IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 15^TH DAY OF APRIL, 2026 PRESENT THE HON'BLE MR. VIBHU BAKHRU, CHIEF JUSTICE AND THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE C.M. POONACHA WRIT PETITION NO. 9556 OF 2026 (GM-MM-S)

BETWEEN:

1. M/S MARUTHI GRANITES A REGISTERED PARTNERSHIP FIRM HAVING ITS REGISTERED OFFICE AT "SRI RANGANATHA SWAMY NILAYA"

6^TH CROSS, VIDYANAGAR TUMKUR - 572 102 REPRESENTED BY ITS PARTNER SRI K. SHIVARAM AGED ABOUT 58 YEARS …PETITIONER (BY SRI PRAKASH B.S., ADVOCATE)

AND:

Digitally signed by 1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA VEERENDRA REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY KUMAR K M COMMERCE AND INDUSTRIES Location: High DEPARTMENT (MSME & MINES)

Court of Karnataka VIKASA SOUDHA BANGALORE - 560 001

2. THE DIRECTOR/COMMISSIONER DEPARTMENT OF MINES & GEOLOGY KHANIJA BHAVANA R.C.ROAD, BANGALORE - 560 001

3. THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR DEPARTMENT OF MINES AND GEOLOGY KHANIJA BHAVAN SPOORTHI LAYOUT BUDDIHALLI, RING ROAD TUMKUR - 572 104

4. THE REVISION AUTHORITY GOVERNMENT OF KARNATAKA DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRIES (MSME AND MINES)

BENGALURU - 560 001 …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI K.S. HARISH, GOVERNMENT ADVOCATE)

THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND

227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO ISSUE A WRIT OF CERTIORARI OR ORDER OR DIRECTION IN THE NATURE OF A) WRIT QUASHING THE NOTICE/ORDER DATED 14.11.2025 ISSUED BY THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR, DEPARTMENT OF MINES AND GEOLOGY, TUMKUR BEARING No.GaBuee/Vooneethu/Kaagagu.Aa. Shi-985/2025-26/5469 IN SO FAR AS IT RELATES TO CALLING UPON THE PETITIONER TO STOP ANY SORT OF QUARRYING WORK IN THE LEASED AREA. THE ORIGINAL OF THE NOTICE/ORDER DATED 14.11.2025 ISSUED BY THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR HAS BEEN PRODUCED AS ANNEXURE-A & ETC.

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

ORAL ORDER

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

1. The petitioner has filed the present petition, inter alia, impugning a notice dated 14.11.2025 directing the petitioner to stop the quarrying work in the leased area. The petitioner also impugns an endorsement dated 10.12.2025, whereby the petitioner's User ID for using the ILMS portal of the Department of Mines and Geology has been blocked. The petitioner essentially seeks direction to the respondents to permit the petitioner to carry on the quarrying operations.

2. The averments made in the present petition indicates that a quarrying lease in respect of land measuring 6 acres 20 guntas falling in Survey No.78 of Varadanahalli village, Gulur Hobli, Tumkur Taluk, Tumkur District is valid and in subsistence. However, the action prohibiting the petitioner from carrying on further quarrying activities is premised on the basis that the petitioner has not complied with the demand notices issued by the authorities.

3. The petitioner states that a demand notice dated 31.07.2023 has been issued under Rule 40 of the Karnataka Minor Mineral Concession Rules, 1994 [KMMC Rules], calling upon the petitioner to pay an amount of `1,57,78,554/- which was allegedly due in respect of the said quarry lease. Subsequently another demand notice dated 03.10.2024 has been issued calling upon the petitioner to pay an amount of `2,04,40,503/- alleging illegal extraction/transport/short payment of royalty.

4. The petitioner has filed a revision petition challenging the said demands which are outstanding. The petitioner contends that closure of the mining activities would amount to coercive recovery of the demand, which is the subject matter of challenge. He also submits that an oral application was made to the Revisional Authority to pass an interim order staying the demands, however, the request has been orally rejected.

5. The learned Government Advocate submits that there is no such application on record for interim stay before the revisional authority. He submits that if there any such application is made, the same would be considered.

6. We note that the demand on the basis of