Karnataka High Court
Mr O Shankar vs State Of Karnataka on 20 February, 2026
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NC: 2026:KHC:10613-DB
WP No. 37758 of 2025
HC-KAR
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU
DATED THIS THE 20TH DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2026
PRESENT
THE HON'BLE MR. VIBHU BAKHRU, CHIEF JUSTICE
AND
THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE C.M. POONACHA
WRIT PETITION NO. 37758 OF 2025 (GM-FOR)
BETWEEN:
MR O SHANKAR
S/O LATE OBAYYA,
AGED ABOUT 44 YEARS,
EX-CHAIRMAN, LIDKAR,
RESIDING AT JCR RESIDENCY,
1ST CROSS,
CHITRADURGA 577501.
PAN: DLDPS0527M
AADHAR No. 3818 8864 3100
PHONE No. 9483684199
...PETITIONER
Digitally
signed by (BY SRI. PRABHU PUJAR S, ADVOCATE)
NIRMALA
DEVI AND:
Location:
HIGH 1. STATE OF KARNATAKA
COURT OF
KARNATAKA REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY,
DEPARTMENT OF FOREST,
MS BUILDING,
BENGALURU 560001.
2. PRINCIPAL CHIEF CONSERVATOR OF
FORESTS, ARANYA BHAVAN,
18TH CROSS, MALLESWARAM,
BENGALURU 560003.
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NC: 2026:KHC:10613-DB
WP No. 37758 of 2025
HC-KAR
3. ADDITIONAL PRINCIPAL CHIEF
CONSERVATOR OF FORESTS
(VIGILANCE),
ARANYA BHAVAN, 18TH CROSS,
MALLESWARAM,
BENGALURU 560003.
4. CONSERVATOR OF FORESTS
(BALLARI CIRCLE)
OFFICE AT KALAMMA STREET,
BSNL COLONY, COWL BAZAAR,
BALLARI, KARNATAKA-583101.
5. DEPUTY CONSERVATOR OF FORESTS,
CHITRADURGA DIVISION,
JCR MAIN ROAD, MANIYUR,
CHITRADURGA,
KARNATAKA- 577502
6. DEPUTY COMMISSIONER
DEPUTY COMMISSIONER'S OFFICE,
CHITRADURGA DISTRICT,
CHITRADURGA 577501
...RESPONDENTS
(BY SMT. NILOUFER AKBAR, AGA)
THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 &
227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA R/W 14(1) OF THE HIGH
COURT OF KARNATAKA (PUBLIC INTEREST LITIGATION)
2018, PRAYING TO ISSUE A WRIT OF MANDAMUS DIRECTING
THE RESPONDENTS TO FORTHWITH CONSIDER AND
DISPOSE OF THE PETITIONERS REPRESENTATION DATED
02/05/2025 (ANNEXURE-F), IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE
VIGILANCE REPORT DATED 28/04/2025 OF THE ADDITIONAL
PRINCIPAL CHIEF CONSERVATOR OF FORESTS (VIGILANCE).
THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY
HEARING, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS
UNDER:
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NC: 2026:KHC:10613-DB
WP No. 37758 of 2025
HC-KAR
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. Issue notice.
2. Learned AGA accepts notice for respondents.
3. The petitioner has filed the present petition inter alia praying that direction be issued to respondent No.6 - Deputy Commissioner, Chitradurga to dispose of his representation dated 02.05.2025 and in accordance with the Vigilance report dated 28.04.2025 issued by the Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests [Vigilance].
4. The petitioner alleges that a road within the D-Mode reserved forest area stretching from Tanigehalli to B.Durga Hobli, Holalkere Taluk, Chitradurga District has been done contrary to law. He states that an 8 feet wide road has been further widened to 40 feet by diverting forest land without the requisite approval under Section 2 of the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980.
5. It is also averred that the Ministry of Forest Environment and Biotechnology had directed the Principal Chief Conservator of -4- NC: 2026:KHC:10613-DB WP No. 37758 of 2025 HC-KAR Forests to submit a status report. The said status report has been furnished, but no action has been taken.
6. Since the Ministry of Forest Environment and Biotechnology has already initiated steps in regard to the issue raised by the petitioner, we do not consider it apposite to pass any further directions in this regard. However, the concerned officials shall take the necessary steps, if it is reported that any area of the forest has been illegally diverted.
7. Petition is disposed of with the aforesaid observations.
Sd/-
(VIBHU BAKHRU) CHIEF JUSTICE Sd/-
(C.M. POONACHA) JUDGE BS List No.: 2 Sl No.: 12