IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 18^TH DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2026 PRESENT THE HON'BLE MR. VIBHU BAKHRU, CHIEF JUSTICE AND THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE C.M. POONACHA WRIT APPEAL NO. 1596 OF 2024 (GM-RES)

BETWEEN:

1. INDIAN OIL CORPORATION LTD.

MYSORE DIVISIONAL OFFICE NO.36/A, 1^ST FLOOR, B.N. ROAD MYSORE TRADE CENTER OPP. KSRTC BUS STAND MYSORE - 570 001 REPRESENTED BY ITS AUTHORISED REPRESENTATIVE …APPELLANT (BY SRI VACHAN H.U., ADVOCATE)

AND:

Digitally signed by VEERENDRA 1. B.V. LAKSHMIDEVAMMA KUMAR K M W/O S.M. THIMMAIAH Location:

AGED ABOUT 47 YEARS High Court of Karnataka R/AT #6, OPP. 1479, 2^ND CROSS

8^TH A MAIN, 1^ST PHASE, 5^TH STAGE BEML LAYOUT RAJARAJESHWARI NAGARA BANGALORE - 560 098 …RESPONDENT (BY SRI SUNIL S. RAO, ADVOCATE)

THIS WRIT APPEAL IS FILED UNDER SECTION 4 OF THE KARNATAKA HIGH COURT ACT PRAYING TO QUASH THE IMPUGNED JUDGEMENT DATED 25/07/2024 PASSED BY A SINGLE BENCH OF HON'BLE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA IN W.P.NO.1771/2024 (GM-RES) AND ETC.

THIS APPEAL, COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY HEARING, THIS DAY, JUDGMENT WAS DELIVERED THEREIN AS UNDER:

CORAM: HON'BLE MR. VIBHU BAKHRU, CHIEF JUSTICE and HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE C.M. POONACHA

ORAL JUDGMENT

(PER: HON'BLE MR. VIBHU