IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 17^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. 13296 OF 2022 (GM-MM-S)

BETWEEN:

SRI V. VENKATESHULU S/O. V. MAREPPA AGED ABOUT 71 YEARS RESIDING AT PLOT No.04 SRI VAIBHAVA NILAYA VERANNA GOUDA COLONY BELLARY - 583 103 …PETITIONER (BY SRI BHAT GANAPATHY NARAYAN, ADVOCATE)

AND:

1. THE SECRETARY MINISTRY OF MINES GOVERNMENT OF INDIA Digitally ROOM No.320 signed by A WING, SHASTRI BHAVAN NIRMALA NEW DELHI - 110 001 DEVI Location:

HIGH COURT 2. THE JOINT SECRETARY OF MINISTRY OF MINES KARNATAKA GOVERNMENT OF INDIA ROOM No.101 D-WING, SHASTRI BHAVAN NEW DELHI - 110 001

3. THE PRINCIPAL SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT COMMERCE AND INDUSTRIES DEPARTMENT (MSME AND MINES)

VIKASA SOUDHA AMBEDKAR ROAD BENGALURU - 560001

4. THE SECRETARY II (MINES )

COMMERCE AND INDUSTRIES DEPARTMENT VIKASA SOUDHA, 1^ST FLOOR DR. B.R. AMBEDKAR VEEDHI BENGALURU - 560 001

5. THE DIRECTOR (MINES )

DEPARTMENT OF MINES AND GEOLOGY

5^TH FLOOR, KHANIJA BHAVAN RACE COURSE ROAD BENGALURU - 560 001

6. THE SENIOR GEOLOGIST DEPARTMENT OF MINES AND GEOLOGY OPPOSITE MEASONIC HALL BELLARY-DHARWAD TRUNK