Piioneer Power Corporation Limited Vs State of… — Writ and Judicial Review | Karnataka HC (2025)

Piioneer Power Corporation Limited Vs State of… — Writ and Judicial Review | Karnataka HC (2025)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Respondent No.5 directed to consider the renewal application (Proposal No. FP/KA/HYD/IRRIG/534645/2025 dated 27.12.2024) and pass necessary orders within 21 days of receipt of a copy of the order; petitioner permitted to continue operating the Mini Hydel Power Project until such orders are passed; no opinion expressed on entitlement to renewal.

Issue for consideration

Whether respondent No.5 is required to consider the petitioner's renewal application for the Ranganathaswamy Mini Hydel Project (Proposal No. FP/KA/HYD/IRRIG/534645/2025 dated 27.12.2024) and pass orders thereon within a reasonable time. +1 more

Court's answer

Whenever any application for renewal is submitted, the concerned authority is required to consider it and pass necessary orders within a reasonable period of time, either accepting or rejecting the application.

Ratio / Principle

If a renewal application is rejected, the rejection must be accompanied by reasons.

Key takeaways

Since the renewal application filed on 27.12.2024 was admittedly still pending, respondent No.5 was directed to consider the said application and pass necessary orders within a period of 21 days from the date of receipt of a copy of the order.ratio¶48
The Court expressly clarified that it has not expressed any opinion on the entitlement of the petitioner for the renewal.obiter¶49
Until orders are passed on the renewal application, the petitioner is to be permitted to continue to operate the Mini Hydel Power Project.

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Writ Petition (GM-FOR), Pioneer Power Corporation Limited v. State of Karnataka and others: The petitioner's renewal application for the Ranganathaswamy Mini Hydel Project (Proposal No. FP/KA/HYD/IRRIG/534645/2025 dated 27.12.2024) remained undecided before respondent No.5 despite being filed on 27.12.2024. Holding that a renewal application must be considered and decided within a reasonable time, either accepting or rejecting it, and that any rejection must be accompanied by reasons, the Court directed respondent No.5 to pass necessary orders on the application within 21 days of receipt of a copy of the order, permitted the petitioner to continue operating the Mini Hydel Power Project until such orders were passed, and made clear that it expressed no opinion on the petitioner's entitlement to renewal. Writ petition disposed of.

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NC: 2025:KHC:48233 WP No. 34784 of 2025

HC-KAR

IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU

DATED THIS THE 20^TH DAY OF NOVEMBER, 2025

BEFORE

THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SURAJ GOVINDARAJ WRIT PETITION NO. 34784 OF 2025 (GM-FOR)

BETWEEN:

PIONEER POWER CORPORATION LIMITED A COMPANY REGISTERED UNDER THE COMPANIES ACT, 1956, HAVING ITS REGISTERED OFFICE AT PLOT NO. 652, ROOM NO.3, BANJARA HILLS, HYDERABAD - 34

AND HAVING ITS REGIONAL OFFICE AT, NO.156, GOLF LINK ROAD, AMARJYOTHI HBCS LAYOUT, DOMLURU, BANGALORE - 560 071

REPRESENTED BY ITS AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE/SIGNATORY MR. B SAILESH REDDY

Digitally signed by SHWETHA RAGHAVENDRA Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA

(BY SMT. NALINA MAYEGOWDA, SR. ADVOCATE FOR SMT. GAYATHRI B.S, ADVOCATE)

AND:

…PETITIONER

STATE OF KARNATAKA

REPRESENTED BY PRINCIPAL SECRETARY DEPARTMENT OF FOREST,

ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY, M.S. BUILDING, BANGALORE - 560 001.

PRINCIPAL CHIEF CONSERVATOR OF FOREST KARNATAKA FOREST DEPARTMENT,

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HC-KAR

ARANYA BHAVAN, 18TH CROSS, MALLESHWARAM, BANGALORE - 560 003.

MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE, REGIONAL OFFICE SOUTHERN ZONE, KENDRIYA SADAN, IVTH FLOOR, E AND F WINGS, 17TH MAIN ROAD, IIND BLOCK, KORAMANGALA, BENGALURU - 560 034

DEPUTY CONSERVATOR OF FOREST KOLLEGALA, CHAMARAJANAGARA - 571 440

DEPUTY CONSERVATOR OF FOREST MALAI MAHADESHWARA WILDLIFE DIVISION, KOLLEGAL - 571 490.

…RESPONDENTS

(BY SRI. B. RAVINDRANATH, AGA FOR R1 TO R5)

THIS WP IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO DIRECTING THE RESPONDENT AUTHORITIES TO EXPEDITE THE PROCESS OF RENEWAL AND PASS APPROPRIATE ORDERS ON THE RENEWAL APPLICATION FILED BY THE PETITIONER COMPANY WITH RESPECT TO RANGANATHASWAMY MINI HYDEL PROJECT BEARING PROPOSAL NO.FP/KA/HYD/IRRIG/534645/2025 DATED 27.12.2024 AS PER (ANNEXURE- N) AND ETC.,

THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY HEARING, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER:

CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SURAJ GOVINDARAJ

ORAL ORDER

Learned Additional Government Advocate accepts notice

for respondent Nos.1, 2, 4 and 5. Sri. Shanthi Bhushan,

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NC: 2025:KHC:48233 WP No. 34784 of 2025

HC-KAR

learned DSGI is directed to accept notice for respondent

No.3.

The petitioner is before this Court seeking for the following reliefs:

(a) Issue a Writ of Mandamus or any other appropriate writ, order or direction, directing the Respondent Authorities to expedite the process of renewal and pass appropriate orders on the renewal application filed by the Petitioner Company with respect to Ranganathaswamy Mini Hydel Project bearing proposal по. FP/KA/HYD/IRRIG/534645/2025 dated 27.12.2024 as per (Annexure N), in the interest of justice and equity;

(b) Issue a writ of Mandamus or any other appropriate Writ or order directing Respondent No.5 to withdraw the Communication bearing no. B2/Land/Aranya Bhoomi Guttige/CR-07/2020-21 dated 05.11.2025 as per (Annexure R);

The short grievance of the petitioner is that the renewal application said to be submitted by the petitioner on 27.12.2024, is yet to be considered by respondent No.5.

Whenever, any application for renewal is submitted, it is required for the concerned authority to consider the application and pass necessary orders within a reasonable period of time either accepting or rejecting the said application.

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NC: 2025:KHC:48233 WP No. 34784 of 2025

HC-KAR

Needless to say, if the renewal application were to be rejected, the same would have to be accompanied by reasons.

Admittedly, the application having been filed on 27.12.2024, is still pending consideration. Hence, respondent No.5 is directed to consider the said application and pass necessary orders within a period of 21 days from the date of receipt of a copy of this order.

It is made clear that this Court has not expressed any opinion on the entitlement of the petitioner for the renewal.

Needless to say, until orders are passed on the renewal application, the petitioner would have to be permitted to continue to operate the Mini Hydel Power Project.

Accordingly, the writ petition is disposed of .

SD/(SURAJ GOVINDARAJ) JUDGE

GJM

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