Writ Petition No. 17239 of 2025 · The High Court
Case Details
- 1 - NC: 2025:KHC:20875 WP No. 17239 of 2025 HC-KAR IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 17TH DAY OF JUNE, 2025 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE S SUNIL DUTT YADAV WRIT PETITION NO. 17239 OF 2025 (GM-TEN) …PETITIONER BETWEEN: 1. BANNURU FISHERIES CO OPERATIVE SOCIETY LTD BANNURU, T NARASIPURA TALUK, MYSURU DISTRICT- REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETORY. (BY SRI. SANDESH T.B, ADVOCATE) AND: 1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA DEPARTMENT OF ANIMAL HUSBANDRY AND FISHERY DEPARTMENT, AMBEDKAR VEEDHI, M S BUILDING BANGALORE-560 001. 2. THE DIRECTOR OF FISHERY 3RD FLOOR, PODIUM BLOCK, VIESHWESHWARAIAH KENDRA D R AMBEDKER VEEDHI, BANGLORE-560 001. 3. THE DIRECTOR OF FISHERIES KUVEMPU NAGAR, MYSORE-570 023. 4. THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF FISHERY, T NARASIPURA TOWN, MYSURU DISTRICT-57. Digitally signed by VIDYA G R Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - NC: 2025:KHC:20875 WP No. 17239 of 2025 HC-KAR 5. DEPUTY DIRECTOR ZILLA PANCHAYATH MYSURU, MYSURU DISTRICT-57001. 6. ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETIES MYSURU SUB-DIVISION, BEHIND MYSURU PALACE, MYSURU-570 001. 7. THE CHAMUNDESHWARY FISHERIES CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETY (LTD) BEEDANAHALLI, BANNUR HOBLI, T NARASIPURA TALUK, MYSURU DISTRICT-570 024 REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETORY. 8. THE KARNATAKA CO-OPERATIVE FISHERIE FEDERATION (LTD) NO.37/B 1, 1ST STAGE, INDUSTRIAL TOWN, VISHVWSHWARANAGAR, MYSURU-570 024. 9. THE DEPUTY REGISTRAR OF CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETY, MYSURU DISTRICT MYSURU-570 002.
Legal Reasoning
SRI. MOHAMMED (BY GOVERNMENT ADVOCATE FOR RESPONDENT/STATE) JAFFAR SHAH, …RESPONDENTS ADDITIONAL THIS WP IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO QUASH THE E- TENDER PUBLICATION DATED 04.06.2025 IN E-TENDER PUBLICATION VIDE ANNEXURE -A PASSED BY THE R4. MYS/TNPUR/ALL/03/2025-26 NO. THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR ORDERS, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR JUSTICE S SUNIL DUTT YADAV - 3 - NC: 2025:KHC:20875 WP No. 17239 of 2025 HC-KAR ORAL ORDER Learned Counsel for petitioner submits that Tender Notification has been issued in violation of the priority as per the policy of the State. 2. It is submitted that notification at Annexure-A requires to be set aside and the Government may be at liberty to take fresh action while taking note of the priority stipulated. 3. Reliance is placed on the order in W.P.No.16254/2025 dated 06.06.2025. 