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Sri. Sathish M Vs State of Karnataka — Writ and Judicial Review | Karnataka HC (2026)

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Karnataka HC
2026
Sri. Sathish M Vs State of KarnatakaSri. Sathish M v. State of Karnataka

Dismissed¶42

Sri. Sathish M v. State of Karnataka

Karnataka HC14 Jan 2026WP/36974/2025

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

High Court of Karnataka (Bengaluru), Oral Order dated 14.01.2026, bench: Vibhu Bakhru, Chief Justice (author) and C.M. Poonacha, J. WP No. 36974 of 2025 (Excise-PIL) by Sri Sathish M v. State of Karnataka (Dept. of Excise) and others incl. Sree Kanaka Enterprises (Respondent No. 5). Petitioner sought restraint on issue of trade/excise CL-7 licences to Respondent No. 5 at Survey No. 143/3, Gollahalli Main Road, Hebbugodi after cancellation of two trade licences (26.09.2025 and 24.10.2025). Court held petition premature (trade licence cancelled; CL-7 not granted) and dismissed it as an unjustified imposition on judicial time, imposing costs of Rs. 20,000/- depositable with Karnataka State Legal Services Authority within two weeks. Keywords: PIL dismissed premature; trade licence cancellation; CL-7 excise licence; Article 226; costs Rs 20,000 KSLSA; Hebbugodi; Sree Kanaka Enterprises.

What did the court decide?

The petition is premature: the trade licence has been cancelled and an excise licence (CL-7) has not been granted to Respondent No. 5; the concerned authorities should be left to pass considered orders. ¶41

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Dismissed

Issue for consideration

Whether Respondent Nos. 1, 2 and 3 should be directed to permanently refrain and prohibit themselves from issuing any licence (including a CL-7 Bar & Restaurant licence) to Respondent No. 5 at Survey No. 143/3, Gollahalli Main Road, Hebbugodi. +1 more

Ratio / Principle

The petition is premature: the trade licence has been cancelled and an excise licence (CL-7) has not been granted to Respondent No. 5; the concerned authorities should be left to pass considered orders.

Key takeaways

The petition is an unjustified imposition on judicial time and is accordingly dismissed with costs.ratio¶42
Costs are quantified at Rs. 20,000/- and shall be deposited to the Karnataka State Legal Services Authority within two weeks from date.ratio¶46

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Public Interest Litigation under Article 226 (W.P. Excise-PIL No. 36974 of 2025) by Sri Sathish M seeking records of two trade licences (HBG-TL559961-2025-26, issued 07.08.2025, cancelled 26.09.2025; HBG-TL573071-2025-26, issued 17.10.2025, cancelled 24.10.2025) of Respondent No. 5 (Sree Kanaka Enterprises) at Survey No. 143/3, Gollahalli Main Road, Hebbugodi, and mandamus directing Respondent Nos. 1-3 to permanently refrain from issuing any licence (including CL-7 Bar & Restaurant licence) and Respondent No. 4 to uphold the cancellation - Held, the petition is premature as the trade licence stands cancelled and no CL-7 excise licence has been granted to Respondent No. 5, and the authorities should be left to pass considered orders; the petition being an unjustified imposition on judicial time is dismissed with costs of Rs. 20,000/- payable to the Karnataka State Legal Services Authority within two weeks from date.

A

1 -

NC: 2026:KHC:2205-DB WP No. 36974 of 2025

HC-KAR

IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 14^TH DAY OF JANUARY, 2026

PRESENT

THE HON'BLE MR. VIBHU BAKHRU, CHIEF JUSTICE

AND

THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE C.M. POONACHA WRIT PETITION NO. 36974 OF 2025 (EXCISE-PIL)

BETWEEN:

SRI SATHISH M S/O MUNIYAPPA AGED ABOUT 34 YEARS RESIDENTIAL ADDRESS - NO. 59 GOLLAHALLI ROAD HEBBUGODI, MUNIYAPPA BUILDING BENGALURU - 560 100

…PETITIONER

(BY SRI. CHANDAN SHREEKANT MALAPUR.,ADVOCATE)

AND:

