Partly allowed

Gangotri Meenugarara Sahakara Sangha v. State of Karnataka

Karnataka HC5 Jan 2023WP/9209/2022

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

The court partly allowed a writ petition challenging a letter directing a skill test for registering a new fishermen co-operative society, quashing it as based on a report from an officer without jurisdiction. It also rejected the new society's petition challenging an auction notice, holding it lacked locus. The matter was remanded for a fresh inquiry.

What did the court decide?

The memorandum dated 11-04-2022 was quashed; the matter was remanded to the Directorate of Fisheries for a fresh inquiry within four weeks.

Gangotri Meenugarara Sahakara Sangha Vs State of… — Cooperative Societies | Karnataka HC (2023)

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WP No. 9209 of 2022 C/W WP No. 12785 of 2022

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IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU

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DATED THIS THE 5^TH DAY OF JANUARY, 2023

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BEFORE

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THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE M.NAGAPRASANNA WRIT PETITION NO. 9209 OF 2022 (GM-RES)

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C/W

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WRIT PETITION NO. 12785 OF 2022 (CS-RES)

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IN WRIT PETITION NO. 9209 OF 2022

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BETWEEN:

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GANGOTRI MEENUGARARA SAHAKARA SANGHA

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BESTHARA PALYA, MADABAL HOBLI, MAGADI TALUK,

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RAMANAGARA DISTRICT – 561 201.

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Digitally signed by PADMAVATHI B K Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA

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REP. BY ITS PRESIDENT SRI GIRISH AND

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SECRETARY SMT. DHRAKSHAINI

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…PETITIONER

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(BY SRI.D.R.RAVISHANKAR, SR.ADVOCATE FOR SRI.N.SHIVAKUMAR, ADVOCATE)

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AND:

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STATE OF KARNATAKA REP. BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY, DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES, VIDHANA SOUDHA, BENGALURU – 560 001.

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THE DIRECTORATE OF FISHERIES 3^RD FLOOR, PODIUM BLOCK,

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VISVESHWARAIAH TOWER, DR.B.R.AMBEDKAR VEEDHI, BENGALURU – 560 001.

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THE JOINT DIRECTOR OF FISHERIES 6^TH FLOOR, A.S.V.N.V BHAVANA, K.G.ROAD,

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BENGALURU – 560 009.

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DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF FISHERIES 2^ND FLOOR, PANCHAYATH BHAVAN, B.M.ROAD, RAMANAGARA, RAMANAGARA DISTRICT – 562 159.

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THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF FISHERIES GOVERNMENT SHOPPING COMPLEX,

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1^ST FLOOR, MAGADI TALUK, MAGADI – 562 120.

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THE ASSISTANT REGISTRAR OF CO-OPRATIVE SOCIETY RAMANAGARA SUB-DIVISION, RAMANAGARA – 562 159.

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…RESPONDENTS

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(BY SRI.B.V.KRISHNA, AGA FOR R1 TO R5; R6 - SERVED)

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THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO QUASH THE MEMORANDUM OF LETTER ISSUED BY THE R2 DTD 11.04.2022 VIDE ANNEXURE-A SINCE IT IS AGAINST TO THE GUDIELINES AND CIRCULAR ISSUED BY THE STATE GOVERNMENT.

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WP No. 9209 of 2022 C/W WP No. 12785 of 2022

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IN WRIT PETITION NO. 12785 OF 2022

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BETWEEN:

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ANAND M., S/O LATE MUNIRAJU, AGE 32 YEARS, CHIEF PROMOTER Y.G.GUDDA DISPLACED FISHERMEN CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETY LTD., R/O NAGABHOVIDODDI MADBAL HOBLI, MATHIKERE POST, MAGADI TALUK, RAMANAGARA DISTRICT – 562 120.

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…PETITIONER

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(BY SRI. DEVI PRASAD SHETTY., ADVOCATE)

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AND:

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STATE OF KARNATAKA DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES M.S.BUILDING, BENGALURU – 560 001, REPRESENTED BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY.

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THE DIRECTORATE OF FISHERIES 3^RD FLOOR PODIUM BLOCK, VISVESHWARAIAH TOWER, DR. B.R.AMBEDKAR VEEDHI, BENGALURU – 560 001.