4. The order passed in W.P.No.16254/2025 reads as follows: "The petitioner has called in question the validity of the Notification at Annexure-'A' dated 22.05.2025 whereby the respondent Authority has invited the tenders for grant of lease rights in the lake for fishing purpose. Several contentions have been raised including that the notification at Annexure-'A' dated 22.05.2025 is - 4 - NC: 2025:KHC:20875 WP No. 17239 of 2025 HC-KAR contrary to the Government Policy which provides for priority to be given for Co- operative Societies. Reliance has been placed on the Government Policy, copy of which is produced at Annexure-'D'. 2. It is noticed that this Court has set aside the very same Notification as per the order passed in W.P.No.15379/2025 on 06.06.2025. Accordingly, the present petition also requires to be allowed by setting aside the notification at Annexure-'A' in terms of the
Decision
order dated 06.06.2025 passed in W.P.No.15379/2025. 3. The order dated 06.06.2025 passed in W.P.No.15379/2025 reads as follows:- "Petitioner has sought for issuance of writ of mandamus to set aside the proceedings dated 09.04.2025 at Annexure-A and has further sought for grant of lease hold rights of Bhargavathi Lake to the petitioner - Society, in light of its eligibility, in terms of the policy of the Government dated 21.02.2014. registered under 2. It is the case of the petitioner that it is a Society the Karnataka Co- operative Societies Act and the lease hold rights of fishing of the Bhargavathi Lake is sought to be given by the Government and in regard to which, - Society has made several the petitioner - 5 - NC: 2025:KHC:20875 WP No. 17239 of 2025 HC-KAR representations. It is further submitted that the respondent - Authorities have sought for granting of lease hold rights of fishing of the Bhargavathi Lake by way of public auction. 3. It is specifically contended that public auction is open to all without taking note of the priority that is contained in the Policy of the Government encapsulated in the Order dated 21.02.2014 at Annexure-D. It is the specific case that in terms of the policy referred to above, first priority fishing co-operative societies and only in the absence of such societies, other steps can be taken. to eligible is with respect 4. Learned AGA the Government is bound by the policy contained in terms of Annexure-D and would adhere to the same. submits that 5. It is noticed that the notification at Annexure-K which provides for public auction makes it open for all to apply for lease. The policy of granting lakes for lease of fishing contains a priority. The policy as contained in the Government Order dated 21.02.2014 at Clause (IV) is extracted below: ಅ(cid:2)(cid:3)ೆಗಳ(cid:7):- "IV) ಅ(cid:2)(cid:3)ೆಗಳ(cid:7) ಅ(cid:2)(cid:3)ೆಗಳ(cid:7) ಅ(cid:2)(cid:3)ೆಗಳ(cid:7) ಕಂ(cid:10)(cid:11)ೆಕಂ(cid:10)(cid:11)ೆಕಂ(cid:10)(cid:11)ೆಕಂ(cid:10)(cid:11)ೆ-4:- (cid:12)(cid:17)ಾನಗಳ(cid:7) (cid:12)(cid:13)ೇ(cid:3)ಾ(cid:16)(cid:12)(cid:13)ೇ(cid:3)ಾ(cid:16)(cid:12)(cid:13)ೇ(cid:3)ಾ(cid:16)(cid:12)(cid:13)ೇ(cid:3)ಾ(cid:16) (cid:12)(cid:17)ಾನಗಳ(cid:7) (cid:12)(cid:17)ಾನಗಳ(cid:7) (cid:12)(cid:17)ಾನಗಳ(cid:7) 