- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC-D:582 WP No. 108059 of 2023 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA, AT DHARWAD DATED THIS THE 20TH DAY OF JANUARY 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MRS JUSTICE K.S.HEMALEKHA WRIT PETITION NO.108059 OF 2023 (S-RES) BETWEEN: SHRI. BHIMAPPA S/O. LAXMAN NAIKAR S/O. LAXMAN NAIKAR, AGED ABOUT 71 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE, R/O. KULAVALLI, TQ: KITTUR, DIST: BELAGAVI. …PETITIONER (BY SRI. THAVANSHI M.V., ADVOCATE) AND: 1. KARNATAKA PULP WOOD LIMITED R/BY ITS CHAIRMAN CUM MANAGING DIRECTOR, OFFICE AT, VANAVIKAS, 18TH CROSS, MALLESHWARAM, BANGALORE-560001. 2. KARNATAKA FOREST DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION LIMITED, REPRESENTED BY ITS MANAGING DIRECTOR, OFFICE AT, VANANIKAS, 18TH CROSS, MALLESHWARAM, BANGALORE-560001. 3. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA REPRESENTED BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY, DEPARTMENT OF FOREST, BIOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENT, M.S. BUILDING, BANGALORE-560001. 4. KARNATAKA PULP WOOD LIMITED SUBSIDIARY OF KARNATAKA FOREST DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, DHARWAD DIVISION, FOREST COMPOUND, NEAR K.C.PARK, DHARWAD-580008. …RESPONDENTS (BY SMT. NANDINI B.SOMAPUR, AGA) MANJANNA E Digitally signed by MANJANNA E Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA DHARWAD BENCH Date: 2026.01.30 10:48:11 +0530 - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC-D:582 WP No. 108059 of 2023 THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO ISSUE A WRIT OF MANDAMUS OR ANY OTHER APPROPRIATE WRIT OR ORDER AS PER ANNEXURE -B I.E. AS PER FINAL ORDER DATED 15/02/2022 AS ALREADY BEEN PASSED IN W.P.NO.106867/2019 DISPOSED ON THE FILE OF HON’BLE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA, DHARWAD BENCH AND EXTEND THE TIME LIMIT FOR A FURTHER PERIOD OF ONE MONTH FOR SUBMITTING FRESH REPRESENTATION BY THE PETITIONER HEREIN TO RESPONDENT NO.3 AND CONSEQUENTLY DIRECT THE RESPONDENT NO.3 TO CONSIDER THE SAID REPRESENTATION AS SUBMITTED BY THE PETITIONER HEREIN WITHIN A PERIOD OF SIX MONTHS IN ACCORDANCE WITH LAW AND ETC. THIS WRIT PETITION COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY HEARING IN ‘B’ GROUP THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: THE HON'BLE MRS JUSTICE K.S.HEMALEKHA ORAL ORDER The petitioner who is aged about 71 years, has approached this Court seeking extension of time to submit a fresh representation to respondent No.3 and for a consequential direction to consider the same, in terms of the final order dated 15.02.2022 passed by this Court in WP No.106867 of 2019. 2. It is a case of a petitioner that pursuant to the order passed in the earlier petition, he was required to submit a fresh representation within a time stipulated therein. Owing to his advanced age and other attendant - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC-D:582 WP No. 108059 of 2023 circumstances, the petitioner could not submit the representation within the said time. Hence, the present writ petition is filed seeking extension of time and direction to the competent authority to consider the representation in accordance with law. 3. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the petitioner does not seek adjudication of the merits of his claim in the present writ petition and confines the relief only to extension of time to submit a fresh representation and for its consideration by the competent authority. 4. Learned Additional Government Advocate appearing for the respondent/State does not dispute the fact that in this Court in WP No.106867 of 2019, had already directed consideration of the petitioner's claim and submits that if a fresh representation is submitted, the same would be considered in accordance with law. 5. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that in identical issue, the Co-ordinate bench of this Court has - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC-D:582 WP No. 108059 of 2023 extended the time to fine a fresh representation and since the petitioner is similarly placed to the petitioner in the case of Shri Mahadev S/o Laxman Naikar v. Karnataka Pulp Wood Limited and Others1, the benefit ought to be extended to the petitioner as well. 6. Having regard to the circumstances narrated above, the limited prayer made in the writ petition, the age of the petitioner and the fact that the matter is only at the stage of the consideration of the representation pursuant to an earlier order of this Court, and the Co-ordinate Bench has already extended a time to similarly placed petitioners to file a fresh representation, this Court is of the considered view that the writ petition can be disposed of with afresh appropriate direction. 7. Accordingly, this Court pass the following: 1 WP No.100918/2024 (DD:- 01.08.2025) - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC-D:582 WP No. 108059 of 2023 ORDER i. The writ petition is disposed of ii. The petitioner is permitted to submit a fresh representation to respondent No.3 within a period of one month from the date of receipt of a certified copy of this order. iii. If such representation is submitted within the stipulated time, respondent No.3 shall consider the same in accordance with law and in light of the order dated 15.02.2022 passed in WP No.106867 of 2019 as expeditiously as possible and in any event within a period of 60 days thereafter. iv. It is made clear that no further extension of time shall be granted. If the petitioner fails to submit the representation by 20.02.2026, the respondents shall be at - 6 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC-D:582 WP No. 108059 of 2023 liberty to take appropriate action as permissible under law. Sd/- JUSTICE K.S.HEMALEKHA AM/- Ct:VH List No.: 1 Sl No.: 8