Sri Nagaraju P N Vs the State of Karnataka — Writ and Judicial Review | Karnataka HC (2026)

Sri Nagaraju P N Vs the State of Karnataka — Writ and Judicial Review | Karnataka HC (2026)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Direction to the respondents to communicate their decision on the petitioner's application dated 25.04.2015 as expeditiously as possible, preferably within twelve weeks, with an express clarification that the order expresses no opinion on the merits or on entertainability despite delay; pending applications, if any, stand disposed of.

Issue for consideration

Whether respondent No. 3 should be directed to consider and decide the petitioner's application dated 25.04.2015 for grant of quarry lease, on which no decision had been taken notwithstanding the Forest Range Officer's no objection of 23.07.2024.

Court's answer

In view of the learned AGA's statement that the application is under consideration, no further orders were required to be passed.

Ratio / Principle

The respondents shall communicate their decision on the petitioner's application to the petitioner as expeditiously as possible, preferably within twelve weeks from the date of the order.

Key takeaways

The Court clarified that its order shall not be construed as an expression of the Court on the merits of the petitioner's application, or that the application is required to be entertained notwithstanding the delay.obiter¶41

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Karnataka High Court (Division Bench: Vibhu Bakhru, CJ and C.M. Poonacha, J; order per the Chief Justice) disposed of a writ petition under Articles 226 & 227 of the Constitution of India in which the petitioner sought a writ of mandamus directing respondent No. 3 (the Director and Commissioner, Department of Mines and Geology) to consider his application dated 25.04.2015 (Annexures-A and B) for grant of quarry lease and execute a sale deed in his favour. The Court noted that the Forest Range Officer had issued a no objection on 23.07.2024 but no decision had been taken, and that the learned AGA stated the application was under consideration. Holding that no further orders were required in view of that statement, the Court directed the respondents to communicate their decision to the petitioner as expeditiously as possible, preferably within twelve weeks, while expressly clarifying that the order was not an expression of opinion on the merits of the application nor on whether it ought to be entertained notwithstanding the delay. Petition disposed of; pending applications also disposed of.

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NC: 2026:KHC:2872-DB WP No. 654 of 2026

HC-KAR

IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU

DATED THIS THE 20^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. 654 OF 2026 (GM-MM_S)

BETWEEN:

SRI NAGARAJU P N S/O. NAGE GOWDA. P.K, AGED ABOUT 46 YEARS, NO. 779/1, ANJAJPURA, AMRUTHANAGAR MAIN ROAD, BANGALORE SOUTH, BANGALORE- -560 062.

…PETITIONER

Digitally signed by NIRMALA DEVI

Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA

(BY SRI. MANJUNATH K V., ADVOCATE)

AND:

THE STATE OF KARNATAKA REPRESENTED BY ITS CHIEF SECRETARY, VIDHANA SOUDHA, AMBEDKAR VEEDHI, BENGALURU-560 001.

THE PRINCIPAL SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRIES, VIKASA SOUDHA, BENGALURU-560 001.

2 - NC: 2026:KHC:2872-DB WP No. 654 of 2026

HC-KAR

THE DIRECTOR AND COMMISSIONER DEPARTMENT OF MINES AND GEOLOGY, KHANIJA BHAVAN, RACE COURSE ROAD, BENGALURU-560 001.

THE SENIOR GEOLOGIST AND COMPETENT AUTHORITY, DEPARTMENT OF MINES AND GEOLOGY, SHIDLAGATTA TALUK, CHIKKABALLAPURA DISTRICT-562 105.

THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER, AND CHAIRMAN, DISTRICT TASK FORCE (MINES) COMMITTEE CHIKKABALLAPURA, CHIKKABALLAPURA DISTRICT-562 101.

…RESPONDENTS

(BY SRI. K.S. HARISH, GA)

THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 & 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO ISSUE WRIT OF MANDAMUS DIRECTING THE RESPONDENT No. 3 TO CONSIDER THE APPLICATION DATED 25.04.2015 VIDE ANNEXURE-A AND B AND EXECUTE A SALE DEED IN FAVOUR OF THE PETITIONER.

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

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NC: 2026:KHC:2872-DB WP No. 654 of 2026

HC-KAR

ORAL ORDER

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

Issue notice.

Learned AGA accepts notice for respondents.

The petitioner has filed the present petition inter alia, praying that direction be issued to respondent No.3 to consider his application dated 25.04.2015 for grant of quarry lease. It is stated

that the Forest Range Officer has issued no objection on 23.07.2024. However, no decision has been taken on the petitioner's application.

Learned AGA submits that the application is under consideration.

In view of the aforesaid statement, no further orders are required to be passed.

The respondents shall communicate their decision to the petitioner as expeditiously as possible and preferably within a period of twelve weeks from date.

We clarify that this order shall not be construed as expression of this Court on the merits of the petitioner's application

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NC: 2026:KHC:2872-DB WP No. 654 of 2026

HC-KAR

or that the same is required to be entertained notwithstanding the

delay.

The petition is disposed of.

Pending applications, if any, stand disposed of.

Sd/(VIBHU BAKHRU) CHIEF JUSTICE

Sd/(C.M. POONACHA) JUDGE

Vmb List No.: 2 Sl No.: 12