2026:UHC:1560-DB I N THE HI GH COURT OF UTTARAKHAND AT NAI NI TAL THE HON’BLE CHI EF JUSTI CE MR. MANOJ KUMAR GUPTA AND THE HON’BLE JUSTI CE MR. SUBHASH UPADHYAY Writ Petition (M/B) No.87 of 2026 11 March, 2026 Rajendra Singh Bisht --Petitioner Versus State of Uttarakhand and Others --Respondents ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Presence:- Mr. Aditya Singh, learned counsel for the petitioner. Mr. Puran Singh Bisht, learned Addl. C.S.C. for the State of Uttarakhand. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- JUDGMENT : ( per Mr . Man oj Kum ar Gu pt a C. J.) 1. The present writ petition is directed against a notice dated 24.02.2025 issued by In-charge Mining Officer requiring the petitioner to forthwith deposit the outstanding amounts of penalties and royalties to the tune of ₹6,32,96,838/ -. 2. Learned counsel for the petitioner does not dispute that against the impugned order the petitioner has remedy of filing appeal under the provisions of the Uttarakhand Minor Minerals (Concession) Rules, 2023 and amendments made thereto from time to time. 3. Learned counsel for the petitioner, however, submits that the impugned notice was issued against the petitioner when he filed PIL No.51 of 2025 1 2026:UHC:1560-DB highlighting the illegalities committed by the respondents in declaring one Deepak Pokhariyal as successful bidder though his bid was lower than that of one Ashish Gairola. 4. As the petitioner has statutory remedy available to him, therefore, we are not inclined to accept the submission or examine the validity of the impugned notice in the present petition bypassing the remedy of appeal. 5. The petition is, accordingly, disposed of with liberty to the petitioner to avail the statutory remedy if so advised. 6. Pending application, if any, also stands disposed of. ( MANOJ KUMAR GUPTA, C. J.) ( SUBHASH UPADHYAY, J.) Dated: 11.03.2026 SS 2 SUKHBANT SINGH Digitally signed by SUKHBANT SINGH DN: c=IN, o=HIGH COURT OF UTTARAKHAND, ou=HIGH COURT OF UTTARAKHAND, 2.5.4.20=71978f9c61bfde0ba69967c787b1764ea7bc7dd129a8a6380d49 b1885e628615, postalCode=263001, st=UTTARAKHAND, serialNumber=2D8B71B8D8E345F6B7F95B1DD4FB4BEBD2B7D72C42261 361AED33172F152148D, cn=SUKHBANT SINGH Date: 2026.03.12 10:10:44 +05'30'