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THE JOINT DIRECTOR OF FISHERIES 6^TH FLOOR, A.S.V.N.V BHAVANA, K.G.ROAD, BENGALURU – 560 009.

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THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF FISHERIES GOVERNMENT SHOPPING COMPLEX,

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1^ST FLOOR, MAGADI TALUK, MAGADI – 562 120.

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ASSISTANT DIRECTOR FOR FISHERIES MAGADI TQ, MAGADI – 562 120, RAMANGARA DISTRICT.

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…RESPONDENTS

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(BY SRI.B.V.KRISHNA, AGA)

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THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO QUASH THE PUBLIC NOTICE ISSUED BY THE R-5 DTD.13.6.2022 IN O.HAGUPA/2/2022-23 IS HEREWITH PRODUCED AT ANNEXURE-G.

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THESE WRIT PETITIONS, COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY HEARING, THIS DAY, THE COURT MADE THE FOLLOWING:

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ORDER

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Gangotri Meenugarara Sahakara Sangha (‘hereinafter

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referred to as ‘the Sangha’ for short), the petitioner in Writ Petition No.9209 of 2022 is calling in question an order dated 11.04.2022 issued by the 2^nd respondent/Directorate of Fisheries permitting registration of intended Y.G.Gudda Displaced Fishermen Co-operative Society Limited (‘the Society’ for short). The petitioner in the companion petition – W.P.No.12785/2022 is the Society, seek quashment of public

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notice issued on 13-06-2022, calling for applications for lease

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of fishing rights for a period of five years in the subject lake.

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Heard Sri D.R.Ravishankar, learned senior counsel appearing for the Sangha, Sri B.V.Krishna, learned Additional Government Advocate for respondents 1 to 5 – State in both the petitions and Sri Deviprasad Shetty, learned counsel appearing for the Society.

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Brief facts of the case that leads the petitioners to this Court in the subject petitions as borne out from the pleadings are as follows:

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The Sangha is registered on 31-07-2012. After registration of the Sangha, which is a Co-operative Society of Fishermen, the Government frames certain guidelines for grant of fishing rights to Co-operative Societies of Fishermen in terms of its policy dated 13-08-2013. The lake for fishing in the subject petitions is Y.G.Gudda Lake, Magadi Taluk. On 30-06-2014, the Deputy Director of Fisheries, Bengaluru leased out the subject lake in favour of the Sangha for a period of five years to become operational from 01-07-2014. The lease was to end on 30-06-2019.

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The Department of Fisheries issued certain guidelines

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for grant of fishing rights in lakes on 28.02.2019, in furtherance of earlier guidelines dated 13-08-2013. The petitioner in the companion petition - Society seek to get itself formed on 2701-2020, and the application is pending consideration. The 3^rd respondent/Joint Director of Fisheries directs the 4^th respondent/Deputy Director of Fisheries to obtain a feasibility report in terms of the aforesaid guidelines and regulate registration of the new Society as aforesaid. The 4^th respondent/Deputy Director of Fisheries gives a report depicting existence of the Sangha of the same name in Y.G.Gudda lake area and recommends action to be taken thereto. Based on the report of the Deputy Director of Fisheries, the Joint Director of Fisheries gives a non-feasibility report to the Directorate of Fisheries. On 08-02-2021, inspection was conducted of Y.G.Gudda lake and it was noticed that Sangha was in existence for long time and the Society could not be registered. Despite all this, it is the allegation that the 2^nd respondent/Directorate of Fisheries on a report submitted by the 6^th respondent/Assistant Registrar of Co-

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operative Societies, Ramanagara Sub-Division directs to conduct skill test upon the petitioner / Society in the companion petition, which wants to form a new Society. Pending all these actions, on 16-08-2021 the Deputy Director of Fisheries renews the lease of the Sangha for one year from 01-07-2021 to 30.06.2022. On 11.04.2022, the 2^nd respondent again sought feasibility report upon the 7^th respondent/Society purely based on the report of the Assistant Registrar of Co-operative Societies. Writ Petition No.9209 of 2022 is filed calling in question the action of the 2^nd respondent directing submission of feasibility report, by issuing a letter of memorandum, dated 11.04.2022.

