Sharanu M Vs the State of Karanataka — Writ and Judicial Review | Karnataka HC (2026)

Sharanu M Vs the State of Karanataka — Writ and Judicial Review | Karnataka HC (2026)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

No mandamus or other direction issued; petition disposed of with the observation that, in respect of future plantation, the concerned authorities are expected to take into account the contents of the petition and the issues highlighted by the petitioner; all pending applications also disposed of.

Issue for consideration

Whether the respondents should be directed to identify and immediately remove all Conocarpus trees planted by the BBMP/GBA Forest Unit across Bengaluru city, which the petitioner alleges are hazardous as they flower in winter and release pollen causing respiratory illness and difficulty in breathing. +1 more

Court's answer

The question whether Conocarpus trees ought to be planted in the city is a matter required to be considered by the concerned authorities; accordingly, the Court did not consider it apposite to pass any order in the petition.

Key takeaways

As regards future plantation, it is expected that the concerned authorities shall take into account the contents of the present petition and the issues highlighted by the petitioner.obiter¶40

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Public interest litigation under Articles 226 & 227 of the Constitution of India by an advocate seeking a writ of mandamus directing the respondents to identify and immediately remove all Conocarpus trees planted by the BBMP/GBA Forest Unit across Bengaluru city (including Maharani College Road near City Civil Court, road medians and roadsides), on the allegation that the trees flower in winter and release pollen causing respiratory illness and breathing difficulty, and noting that the Governments of Gujarat and Tamil Nadu have prohibited plantation of these trees; the petition additionally sought disciplinary action and criminal proceedings against officials and contractors for alleged fraudulent billing. The Division Bench (Vibhu Bakhru, CJ, authoring the oral order, with C.M. Poonacha, J) held that whether Conocarpus trees ought to be planted in the city is a matter required to be considered by the concerned authorities, found it not apposite to pass any order, and disposed of the petition with the observation that, insofar as future plantation is concerned, the authorities are expected to take into account the contents of the petition and the issues highlighted by the petitioner. All pending applications were also disposed of.

1 - NC: 2026:KHC:16455-DB WP No. 4565 of 2026

HC-KAR

IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU

DATED THIS THE 24^TH DAY OF MARCH, 2026

PRESENT

THE HON'BLE MR. VIBHU BAKHRU, CHIEF JUSTICE

AND

THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE C.M. POONACHA

WRIT PETITION NO. 4565 OF 2026 (LB-BMP)

BETWEEN:

SHARANU M SON OF LATE SRI MALLIKARJUNA AGED ABOUT 42 YEARS ADVOCATE S.N. LAW ASSOCIATES NO. 14/3, 13TH CROSS, CUBBONPET BENGALURU 560 002 MOBILE 95382 05626 EMAIL [email protected] PAN NO. AIZPV1256G AADHAAR No.564006553822

Digitally signed by NIRMALA DEVI Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA

…PETITIONER

(BY SRI. RAMESH CHANDRA, ADVOCATE)

AND:

THE STATE OF KARANATAKA REPRESENTED BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY, FOREST, ECOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENT DEPARTMENT, MULTISTORIED BUILDING, BENGALURU - 560 001

THE PRINCIPAL CHIEF CONSERVATOR OF FORESTS (HEAD OF FOREST FORCE), ARANYA BHAVANA, MALLESHWARAM,

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HC-KAR

BENGALURU 560003

THE CHIEF COMMISSIONER GREATER BENGALURU AUTHORITY N.R. SQUARE, BENGALURU - 560 002

SPECIAL COMMISSIONER - ENVIRONMENT/FOREST, GBA ANNEXE BUILDING-3, N.R. CHOWK, BENGALURU - 560 002

CHIEF CONSERVATOR OF FORESTS (CFO), GBA ANNEXE BUILDING-3, N.R. CHOWK, BENGALURU - 560 002

ASSISTANT CONSERVATOR OF FORESTS (ACF), GBA ANNEXE BUILDING-3, N.R. CHOWK, BENGALURU - 560002

…RESPONDENTS

(BY MS. NILOUFER AKBAR, AGA FOR R1 & R2 SRI. NAVEEN CHANDRASHEKAR, ADVOCATE FOR R3 TO R6)

THIS WP IS FILED UNDER ARTICLE 226 & 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING THAT WHEREFORE, IN THE LIGHT OF THE FACTS AND CIRCUMSTANCES STATED ABOVE, AND IN THE INTEREST OF PUBLIC HEALTH, ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS, THE PETITIONER MOST HUMBLY AND RESPECTFULLY PRAYING TO ISSUE A WRIT OF MANDAMUS OR ANY OTHER APPROPRIATE WRIT, ORDER OR DIRECTION DIRECTING RESPONDENTS TO IDENTIFY AND TO IMMEDIATELY REMOVE ALL CONOCARPUS TREES PLANTED BY BBMP/GBA FOREST UNIT ACROSS BENGALURU CITY INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO AREAS MAHARANI COLLEGE ROAD NEAR CITY CIVIL COURT, ROAD MEDIANS,

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HC-KAR

AND ROADSIDES AS IDENTIFIED IN THIS PETITION AND CONSEQUENTLY, DIRECT THE RESPONDENTS TO TAKE APPROPRIATE DISCIPLINARY ACTION AND INITIATE CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS AGAINST OFFICIALS AND CONTRACTORS RESPONSIBLE FOR FRAUDULENT BILLING AND ENDANGERING PUBLIC HEALTH.

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

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 that directions be issued to respondents to identify and to immediately remove all Conocarpus trees planted by the BBMP/GBA Forest Unit across Bengaluru city including but not limited to the areas of Maharani College Road near City Civil Court, road medians, and road sides as identified by the petitioner. The petitioner claims that the said trees are hazardous. They flower during winter season and release pollen that causes respiratory illness and difficulty in breathing. The petitioner also states that the Government of Gujarat as well as the

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HC-KAR

Government of Tamil Nadu have prohibited plantation of the said trees.

The question whether Conocarpus trees ought to be planted in the city is a matter that is required to be considered by the concerned authorities.

In view of the above, we do not consider it apposite to pass any order in the present petition. However, insofar as future plantation is concerned, it is expected that the concerned authorities shall also take into account the contents of the present petition and the issues highlighted by the petitioner. The petition is disposed of with the aforesaid observation.

All pending applications are also disposed of.

Sd/(VIBHU BAKHRU) CHIEF JUSTICE

Sd/(C.M. POONACHA) JUDGE

Vmb, List No.: 2 Sl No.: 4