HC-KAR IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 27^TH DAY OF NOVEMBER, 2025 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SURAJ GOVINDARAJ WRIT PETITION NO. 23675 OF 2025 (GM-FOR)

C/W WRIT PETITION NO. 7656 OF 2025 (GM-FOR)

IN WP No. 23675/2025 BETWEEN:

1. C A MUTHANNA AGED ABOUT 78 YEARS S/O LATE C M APPANNA, R/O AVOKA ESTATE, ATHUR VILLAGE, VIRAJPET TALUK, 2. C M APPANNA AGED ABOUT 49 YEARS, S/O C A MUTHANNA, R/O AVOKA ESTATE, ATHUR VILLAGE, VIRAJPET TALUK.

Digitally signed by SHWETHA

3. C A APPACHU RAGHAVENDRA AGED ABOUT 84 YEARS, Location: HIGH COURT OF S/O C M APPANNA, KARNATAKA P.O. NO.10, PONNAMPET, PONNAMPET TALUK. 4. C A CHENGAPPA AGED ABOUT 49 YEARS S/O C A MUTHANNA, R/O AVOKA ESTATE, ATHUR VILLAGE, VIRAJPET TALUK PETITIONERS 1 TO 4 REP BY POWER OF AUTHORITY SRI N S SURESH HC-KAR AGED ABOUT 63 YEARS, S/O LATE N K SHEKARAM, R/O 7TH BLOCK, NEAR GOWRI TANK, VIRAJPET, VIRAJPET TALUK, S.KODAGU - 571218.

…PETITIONERS (BY SRI. SACHIN B S.,ADVOCATE)

AND:

1. DEPUTY RANGE FOREST OFFICER VIRAJPET SUB DIVISION, SOUTH COORG-571218.

2. DEPUTY COMMISSIONER OF KODAGU DISTRICT KODAGU DISTRICT, MEDIKERI - 571201 …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI. B. RAVINDRANATH., AGA)

THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLE 226 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO SET ASIDE THE IMPUGNED REPORT DTD. 02.11.2023 BEARING NO. VANA 45/2023-24 PASSED BY R-2 AS PER ANNX-A AND ETC.

IN WP NO. 7656/2025 BETWEEN:

1. P C PONNAPPA AGED ABOUT 77 YEARS S/O LATE P. N. CHENGAPPA, R/O BADRAGOLA ESTATE, BADRAGOLA VILLAGE, THITHIMATHI POST, PONNAMPET TALUK, KODAGU DISTRICT-571254.

2. P. U. PONNAPPA AGED ABOUT 62 YEARS, S/O LATE DR. P. C. UTHAPPA R/O NO. 90, 3^RD MAIN ROAD, JAYAMAHAL EXTENSION, BENSON TON POST, BANGALURU NORTH-560046 REP. BY POWER OF AUTHORITY HC-KAR SRI. N. S. SURESH AGED ABOUT 63 YEARS, S/O LATE N. K. SHEKARAM, R/O 7^TH BLOCK, NEAR GOWRI TANK, VIRAJPET, VIRAJPET TALUK, S. KODAGU-571218.

...PETITIONERS (BY SRI. SACHIN B S.,ADVOCATE)

AND:

1. DEPUTY RANGE FOREST OFFICER VIRAJPET SUB DIVISION, SOUTH COORG-571218.

2. ADDITIONAL DEPUTY COMMISSIONER KODAGU DISTRICT, MEDIKERI-571201.

...RESPONDENTS (BY SRI. B. RAVINDRANATH., AGA)

THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLE 226 OF PRAYING TO SET ASIDE THE IMPUGNED ORDER DTD 24.10.2024 IN NO.VANA/88/2023-24-56718 PASSED BY THE R-2 AS PER ANNX-A AND ORDER DTD 17.01.2025 IN NO. OASM/VPETA/A2/CR/2024-25/86 PASSED BY THE R-1 AS PER ANNX-B AND CONSEQUENTLY ALLOW THE APPLICATION FILED BY THE PETITIONER AS EPR ANNX-D AND D1 DTD 28.08.23 FOR PERMISSION TO CUT THE TREES EXISTED IN THE SUBJECT LAND BELONGING TO THE PETITIONER AS PRAYED IN THE APPLICATION AND ETC.

THESE WRIT PETITIONS, COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY HEARING IN ‘B’ GROUP, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER:

CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SURAJ GOVINDARAJ HC-KAR

ORAL ORDER

1. The petitioners in W.P.No.23675/2025 are before this Court seeking for the following reliefs:

a) Set aside the Impugned report dated: 02.11.2023 bearing No. VaNa 45/2023-24 passed by 2nd Respondent as per ANNEXURE-A.

b) Set Aside the Impugned Order dated 22.02.2024 in No. VuAaSam/BeT/A6/ViVa-05/2023-24 passed by the

1st Respondent as per ANNEXURE-A1.

c) Set Aside the endorsement dated 03.07.2025 in No. VaNa /23/2025-26 passed by the 2nd Respondent as per ANNEXURE-A2.

d) Consequently, issue a writ of mandamus by allowing the application dated: 28.02.2020 filed by the Petitioners seeking permission to cut the trees standing on the subject land belonging to the petitioner as per ANNEXURE-B, as prayed in the application, in the interest of justice and equity e) Issue any other writ or order or direction that deems fit to grants in the circumstances of the case in the interest of justice and equity.

2. The petitioners in W.P.No.7656/2025 are before this Court seeking for the following reliefs:

a) Set aside the impugned order dated 24.10.2024 in No. VaNa/88/2023-24-567718 passed by the 2nd Respondent as per ANNEXURE-A, and order dated 17.01.2025 in No. OaSm/Vpeta /A2/CR/ 2024-25/86 passed by the 1 Respondent as per ANNEXURE-B and con