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This Court in terms of its order dated 05-05-2022, grants an interim order of stay of the aforesaid order dated 11-04-2022, which is in subsistence even as on date. Later, on 13-06-2022, the 5^th respondent/Assistant Director of Fisheries issues a publication seeking to lease out the subject lake for a period of five years. It is then, the 7^th respondent in Writ Petition No.9209 of 2022 i.e., the Society files the companion petition in W.P.No.12785 of 2022 calling in question the said

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publication for auction of the lake. Since both these petitions concern Y.G.Gudda lake, they are taken up together and considered in this common order.

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The learned senior counsel Sri D.R.Ravishankar, appearing for the Sangha would seek to contend that the Directorate of Fisheries has grossly erred in directing conduct of feasibility test in favour of Society, despite the same having been rejected earlier. He would contend that in terms of the guidelines, for a Society to get its eligibility to participate in the auction, it should, in the least, be three years old. The Society is yet to come into existence and, therefore, it has no locus even to challenge any notification for leasing out the lake. He would submit that the 6^th respondent/Assistant Registrar of Cooperative Societies did not have any jurisdiction to interfere with the Department of Fisheries. Therefore, he seeks grant of the prayer that is sought in the petition.

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On the other hand, the learned Additional Government Advocate would put up vehement effort to justify the action of the Directorate of Fisheries by contending that what the Directorate of Fisheries has done is only calling for a feasibility

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report, which causes no prejudice to the Sangha, be it on the basis of the report of the 6^th respondent or otherwise. He would seek to support the action of the State.

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The learned counsel for the 7^th respondent/Society, Sri Deviprasad Shetty, would seek to contend that the lease of the Sangha has expired. Once the lease has expired, the Sangha has no right to stop any other Society to come into existence and participate in the auction. He would submit that the feasibility report has to result in registration of the Society and, therefore, the challenge of the Sangha is premature. He would contend that as on today, the application made by the Society for its registration is three years old and, therefore, the registration of the Society would be in tune with the guidelines.

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I have given my anxious consideration to the submissions made by the respective learned counsel and have perused the material on record.

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The afore-narrated facts are not in dispute. The Sangha/petitioner in W.P.No.9209 of 2022 is a Society that is registered close to 10 years ago and is the recipient of lease of

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the subject lake, initially for a period of five years and later

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being renewed for a period of one year upto 30-06-2022. The grant of interim order continues the lease of the Sangha in terms of the lease agreement commencing from 01-07-2021. It is the events in the interregnum that drive both the petitioners to this Court.

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The interregnum events assume significance. The Society makes an application on 27-01-2020, intending establishment of Y.G.Gudda Displaced Fisheries Co-operative Society, a new Society. The application was made to the 3^rd respondent/Joint Director of Fisheries. On receipt of the application, a direction was issued by the Joint Director of Fisheries to the Deputy Director of Fisheries to furnish a feasibility report in terms of the guidelines. The guidelines operating read as follows:

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WP No. 9209 of 2022 C/W WP No. 12785 of 2022

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PË±À®å ¥ÀjÃPÁë ¸À«ÄwAiÀÄ ¸ÀAZÁ®PÀgÀÄ ¸ÀzÀ¸ÀåvÀé PÉÆÃgÀÄªÀ CfðzÁgÀjUÉ PË±À®å CºÀðvÉ ¥ÀjÃPÉë £ÀqÉAiÀÄÄªÀ ¸ÀÜ¼À, ªÉÃ¼É, ¢£ÁAPÀªÀ£ÀÄß MAzÀÄ ªÁgÀzÀ ªÀÄÄAZÉ w½¸ÀvÀPÀÌzÀÄÝ. EzÀ£ÀÄß l¥Á¯ï£À°è £ÉÃgÀªÁV CxÀªÁ UÁæªÀÄzÀ°è mÁªÀiï mÁªÀiï ªÀiÁr¹ CxÀªÁ UÁæªÀÄ ¥ÀAZÁ¬ÄwAiÀÄ £ÉÆÃnÃ¸ï ¨ÉÆÃqÀð£À°è ¥ÀæZÁgÀ ¥Àr¸ÀÄªÀÅzÀÄ.

