IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 10^TH DAY OF NOVEMBER, 2025 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE E.S. INDIRESH WRIT PETITION NO.19893 OF 2024 (GM-RES)

BETWEEN:

SMT. LALITHA H.S.

W/O SUNDARA, AGED ABOUT 60 YEARS, R/AT NO.12, GUMMANAKOLLI VILLAGE, MULLUSOGE POST, KUSHALNAGAR HOBLI, SOMWARPET TALUK, KODAGU - 571 234.

…PETITIONER (BY SRI. NAGENDRA NAIK R., ADVOCATE)

AND:

1. STATE OF KARNATAKA DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE, XHHQ + 798, SAMPANGI RAMA NAGAR, Digitally signed by AMBEDKAR VEEDHI, ARUNKUMAR M S VIDHANA SOUDHA, Location: H IGH COURT OF BENGALURU - 560 001.

KARNATAKA REP. BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY.

2. THE ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER MYSURU SUB-DIVISION, ROOM NO.10, SUB-DIVISIONAL MAGISTRATE, MYSURU - 570 005.

…RESPONDENTS (BY SRI. MAHANTESH SHETTAR, AGA)

THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA, PRAYING TO QUASH THE ORDER DATED 15^TH FEBRUARY, 2024 PASSED BY RESPONDENT NO.1 UNDER SECTION 3(2) OF KARNATAKA PROTECTION OF INTEREST OF DEPOSITORS IN FINANCIAL ESTABLISHMENTS ACT, 2004 ATTACHING THE PROPERTIES OF THE PETITIONER VIDE ANNEXURE-A INSOFAR AS ITEM NO.13 IS CONCERNED; AND ETC.

THIS PETITION COMING ON FOR ORDERS, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE E.S.INDIRESH

ORAL ORDER

In this writ petition, the petitioner is challenging the Notification dated 15^th February, 2024 (Annexure-A) issued under Section 3(2) of the Karnataka Protection of Interest of Depositors in Financial Establishments Act, 2004 (for short, hereinafter referred to as 'KPIDFE Act'), wherein the respondent No.1-Government attached the property of petitioner viz., item No.13 of the of Annexure-1 annexed to the impugned Notification.

2. Heard Sri. Ramakrisnha S. Hegde, learned counsel appearing for the petitioner and Sri. Mahantesh Shettar, learned Additional Government Advocate appearing for respondents.

3. Learned Additional Government Advocate appearing for respondents places reliance on the judgment of this Court in the case of B. RAVISHANKAR AND OTHERS vs. STATE OF KARNATAKA AND OTHERS made in Writ Petition No.35914 of 2017 decided on 15^th November, 2022 and submits that the petition filed by the petitioners for similar relief as sought for in the present writ petition came to be dismissed. Accordingly, he sought for disposal of the present petition in the same terms.

4. Paragraph 12 of the judgment rendered by this Court in the case of B. RAVISHANKAR (supra) reads as under:

"12. The dictum of the Hon'ble Supreme Court reiterated by Hon'ble Supreme Court in the case of STATE OF MAHARASHTRA v. GREATSHIP (INDIA) LIMITED reported in AIR 2022 SC 4408 wherein it was observed that, "This Court has consistently taken the view that when there is an alternate remedy available, judicial prudence demands that the court refrains from exercising its jurisdiction under constitutional provisions". The provisions of the Maharashtra Protection of Interest of Depositors (Financial Establishment) Act is pari materia with the provisions contained under the KPID Act. In view of the aforementioned aspects, I am of the view that the writ petition is not maintainable and same is disposed of with liberty to the petitioner to approach the competent Special Court for redressal of its grievance in view of the arrangement entered into between the petitioner and the respondent No.5, who is willing to purchase the property involved in this petition by depositing the admitted dues to an extent of Rs.16.00 crore. Section 12 of the Act provides for powers of Special Court regarding attachment. The language employed in Section 12(3) of the Act demonstrates that, any person claiming an interest in the property attached, can approach the Special Court at any time before an order is passed under sub-section (4) of sub-section (6) of Section 12 of the KPID Act. The KPID Act is self-contained Act, which provides for protection of the innocent depositors and the rules made thereunder, particularly Rule 6 of the Karnataka Prot