IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 9^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. 32023 OF 2025 (GM-MM-S)

BETWEEN:

1. SRI N.R. ANANTHA KUMAR S/O. LATE N.T. RANGE GOWDA AGED ABOUT 53 YEARS NYAMANAHALLI VILLAGE MAVINAKERE POST HOLENARASIPURA TALUK HASSAN DISTRICT - 573 211 …PETITIONER (BY SRI SWAMY M.M., ADVOCATE)

AND:

1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA Digitally REP. BY ITS CHIEF SECRETARY signed by K VIDHAN SOUDHA P SWETHA BENGALURU - 560 001 Location:

High Court of Karnataka 2. THE SECRETARY TO GOVT AND REVISING AUTHORITY DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRIES VIKAS SOUDHA, BENGALURU - 560 001

3. THE DIRECTOR AND COMMISSIONER, DEPARTMENT OF MINES AND GEOLOGY KHANIJA BHAVAN RACE COURSE ROAD BENGALURU - 560 001

4. THE SENIOR GEOLOGIST DEPARTMENT OF MINES AND GEOLOGY GRAMA PANCHAYAT ROAD BEHIND R.T.O. OFFICE SATHYAMANGALA HASSAN - 573 201

5. THE DEPUTY CONSERVATOR OF FORESTS HASSAN DIVISION HASSAN - 573 201

6. THE ASSISTANT CONSERVATOR OF FOREST SAKLESHPURA SUB-DIVISION SAKLESHPURA

7. THE RANGE FOREST OFFICER ARKALGUDU DIVISION ARAKALAKUDU - 562 101

8. THE DISTRICT COMMISSIONER AND LICENSING AU