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PË±À®å CºÀðvÉ ¥ÀjÃPÉëAiÀÄ£ÀÄß «rAiÉÆÃ ªÀÄÆ®PÀ awæ¹ CzÀgÀ MAzÀÄ ¸Á¥sïÖ PÁ¦üAiÀÄ£ÀÄß CºÀðvÉ ¥ÀjÃPÉëAiÀÄ ¥sÀ°vÁA±ÀzÉÆA¢UÉ ¤AiÉÆÃfvÀ ¸ÀAWÀzÀ ¥Àæ¸ÁÛªÀ£ÉAiÉÆqÀ£É «ÄÃ£ÀÄUÁjPÉ ¤zÉÃð±À£Á®AiÀÄPÉÌ ¸À°è¸ÀvÀPÀÌzÀÄÝ.

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¸À»/-

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(dAiÀÄ®Qëöä)13/8/13

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¸ÀPÁðgÀzÀ C¢üÃ£À PÁAiÀÄðzÀ²ð (¥Àæ¨sÁgÀ)

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¥À±ÀÄ¸ÀAUÉÆÃ¥À£É ªÀÄvÀÄÛ «ÄÃ£ÀÄUÁjPÉ E¯ÁSÉ(«ÄÃ)

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C£Ä§AzsÀ À – 2

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PÀ£ÁðlPÀ gÁdåzÀ°è PÀgÁªÀ½ «ÄÃ£ÀÄUÁgÀgÀ ¸ÀºÀPÁgÀ ¸ÀAWÀUÀ¼À£ÀÄß

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£ÉÆÃAzÁ¬Ä¸À®Ä «ÄÃ£ÀÄUÁjPÉ E¯ÁSÉAiÀÄÄ ¸ÁzsÀåvÁ ªÀgÀ¢AiÀÄ£ÀÄß ¤ÃqÀÄªÁUÀ CUÀvÀåªÁV ¥Á°¸À¨ÉÃPÁzÀ ªÀiÁUÀð¸ÀÆaUÀ¼ÀÄ.

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¤AiÉÆÃfvÀ «ÄÃ£ÀÄUÁgÀgÀ ¸ÀAWÀzÀ PÁAiÀÄðªÁå¦ÛAiÀÄÄ ºÁ° C¹ÛvÀézÀ°ègÀÄªÀ ªÀÄvÉÆÛAzÀÄ ¸ÀºÀPÁgÀ ¸ÀAWÀzÀ PÁAiÀÄðªÁå¦ÛAiÀÄÄ£ÀÄß CwPÀæ«Ä¸À¨ÁgÀzÀÄ.

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¤AiÉÆÃfvÀ ¸ÀAWÀzÀ PÁAiÀÄðªÁå¦ÛAiÀÄ°è CzÉÃ GzÉÝÃ±À ºÉÆA¢zÀ ªÀÄvÉÆÛAzÀÄ «ÄÃ£ÀÄUÁgÀgÀ ¸ÀAWÀ EgÀPÀÆqÀzÀÄ.

¶115

¤AiÉÆÃfvÀ ¸ÀAWÀzÀ ¸ÀzÀ¸ÀåvÀéªÀ£ÀÄß PÉÆÃjzÀ CfðzÁgÀgÀÄ ºÁ° PÁAiÀÄð¤ªÀð»¸ÀÄwÛgÀÄªÀ ¨ÉÃgÉ AiÀiÁªÀÅzÉÃ «ÄÃ£ÀÄUÁjPÉ ¸ÀºÀPÁgÀ ¸ÀAWÀUÀ¼À°è ¸ÀzÀ¸ÀågÁVgÀPÀÆqÀzÀÄ.

¶116

¤AiÉÆÃfvÀ «ÄÃ£ÀÄUÁgÀgÀ ¸ÀºÀPÁgÀ ¸ÀAWÀzÀ°è PÀ¤µÀÖ 20 ªÀÈwÛ ¤gÀvÀ «ÄÃ£ÀÄUÁgÀgÀÄ EgÀ¨ÉÃPÀÄ.