Digitally signed by SRIDEVI S Location: High Court of Karnataka

STATE OF KARNATAKA REP. BY ITS SECRETARY DEPARTMENT OF EXCISE VIDHANA SOUDHA DR. B.R. AMBEDKAR VEEDHI BENGALURU - 560 001

THE COMMISSIONER DEPARTMENT OF EXCISE TTMC SHANTHINAGAR WILSON GARDEN BANGALORE - 560 027

2 - NC: 2026:KHC:2205-DB WP No. 36974 of 2025

HC-KAR

THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER DEPARTMENT OF EXCISE BENGALURU URBAN DISTRICT BENGALURU - 560 008

THE MUNCIPAL COMMISSIONER DEPARTMENT OF EXCISE HEBBUGODI AMBEDKAR ROAD ANEKAL TALUK BENGALURU URBAN DISTRICT - 560 099

SREE KANAKA ENTERPRISES (BOARDING AND LODGING) REP BY LICENSE HOLDERS NO.113/3, WARD NO-13 R NARASIMHA REDDY BUILDING GOLLAHALLI ROAD HEBBUGODI MUNIYAPPA BUILDING BENGALURU - 560 100

…RESPONDENTS

(BY SMT. NILOUFER AKBAR, AGA FOR R-1 TO 4 & SRI MOHAN BHAT, ADVCOATE FOR R-5)

THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLE 226 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO CALL FOR THE RECORDS AND PERUSE THE SAME, PERTAINING TO THE TRADE LICENCE NO.HBG-TL-559961-2025-26 ISSUED ON 07/08/2025 AND ITS SUBSEQUENT CANCELLATION ON 26/09/2025 VIDE ANNEXURES-K AND L, IN RESPECT OF RESPONDENT NO.5 AT SURVEY NO.143/3, GOLLAHALLI MAIN ROAD, HEBBUGODI & ETC.

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

3 - NC: 2026:KHC:2205-DB WP No. 36974 of 2025

HC-KAR

CORAM: HON'BLE MR. VIBHU BAKHRU, CHIEF JUSTICE and HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE C.M. POONACHA

ORAL ORDER

(PER: HON'BLE MR. VIBHU BAKHRU, CHIEF JUSTICE)

The petitioner has filed the present petition as a Public Interest Litigation, inter alia praying as under:

a. Call for the records and peruse the same, pertaining to the Trade License No. HBG-TL559961-2025-26 issued on 07.08.2025 and its subsequent cancellation on 26.09.2025 vide ANNEXURE- K and L, in respect of Respondent No. 5 at Survey No. 143/3, Gollahalli Main Road, Hebbugodi;

b. Call for the records and peruse the same, pertaining to the Trade License No. HBG-TL573071-2025-26 issued on 17.10.2025 and its subsequent cancellation on 24.10.2025 vide ANNEXURE-M & P , in respect of Respondent No. 5 at Survey No. 143/3, Gollahalli Main Road, Hebbugodi;

c. Issue a Writ of Mandamus or any other appropriate Writ, Order, or Direction, directing the Respondent Nos. 1, 2, and 3 to permanently refrain and prohibit themselves from issuing any license (including CL-7, or any other form of Bar & Restaurant license) to Respondent No. 5 (SREE KANAKA ENTER PRISES) at Survey No. 143/3, Gollahalli Main Road, Hebbugodi, due to the

4 - NC: 2026:KHC:2205-DB WP No. 36974 of 2025

HC-KAR

cancellation of the Trade License, violation of respective rules, and the unauthorized nature of the illegally constructed building;

d. Issue a Writ of Mandamus or any other appropriate Writ, Order, or Direction, directing the Respondent No. 4 to permanently uphold the cancellation of the Trade License No. HBG-TL573071-2025-26 and not issue any further trade license that could facilitate the opening of a Bar & Restaurant at the said location, in public interest;

e. Consequential relief or any other appropriate order or direction as this Hon'ble Court deems fit in the facts and circumstances of the case, in the ends of justice and equity.

