarry area without payment of the requisite royalty. 3. The petitioner has been called upon to pay the stipulated penalty within a period of 6 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. 4. 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. 5. The learned Government Advocate fairly states that the present petition be disposed of by directing that the impugned - 4 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010573172026 NC: 2026:KHC:46121-DB WP No. 25913 of 2026 notice 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. 6. 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. 7. 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 44-A of the KMMC Rules, is voluntary and at the option of the lease/licence holder. 8. The petition is disposed of in the aforesaid terms. Sd/- (VIBHU BAKHRU) CHIEF JUSTICE Sd/- (K.S. HEMALEKHA) JUDGE SD, List No.: 2 Sl No.: 14