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WP No. 9209 of 2022 C/W WP No. 12785 of 2022

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¤AiÉÆÃfvÀ «ÄÃ£ÀÄUÁgÀgÀ ¸ÀºÀPÁgÀ ¸ÀAWÀzÀ ¸ÀzÀ¸ÀågÀÄ PÀqÁØAiÀÄªÁV ¸ÀAWÀzÀ WÉÆÃ¶vÀ PÁAiÀÄðªÁå¦ÛAiÀÄ ¸ÁªÀiÁ£Àå ¤ªÁ¹AiÀiÁVgÀ¨ÉÃPÀÄ, CªÀgÀÄ ¸ÁªÀiÁ£Àå ¤ªÁ¹UÀ¼ÉAzÀÄ ¥ÀrvÀgÀ aÃn, DzsÁgï aÃn, ZÀÄ£ÁªÀuÁ UÀÄgÀÄw£À aÃn, ªÁ¸À¸ÀÜ¼À zÀÈrüÃPÀgÀt ¥ÀvÀæ, eÁw ¥ÀæªÀiÁt ¥ÀvÀæ CxÀªÁ E¤ßvÀgÀ ¸ÀPÁðgÀzÀ zÁR¯ÉUÀ¼À ªÀÄÄSÁAvÀgÀ SÁvÀj ¥Àr¹PÉÆ¼Àî¨ÉÃPÀÄ.

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¤AiÉÆÃfvÀ «ÄÃ£ÀÄUÁgÀgÀ ¸ÀºÀPÁgÀ ¸ÀAWÀzÀ ¸ÀzÀ¸ÀågÀÄ «ÄÃ£ÀÄUÁgÀgÉA§ÄzÀ£ÀÄß «ÄÃ£ÀÄUÁgÀgÀ PË±À®å ¥ÀjÃPÁë ªÀÄÄSÁAvÀgÀ zÀÈrüÃPÀj¹PÉÆ¼Àî¨ÉÃPÀÄ.

¶121

ºÁ° PÁAiÀÄð¤ªÀð»¸ÀÄwÛgÀÄªÀ «ÄÃ£ÀÄUÁgÀgÀ ¸ÀºÀPÁgÀ ¸ÀAWÀzÀ ªÁå¦ÛAiÀÄ°è ºÉÆ¸À «ÄÃ£ÀÄUÁgÀgÀ ¸ÀºÀPÁgÀ ¸ÀAWÀUÀ¼À£ÀÄß ¸ÁÜ¦¸À®Ä Cfð §AzÀ°è, ºÁ° PÁAiÀÄð¤ªÀð»¸ÀÄwÛgÀÄªÀ ¸ÀºÀPÁgÀ ¸ÀAWÀUÀ¼À¯ÉèÃ ¸ÀzÀ¸ÀåvÀéªÀ£ÀÄß ¥ÀqÉzÀÄPÉÆ¼Àî§ºÀÄzÀÄ.

¶122

¤AiÉÆÃfvÀ ¸ÀAWÀzÀ ¸ÀzÀ¸ÀågÀÄ PÀ£ÁðlPÀ ¸ÀºÀPÁgÀ ¸ÀAWÀUÀ¼À PÁ¬ÄzÉ 1959gÀ ¥ÀæPÁgÀ CºÀðvÉAiÀÄ£ÀÄß ºÉÆA¢gÀ¨ÉÃPÀÄ.”

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Guideline-7 of Annexure-2 mandates that every fisherman as to get the membership in the Co-operative Society that is already in existence and not to form a new Co-operative Society. The feasibility report was to be submitted in terms of the aforeextracted guidelines. The report of the Deputy Director of Fisheries was that the new Society cannot be registered. Reason for such recommendation is as follows:

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“...

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WP No. 9209 of 2022 C/W WP No. 12785 of 2022

