IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 21^ST 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. 21845 OF 2025 (GM-FOR)

BETWEEN:

1. KHT AGENCIES PVT LIMITED HAVING ITS REGISTERED OFFICE AT NO.7A, SURVEY NO.35, 4^TH CROSS DEVASANDRA INDUSTRIAL AREA K.R. PURAM HOBLI BANGALORE - 560 048 REPRESENTED BY ITS AUTHORISED SIGNATORY MR. ADIT MOZARIA …PETITIONER (BY SRI PAWAN SHYAM, ADVOCATE FOR Digitally signed SRI DHANANJAY K.V., ADVOCATE)

by PRABHAKAR SWETHA KRISHNAN AND:

Location: High Court of Karnataka 1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA THROUGH ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY DEPARTMENT OF FOREST, ECOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENT M.S. BUILDING DR. B.R. AMBEDKAR VEEDHI BENGALURU - 560 001

2. THE REGIONAL COMMISSIONER, BENGALURU DIVISION

2^ND FLOOR, BMTC BUILDING SHANTINAGAR, K.H. ROAD BENGALURU - 560 027

3. THE DEPUTY CONSERVATOR OF FORESTS RAMANAGARA DIVISION YANGAYYANAKERE BENGALURU-MYSURU OLD HIGHWAY RAMANAGARA - 562 159

4. THE KARNATAKA STATE POLLUTION CONTROL BOARD THROUGH ITS ENVIRONMENTAL OFFICER REGIONAL OFFICE - RAMANAGARA PARISARA BHAVANA NEAR DC OFFICE BENGALURU-MYSORE ROAD RAMANAGARA - 562 159 …RESPONDENTS (BY SMT. NILOUFER AKBAR, AGA FOR R-1 TO 3 &

SRI A. MAHESH CHOWDHARY, ADVOCATE FOR R-4)

THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLE 226 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO ISSUE A WRIT OF CERTIORARI OR ANY OTHER APPROPRIATE WRIT, ORDER OF DIRECTION, CALLING FOR THE RECORDS RELATING TO THE IMPUGNED FINAL NOTICE BEARING NO.P5/Bhoomi/Abhipraya/ Manavi/CR-19/2023-24/426 DATED 30/06/2025, ISSUED BY THE DEPUTY CONSERVATOR OF FORESTS, RAMANAGARA DIVISION (RESPONDENT NO.1) VIDE ANNEXURE-W, AND AFTER EXAMINING THE LEGALITY AND VALIDITY THEREOF, QUASH THE SAME & ETC.

THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR ORDERS, 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)

1. The petitioner has filed the present petition, inter alia, impugning final notice dated 30.06.2025. The petitioner also impugns the proceedings of the Sriramadevarabetta Vulture Wildlife Eco-Sensitive Zone Monitoring Committee [ESZ Committee] meeting held on 14.12.2023, and the decision taken on that date. The petitioner prays that directions be issued to the ESZ Committee to reconsider the petitioner's revised proposal for establishing an ITI Training Institute and Automobile Dealership in land falling in Survey No.38/2, Basavanapura Village, Kasaba Hobli, Ramanagara Taluk [subject land], without insisting on demolition as a precondition, as the said industry is classified under the 'Green Category' by respondent No.4 [Karnataka State Pollution Control Board [KSPCB].

2. The petitioner states that 1 acre 18 guntas of land falling in Survey No.38/2, part of the subject land, was legally converted for non-agricultural (industrial purposes) on 18.09.2021 by the Deputy Commissioner, Ramanagara District, under the provisions of the Karnataka Land Revenue Act, 1964 [KLR Act]. Subsequently, the petitioner acquired rights in respect of land measuring 3 acres 16.5 guntas of the subject land, which included 1 acre and 18 guntas of land that was converted for non-agricultural (industrial purposes). Thereafter, on 14.12.2022, the Greater Bengaluru- Bidadi Smart City Planning Authority granted a formal 'Single Plot Industrial Layout Plan Approval' with respect to the subject land.

3. The petitioner contended that the subject land is designated for 'Industrial Purposes' under Section 17 of the Karnataka Town and Country Planning Act, 1961. However, prior to the petitioner acquiring the subject land and the same being approved as formal single plot industrial layout, the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, Government of India had issued a notification being S.O.2993 (E) dated 11.09.2017 declaring the area around the Ramadevarabetta Vulture Sanctuary as Eco-

sensitive zone [ESZ].

4. There