- 1 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010558692022 NC: 2026:KHC:47947 WP No. 24275 of 2022 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 3RD DAY OF SEPTEMBER, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE M.G.S. KAMAL WRIT PETITION NO. 24275 OF 2022 (GM-PDS) BETWEEN: N SANNAPPA AGED ABOUT 56 YEARS S/O NAGAPPA R/OF HULIKUNTE VILLAGE HULIKNTE POST, CHALLAKERE TALUK CHITRADURGA DISTRICT-577 522 …PETITIONER (BY SRI. KESHAVA CHANDRA S. P., ADV. FOR SRI SHIVARAMU H. C., ADV.) AND: 1. STATE OF KARNATAKA REP. BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY TO GOVERNEMNT DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND CIVIL SUPPLIES, VIKAS SOUDHA DR. B R AMBEDKAR VEEDHI BENGALURU – 560001. 2. THE JOINT DIRECTOR OF FOOD AND CIVIL SUPPLIES CHITRADURGA DISTRICT CHITRADURGA-577501. 3. THE TAHASILDAR CHALLAKERE TALUK CHITRADURGA DISTRICT-577201. …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI. SRINIVAS KUMAR M., HCGP FOR R1-R3) Digitally signed by NANJUNDACHARI Location: High Court of Karnataka - 2 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010558692022 NC: 2026:KHC:47947 WP No. 24275 of 2022 THIS PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLE 226 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA, IS PRAYING TO DIRECTION TO QUASH THE IMPUGNED SPECIAL NOTIFICATION DATED 11.04.2022 ISSUED BY THE R2 IN NO.CSD/CR/06/2022.23 AT ANNEXURE-B AND ISSUE A WRIT OF MANDAMUS TO THE R2 TO CONTINUE TO ALLOT THE FOOD GRAINS AS WAS IN EXISTENCE PRIOR TO THE ISSUANCE OF THE NOTIFICATION DATED 11.4.2022 WITHOUT REMOVING THE CARDS FROM THE PETITIONER SHOP IN ACCORDANCE WITH CLAUSE 11 OF KEC (PDS) CONTROL ORDER 2016. THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR ORDERS, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE M.G.S. KAMAL ORAL ORDER The petitioner has been issued authorization to run a Fair Price Shop at Hulikunte Village attached to Gollarahatti FPD Point, Chitradurga during the year 1993- 94 and has been allotted 682 ration cards. 2. The petitioner has been running the business without any blemish. That by a Notification dated 11.04.2022 produced at Annexure-B, the respondent-Joint Director, Chitradurga District, Chitradurga has called for application in respect of proposed Fair Price Depot at Hulikunte Gollarahatti, further proposing to allot 226 cards - 3 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010558692022 NC: 2026:KHC:47947 WP No. 24275 of 2022 resulting in taking away said number of cards from the allotment made to the petitioner. Learned counsel for the petitioner submitted if such notification given effect to, the minimum number of cards which the petitioner is entitled to hold in terms of Clause 11(2) of the Karnataka Essential Commodities (Public Distribution System) Control Order, 1992 would stand reduced. Therefore, learned counsel submits that the impugned notification is unsustainable. 3. Learned High Court Government Pleader Sri.Srinivas Kumar.M., on the other hand submits that the minimum number of cards to be held by a Fair Price Depot within the rural area is 500 and since the petitioner has been allotted 682 cards, the respondent-authorities would ensure that the number of minimum cards would not be reduced below 500. 4. Learned counsel appearing for the petitioner has no objection for the same. - 4 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010558692022 NC: 2026:KHC:47947 WP No. 24275 of 2022 5. The said submissions are placed on record. 6. In that view of the matter, the respondent- authorities may proceed further in accordance with Annexure-B, Notification dated 11.04.2022. However, they shall ensure that the minimum number of cards which are already allotted to the petitioner shall not be reduced lesser than minimum number of 500 cards at any given time. 7. Writ petition is disposed of accordingly. Sd/- (M.G.S. KAMAL) JUDGE NC CT:bms List No.: 1 Sl No.: 8