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F §UÉÎ UÀAUÉÆÃwæ «ÄÃ£ÀÄUÁgÀgÀ ¸ÀºÀPÁgÀ ¸ÀAWÀ (¤) ¨É¸ÀÛgÀ¥Á¼Àå ¸ÀAWÀªÀÅ DPÉëÃ¥ÀuÁ ¥ÀvÀæªÀ£ÀÄß ¤ÃrzÀÄÝ, ¸ÀzÀj ¥ÀvÀæzÀ°è CUÀ®PÉÆÃmÉ UÁæªÀÄ ¥ÀAZÁ¬ÄÛAiÀÄ°è FUÁUÀ¯ÉÃ UÀAUÉÆÃwæ «ÄÃ£ÀÄUÁgÀgÀ ¸ÀºÀPÁgÀ ¸ÀAWÀªÀÅ PÁAiÀÄð¤ªÀð»¸ÀÄwÛzÀÄÝ, ¤AiÉÆÃfvÀ ¸ÀAWÀªÀ£ÀÄß £ÉÆAzÁ¬Ä¸À¨ÁgÀzÁV DPÉëÃ¥ÀuÉAiÀÄ£ÀÄß ¸À°è¹gÀÄvÁÛgÉ. PÁAiÀÄðªÁå¦Û GzÀÞgÀt ¥Àæw ®UÀwÛ¹zÉ.

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¤AiÉÆÃfvÀ ¸ÀAWÀzÀ PÁAiÀÄðªÁå¦ÛAiÀÄÄ ºÁUÀÆ UÀAUÉÆÃwæ «ÄÃ£ÀÄUÁgÀgÀ ¸ÀºÀPÁgÀ ¸ÀAWÀzÀ PÁAiÀÄðªÁå¦ÛAiÀÄÄ MAzÉÃ DVgÀÄvÀÛzÉ JAzÀÄ ¸ÀºÀ w½¹gÀÄvÁÛgÉ. ªÀÄvÀÄÛ ¸ÀA§A¢ü¹zÀ UÁæªÀÄ ¥ÀAZÁ¬ÄÛ ¸ÁªÀiÁ£Àå ¸À¨sÉAiÀÄ°è GzÉÝÃ²vÀ «ÄÃ£ÀÄUÁgÀgÀ ¸ÀºÀPÁgÀ ¸ÀAWÀªÀ£ÀÄß £ÉÆÃAzÀtÂ ªÀiÁr¸À®Ä C£ÀÄªÀÄw ¤ÃqÀ¯ÁVzÉAiÉÄAzÀÄ ¸À¨sÉAiÀÄ £ÀqÀªÀ½AiÀÄ°è w½¹gÀÄvÁÛgÉ.

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ªÀÄÄAzÀÄªÀgÉzÀAvÉ ªÀiÁUÀr vÁ®ÆèQ£À°è MlÄÖ 30 E¯ÁSÁ ªÁå¦ÛAiÀÄ PÉgÉUÀ¼ÀÄ ºÁUÀÆ 01 d¯Á±ÀAiÀÄ«gÀÄvÀÛzÉ. GzÉÝÃ²vÀ ²æÃ ªÉÊ.f.UÀÄqÀØ ¤gÁ²ævÀgÀ «ÄÃ£ÀÄUÁgÀgÀ ¸ÀºÀPÁgÀ ¸ÀAWÀ (¤), £ÁUÀ¨ÉÆÃ«zÉÆrØ ¸ÀAWÀzÀ PÁAiÀÄðªÁå¦ÛAiÀÄÄ ªÀiÁqÀ¨Á¼ï ºÉÆÃ§½AiÀÄ CUÀ®PÉÆÃmÉ UÁæªÀÄ ¥ÀAZÁ¬ÄÛ ªÁå¦ÛUÉ M¼À¥ÀnÖgÀÄvÀÛzÉ. CAzÀgÉ GzÉÃ²vÀ ¸ÀAWÀzÀ ªÁå¦ÛAiÀÄ°è E¯ÁSÉ PÉgÉAiÀiÁzÀ ªÉÊ.f.UÀÄqÀØ PÉgÉAiÀÄÄ ªÀiÁvÀæ §gÀÄvÀÛzÉ. ªÉÊ.f.UÀÄqÀØ PÉgÉAiÀÄ «ÄÃ£ÀÄ¥À±ÀÄªÁgÀÄ ºÀPÀÌ£ÀÄß 2014-15 jAzÀ 2019-20gÀ ªÀgÉUÉ (MAzÀÄ ªÀµÀðzÀ §gÀUÁ®ªÀÅ «¹Ûj¹zÀAvÉ) ¤ÃqÀ¯ÁVzÀÄÝ, CªÀ¢üAiÀÄÄ ¢:30-06-2020gÀ CAvÀåPÉÌ PÉÆ£ÉUÉÆ¼ÀÄîvÀÛzÉ. GzÉÝÃ²vÀ ¸ÀAWÀzÀ PÁAiÀÄð ªÁå¦ÛAiÀÄ°èAiÉÄÃ FUÁUÀ¯ÉÃ UÀAUÉÆÃwæ «ÄÃ£ÀÄUÁgÀgÀ ¸ÀºÀPÁgÀ ¸ÀAWÀ, ¨É¸ÀÛgÀ¥Á¼Àå PÁAiÀÄð¤ªÀð»¸ÀÄwÛzÀÄÝ, GzÉÝÃ²vÀ ¸ÀAWÀªÀÅ CzÉÃ PÁAiÀÄðªÁå¦ÛAiÀÄ£ÀÄß M¼ÀUÉÆAqÀAvÉ ¸ÀAWÀ £ÉÆÃAzÀtÂUÁV ¥Àæ¸ÁÛªÀ£ÉAiÀÄ£ÀÄß ¸À°è¹gÀÄvÁÛgÉ.

