- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:5656 WP No. 2149/2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 2ND DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE B M SHYAM PRASAD WRIT PETITION NO. 2149/2026 (GM-PDS) BETWEEN: SMT. H N GIRIJAMMA AGED ABOUT 63 YEARS, W/O. LATE. LOKESHAPPA S R/AT. NO.11, KOLKUNTE VILLAGE, DAVANAGERE DISTRICT - 577 002 …PETITIONER (BY SRI.KESHAVA CHANDRA S.P., ADVOCATE FOR SRI. RITHISH D NAIK., ADVOCATE) AND: 1. STATE OF KARNATAKA REPRESENTED BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY, DEPARTMENT OF FOOD CIVIL SUPPLIES, GROUND FLOOR, VIKAS SOUDHA, BANGALORE - 560 001. 2. THE JOINT DIRECTOR OF FOOD AND CIVIL SUPPLIES, DAVANAGERE DISTRICT, DAVANAGERE - 577 002 …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI.ADITYA DIWAKARA, AGA) Digitally signed by VANAMALA N Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:5656 WP No. 2149/2026 THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLE 226 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO I. QUASH THE IMPUGNED ENDORSEMENT DATED 01.01.2026 ISSUED BY THE R-2 IN NO.DVJFCS- ADMN0FPDA/275/2025-ADMN(37199) AT ANNEXURE-D. II. ISSUE WRIT OF MANDAMUS TO THE R-2 TO CONSIDER THE APPLICATION FILED BY THE PETITIONER DATED 29.12.2025 AT ANNEXURE-C FOR TRANSFER OF AUTHORIZATION ON COMPASSIONATE GROUND IN FAVOUR OF THE PETITIONER IN TERMS OF THE ORDER DATED W.P.NO. 5401/2025 DATED 17.03.2025 AND W.P.NO. 31745/2024 DATED 06.12.2024 ARE PRODUCED AT ANNEXURES-E AND F FOR TRANSFER OF AUTHORIZATION ON COMPASSIONATE GROUND FORTHWITH. THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR FINAL HEARING, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE B M SHYAM PRASAD - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:5656 WP No. 2149/2026 ORAL ORDER The petitioner's husband S Lokeshappa is issued with the authorization to run a fair price depot at Kolkunte Village, Davanagere Taluk and District. The petitioner's husband has died on 27.11.2025 and on his demise, the petitioner has filed an application for transfer of authorization. The second respondent has issued the impugned Endorsement dated 01.01.2026 [Annexure-D] stating that the petitioner cannot be permitted transfer of the authorization because her husband was over 65 years as of the date of his death. Sri Keshava Chandra S P, the learned counsel for the petitioner, and Sri Aditya Diwakara, a learned Additional Government Advocate, are heard for disposal of the petition in view of this Court's consistent view that a request for authorization to run a fair price report cannot be rejected based on - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:5656 WP No. 2149/2026 the age of the authorized holder. As such, the following: ORDER [a] The petition is allowed. [b] The second respondent's Endorsement dated 01.01.2026 [Annexure-D] is quashed. [c] The second respondent is directed to consider the petitioner's application for transfer of authorization within six [6] weeks from the date of receipt of certified copy of this order. [d] The petitioner is reserved with liberty to file a certified copy of this order with the second respondent within a week from the date of receipt thereof. SD/- (B M SHYAM PRASAD) JUDGE AN/-