It is the petitioner's case that Respondent No.5 is neither entitled to a trade license nor an excise license for carrying on its enterprises on a site located in Survey No.143/3, Gollahalli Main Road, Hebbugodi.

A plain reading of the averments made in the petition indicate that the trade license has been cancelled and an excise license (CL-7) has not been granted to the respondent No.5, As such, the present petition is premature and to pre-empt the concerned authorities to pass considered orders in this regard.

We find the present petition is unjustified imposition on judicial time. Accordingly, the petition is dismissed with costs

5 -

NC: 2026:KHC:2205-DB WP No. 36974 of 2025

HC-KAR

quantified at Rs.20,000/-. The costs shall be deposited to the Karnataka State Legal Services Authority within a period of two weeks from date.

Sd/(VIBHU BAKHRU) CHIEF JUSTICE

Sd/(C.M. POONACHA) JUDGE

SD List No.: 2 Sl No.: 3

Issues for consideration

2 issues framed by the court

AI extract

1.
Whether Respondent Nos. 1, 2 and 3 should be directed to permanently refrain and prohibit themselves from issuing any licence (including a CL-7 Bar & Restaurant licence) to Respondent No. 5 at Survey No. 143/3, Gollahalli Main Road, Hebbugodi.¶34
2.
Whether the Public Interest Litigation is premature, given that the trade licence has been cancelled and the CL-7 excise licence has not been granted to Respondent No. 5.¶41
The court held
The petition is premature: the trade licence has been cancelled and an excise licence (CL-7) has not been granted to Respondent No. 5; the concerned authorities should be left to pass considered orders.ratio¶41

Statutes considered

1 provisions across 1 enactments

AI extract

Constitution of IndiaArticle 226¶24

Procedural history

How this case reached the court

AI extract

Prior proceeding
Trade Licence No. HBG-TL559961-2025-26 was issued to Respondent No. 5 on 07.08.2025 and subsequently cancelled on 26.09.2025 (Annexures-K and L).¶32
Prior proceeding
Trade Licence No. HBG-TL573071-2025-26 was issued to Respondent No. 5 on 17.10.2025 and subsequently cancelled on 24.10.2025 (Annexures-M & P).¶33

Parties & counsel

AI extract

petitioner
SRI SATHISH M S/O MUNIYAPPA¶10
Chandan Shreekant Malapur
respondent
STATE OF KARNATAKA (DEPARTMENT OF EXCISE)¶15
Niloufer Akbar
respondent
THE COMMISSIONER DEPARTMENT OF EXCISE¶16
Niloufer Akbar
respondent
THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER DEPARTMENT OF EXCISE BENGALURU URBAN DISTRICT¶19
Niloufer Akbar
respondent
THE MUNCIPAL COMMISSIONER DEPARTMENT OF EXCISE¶20
Niloufer Akbar
respondent
SREE KANAKA ENTERPRISES (BOARDING AND LODGING)¶21
Mohan Bhat

Coram

AI extract

VIBHU BAKHRUauthor¶30
C.M. POONACHAmember¶28

Case details

As recorded by the court registry

Court: Karnataka HC
Decided on: 14 Jan 2026 · January
Registered: 5 Dec 2025
Case no.: WP/36974/2025
CNR: KAHC010801482025
Topic: Writ and Judicial Review
Bench: C.m. Poonacha
Disposal: DISMISSED
Case type: Writ Petition (EXCISE-PIL)

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Cite this judgement

Sri. Sathish M v. State of Karnataka, WP/36974/2025 (KA), decided on 14 January 2026.

The High Court of Karnataka publishes no neutral citation for this judgement — cite it by case number and date of decision.

Statutes1

Constitution of IndiaArticle 226

View all statutes

Procedural history2

Trade Licence No. HBG-TL559961-2025-26 was issued to Respondent No. 5 on 07.08.2025 and subsequently cancelled on 26.09.2025 (Annexures-K and L).
Trade Licence No. HBG-TL573071-2025-26 was issued to Respondent No. 5 on 17.10.2025 and subsequently cancelled on 24.10.2025 (Annexures-M & P).

View full history

Bench / Coram

VIBHU BAKHRU and C.M. POONACHA

Parties & counsel