¶130

DzÀÝjAzÀ ªÉÄÃ®ÌAqÀ ºÁUÀÆ ZÉPï°¸ïÖ£À°ègÀÄªÀ J¯Áè CA±ÀUÀ¼À£ÀÄß ¥Àj²Ã°¹ ¸ÀPÁðgÀzÀ DzÉÃ±À ¸ÀASÉå:¥À¸ÀA«ÄÃ/143/«ÄÃEE/2012 ¨ÉAUÀ¼ÀÆgÀÄ ¢:13-08-2013gÀ C£ÀÄ§AzsÀ-2 gÀ°è EgÀÄªÀAvÉ ¤AiÉÆÃfvÀ ¸ÀAWÀzÀ £ÉÆÃAzÀtÂUÉ ¸ÁzsÀåvÁ ªÀgÀ¢ ¤ÃqÀ®Ä vÀªÀÄä ºÀAvÀzÀ°èAiÉÄÃ PÀæªÀÄ PÉÊUÉÆ¼Àî¨ÉÃPÉAzÀÄ F ªÀÄÆ®PÀ PÉÆÃjzÉ.”

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Based upon the said report, the 3^rd respondent/Joint Director of

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Fisheries gives a non-feasibility report to the Directorate of Fisheries. The relevant observation is as follows:

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WP No. 9209 of 2022 C/W WP No. 12785 of 2022

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DzÀÝjAzÀ ªÉÄÃ°£À CA±ÀUÀ¼À »£Éß¯ÉAiÀÄ°è ¸ÀPÁðgÀzÀ DzÉÃ±À ¸ÀASÉå:¥À¸ÀA«ÄÃ/143/«ÄÃEE/2012 ¨ÉAUÀ¼ÀÆgÀÄ ¢:13-08-2013gÀ C£ÀÄ§AzsÀ-1 gÀ°è£À ªÀiÁUÀð¸ÀÆaUÀ¼À£ÀéAiÀÄ ¤AiÉÆÃfvÀ ¸ÀAWÀzÀ £ÉÆÃAzÀtÂUÉ ¸ÁzsÀåvÁ ªÀgÀ¢ ¤ÃqÀ®Ä CªÀPÁ±À EgÀÄªÀÅ¢®è.”

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The Joint Director of Fisheries unequivocally indicated that the Society cannot be permitted to be established. Notwithstanding all this, on 11-04-2022, the Directorate of Fisheries pursuant to the report dated 13-12-2021, directs to conduct a skill test upon the 7^th respondent/Society for the purpose of registration of the Society. The report divulges that it is issued on the basis of the report of the 6^th respondent. The 6^th respondent is the Assistant Registrar of Co-operative Societies, who appears to have submitted a report completely contrary to what was earlier submitted by the Department of Fisheries. On the face of it, as contended, the 6^th respondent had no jurisdiction to tinker with the affairs of the Department of Fisheries. Therefore, any recommendation/report submitted by the Assistant Registrar of Co-operative Societies is without jurisdiction and the official memorandum dated 11-04-2022, directing conduct of skill test is contrary to law. The reason for

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WP No. 9209 of 2022

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C/W WP No. 12785 of 2022

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such a direction is found in the official memorandum itself and

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the relevant portion reads as follows:

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“.. .

