The court will not entertain a writ petition challenging an administrative action if the authority has already issued a show cause notice, providing the party an opportunity to be heard, though it may direct a time-bound disposal of the proceedings.

THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO ISSUE A WRIT IN THE NATURE OF CERTIORARI, OR ANY OTHER WRIT, OR DIRECTION TO QUASH THE ORDER BEARING No. GBDI/Unitu/Quarry-926/Suspension/2025-26/7938 DATED 12.03.2026 VIDE ANNEXURE-J AND 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 12.03.2026, whereby the Deputy Director of Mines and Geology (respondent No.5), suspended the quarrying and transportation activities in respect of quarry lease QL-926 granted to the petitioner. The said notice is issued pursuant to a letter dated 06.03.2026 issued by the Deputy Conservator of Forests, Tumakuru (Territorial) Division (respondent No.4) reporting that the land to an extent of 49.00 hectares in Sy.No.09 of Pandithanahalli village, Kasaba East Hobli, Tumakuru Taluk, is recorded as forest land and is required to be treated as forest. .

2. It is further stated in the notice that no part of the said land can be diverted for any other activity without the permission of the Central Government under the provisions of the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980.

3. The petitioner has been granted quarrying lease in QL No.926, over an area of land measuring 2 acres 20 guntas which also falls within Sy.No.9 of Pandithanahalli village, Tumakuru Taluk. In the said context, the Deputy Conservator of Forests has directed that the quarry lease and the crusher licence granted to persons in the said land be cancelled.

4. The learned Additional Government Advocate submits that on the very same day a show cause notice dated 12.03.2026 was issued calling upon the petitioner to show cause as to why the lease (QL 926) not be cancelled. Thus, the petitioner has full opportunity to raise all contentions before the Deputy Director, Department of Mines and Geology in response to the said show cause notice.

5. In view of the above we do not consider it apposite to entertain the present petition at this stage. However, since the mining activity has been interdicted, we request the concerned officer to dispose of the proceedings initiated by the show cause notice dated 12.03.2026 in a time bound manner. If the petitioner files its response to the said show cause notice within a period of two weeks from date, we request that the same be disposed of within a period of two weeks thereafter.

6. The writ petition is disposed of with the above observations.