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¥Àæ¸ÀÄÛvÀ ¸ÀÜ½ÃAiÀÄ ±Á¸ÀPÀgÀÄ, gÁªÀÄ£ÀUÀgÀ G¥À «¨sÁUÀzÀ ¸ÀºÀPÁgÀ ¸ÀAWÀUÀ¼À ¸ÀºÁAiÀÄPÀ ¤§AzsÀPÀgÀÄ vÀ£Àß ªÁå¦Û «ÄÃj PÁAiÀÄð¤ªÀð»¸ÀÄwÛgÀÄªÀÅzÀjAzÀ GzÉÝÃ²vÀ ªÉÊ.f.UÀÄqÀØ ¤gÁ²ævÀgÀ «ÄÃ¸À¸ÀAWÀPÉÌ ¸ÀzsÀåvÁ ªÀgÀ¢ ¤ÃqÀÄªÀAvÉ ªÀiÁ£Àå «ÄÃ£ÀÄUÁjPÉ ¸ÀaªÀjUÉ ªÀÄ£À« ¸À°è¹gÀÄvÁÛgÉ. CzÀgÀAvÉ GzÉÝÃ²vÀ ¸ÀAWÀPÉÌ ¸ÁzsÀåvÁ ªÀgÀ¢ ¤Ãr UÀAUÉÆÃwæ ¸ÀºÀPÁgÀ ¸ÀAWÀzÀ §UÉÎ vÀ¤SÉ £ÀqÉ¹ ªÀgÀ¢ ¤ÃqÀ®Ä ¸ÀºÀ ¸ÀÆa¹gÀÄvÁÛgÉ.”

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In the light of the official memorandum being issued by the 2^nd respondent on the basis of a report submitted by the 6^th respondent, it is rendered unsustainable as it is fundamentally flawed.

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After the challenge to the said order before this Court and this Court granting an interim order of stay, the subject lake is again put up for auction on 13-06-2022, which drives the petitioner/Society to file an impleading application in the petition filed by the Sangha as also an independent petition that is the companion petition. What is called in question in Writ Petition No.12785 of 2022 is the notification dated 13-06-2022, seeking to lease out the lake for the purpose of fishing.

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WP No. 9209 of 2022 C/W WP No. 12785 of 2022

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In the light of the guidelines, the Society is yet to come into existence. Having not come into existence, the Society does not have any locus to challenge the action of issuance of a notification for leasing out the subject lake. Therefore, the companion petition will have to be turned down on the ground of want of locus and the petition filed by the Sangha does succeed albeit in part, more so, in the light of the fact that even the extended lease period of the Sangha is now expired and the basis of issuance of the impugned Official Memorandum is itself illegal. Therefore, the authorities in the Department of Fisheries will now have to consider cases of the Sangha and the Society holistically strictly in compliance with fishing rights as enunciated by the State, subsisting as on date and draw up rights of the parties by conducting inspection and enquiry of the jurisdiction of the subject lake, with regard to existence of members of the Sangha or the Society as the case would be.

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The report of the inquiry shall be drawn strictly in consonance with the guidelines and further action would be subject to the outcome of the inspection/enquiry.

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WP No. 9209 of 2022

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C/W WP No. 12785 of 2022

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For the aforesaid reasons, I pass the following:

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O R D E R

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(i) Writ Petition No.9209 of 2022 is allowed in part and the Memorandum of Letter dated 11-04-2022 stands quashed.

¶156

(ii) The matter is remitted back to the hands of the 2^nd respondent/Directorate of Fisheries to conduct an inquiry bearing in mind the observations made in the course of the order and in strict consonance with the policy and regulate further action qua the auction notice.

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(iii) The enquiry shall be concluded within four weeks’ from the date of receipt of a copy of this order.

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(iv) Writ Petition No.12785 of 2022 stands rejected.

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Sd/JUDGE

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nvj List No.: 1 Sl No.: 54

Gangotri Meenugarara Sahakara Sangha v. State of Karnataka

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

Gangotri Meenugarara Sahakara Sangha v. State of Karnataka

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

What the court decided

A compact analysis

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