1) UÀÄwÛUÉ:---- 1) UÀÄwÛUÉ: 1) UÀÄwÛUÉ: 1) UÀÄwÛUÉ: (cid:31)ೕನು ಾರರ ಸಹ(cid:11)ಾರಸಹ(cid:11)ಾರಸಹ(cid:11)ಾರಸಹ(cid:11)ಾರ (ಅ) ಜಲಸಂಪನೂ(cid:24)ಲಗಳನು(cid:26) (cid:27)ದಲು(cid:27)ದಲು(cid:27)ದಲು(cid:27)ದಲು ಅಹ(cid:30)ಅಹ(cid:30)ಅಹ(cid:30)ಅಹ(cid:30) (cid:31)ೕನು ಾರರ (cid:31)ೕನು ಾರರ (cid:31)ೕನು ಾರರ ಅ#(cid:30)ಗಳನು(cid:26) ಆ%ಾ&’(ಆ%ಾ&’(ಆ%ಾ&’(ಆ%ಾ&’( ಗ(cid:16)ಷ*ಗ(cid:16)ಷ*ಗ(cid:16)ಷ*ಗ(cid:16)ಷ* 5 ವಷ(cid:30)ಗಳವಷ(cid:30)ಗಳವಷ(cid:30)ಗಳವಷ(cid:30)ಗಳ ಅವ, ೆಅವ, ೆಅವ, ೆಅವ, ೆ ಗು-. ೆ ೆಗು-. ೆ ೆಗು-. ೆ ೆಗು-. ೆ ೆ ಸಂಘಗ(cid:2)ಂದ ಅ#(cid:30)ಗಳನು(cid:26) ಸಂಘಗ(cid:2)ಂದ ಅ#(cid:30)ಗಳನು(cid:26) ಅ#(cid:30)ಗಳನು(cid:26) ಸಂಘಗ(cid:2)ಂದ ಸಂಘಗ(cid:2)ಂದ ’ೕಡ(cid:13)ಾಗುವ0ದು. ಅ#(cid:30) ಸ12(ದ (cid:31)ೕನು ಾರರ ಸಹ(cid:11)ಾರ ಸಂಘಗಳ(cid:7) ಈ ಆ4ೇಶದ ’ೕಡ(cid:13)ಾಗುವ0ದು ’ೕಡ(cid:13)ಾಗುವ0ದು ’ೕಡ(cid:13)ಾಗುವ0ದು - 6 - NC: 2025:KHC:20875 WP No. 17239 of 2025 HC-KAR ಅನುಬಂಧಅನುಬಂಧಅನುಬಂಧಅನುಬಂಧ-1ರ12ರ12ರ12ರ12 ನಮೂ9(ರುವ ಅಹ(cid:30):ೆಗಳನು(cid:26) %ೊಂ9ರ;ೇಕು %ಾಗೂ 4ಾಖ(cid:13)ಾ-ಗಳನು(cid:26) ಸ12ಸ;ೇಕು. (ಆ) ಪ=- ಅಹ(cid:30) (cid:31)ೕನು ಾರರ ಸಹ(cid:11)ಾರ ಸಂಘ(cid:11)ೆ>, ಆ ಸಂಘದ ;ೈ(cid:13)ಾ ಪ=(cid:11)ಾರ, ಅದರ (cid:11)ಾಯ(cid:30) (cid:3)ಾAB.ಯ12 ಗ(cid:16)ಷ* 300 %ೆ(cid:11)ೆCೕD' ಜಲ(cid:12)(.ೕಣ(cid:30)(cid:11)ೆ> (cid:31)ೕರದಂ:ೆ ಗ(cid:16)ಷC ಎರಡು (cid:11)ೆGೆ ಅಥ(cid:3)ಾ ಈ ಆ4ೇಶದ ಅನುಬಂಧಅನುಬಂಧಅನುಬಂಧಅನುಬಂಧ-2 ರ12ರ12ರ12ರ12 ಪIC Jಾ(cid:10)ರುವ ಗ(cid:16)ಷC ಒಂದು ಜ(cid:13)ಾಶಯದ ಅಥ(cid:3)ಾ ಗ(cid:16)ಷ* ಎರಡು ನ9 Lಾಗ Jಾತ= ಗು-. ೆ ೆ ’ೕಡುವ0ದು. (300 %ೆ. ಜಲ(cid:12)(.ೕಣ(cid:30) (cid:31)ೕ(cid:16)ದ ಜಲಸಂಪನೂ(cid:24)ಲಗ(cid:2)ದN ಸಂದಭ(cid:30)ದ12 (cid:11)ೇವಲ ಒಂದು ಜಲಸಂಪನೂ(cid:24)ಲದ (cid:31)ೕನು Pಾಶು(cid:3)ಾರು ಹಕ>ನು(cid:26) Jಾತ= ಗು-. ೆ ಪQೆಯಲು ಸದ(cid:16) (cid:31)ೕನು ಾರರ ಸಹ(cid:11)ಾರ ಸಂಘ ಅಹ(cid:30):ೆಯನು(cid:26) %ೊಂ9ರುತ.4ೆ.) (ಇ) ಒಂ4ೇ (cid:11)ೆGೆ ೆ, (cid:11)ೆGೆಯ (cid:3)ಾAB.ಯ ಹಲ(cid:3)ಾರು (cid:31)ೕನು ಾ(cid:16)(cid:11)ೆ ಸಹ(cid:11)ಾ(cid:16) ಸಂಘಗಳ(cid:7) ಅ#(cid:30)ಗಳನು(cid:26) ಸ12(ದ12 (cid:27)ದಲSೆಯ ಆದA:ೆಯನು(cid:26) ಾ=ಮ ಮಟCದ (cid:31)ೕನು ಾ(cid:16)(cid:11)ೆ ಸಹ(cid:11)ಾರ ಸಂಘ(cid:11)ೆ>, ನಂತರದ ಆದA:ೆಯನು(cid:26) ಅನುಕ=ಮ(cid:3)ಾU %ೋಬ(cid:2) ಮಟCದ, :ಾಲೂ2ಕು ಮಟCದ ಅಥ(cid:3)ಾ #(cid:13)ಾ2 ಮಟCದ (cid:31)ೕನು ಾರರ ಸಹ(cid:11)ಾರ ಸಂಘ(cid:11)ೆ> ’ೕಡುವ0ದು. (ಈ) ಒಂ4ೇ ಆದA:ೆಯ12 ಬರುವ ಒಂದV>ಂತ %ೆWXನ (cid:31)ೕನು ಾರರ ಸಹ(cid:11)ಾರ ಸಂಘಗಳ(cid:7) ಒಂ4ೇ ಜಲಸಂಪನೂ(cid:24)ಲ(cid:11)ೆ> ಅ#(cid:30) ಸ12(ದN12, ಅ#(cid:30) ಸ12(ರುವ ಅಹ(cid:30) (cid:31)ೕನು ಾರರ ಸಹ(cid:11)ಾರ ಸಂಘಗಳ ನಡು(cid:3)ೆ Jಾತ= ಹGಾಜು ನQೆ( (cid:12)(cid:13)ೇ(cid:3)ಾ(cid:16) Jಾಡುವ0ದು. (ಉ) (cid:11)ೆಲವ0 ಆಯN ನ9 Lಾಗಗಳನು(cid:26) / ಅ(cid:2)(cid:3)ೆಗಳನು(cid:26) Jಾತ= (cid:31)ೕನು ಾರರ ಸಹ(cid:11)ಾರ ಸಂಘಗಳ(cid:7) `ಅಥ(cid:3)ಾ ಮತ.Z ಪ=Lೇದಗಳ ಸಂರ[\ೆ #ೕವ (cid:3)ೈ(cid:12)ಧAಗಳ ಸಂರ[\ೆ ಅಥ(cid:3)ಾ ಕSಾ(cid:30)ಟಕದ (cid:12)]ೇಷ (cid:31)ೕನು ಪ=Lೇದಗಳ ಸಂರ[\ೆ ೋಸ>ರ ಸಂಘI(ರುವ ವನA #ೕ(cid:12) ಸಂಘಗಳ(cid:7), #ೕವ (cid:3)ೈ(cid:12)ಧA ಸಂರ[\ಾ ಸಂಘಗ(cid:2) ೆ - ಗ(cid:16)ಷC ಎರಡು ನ9 Lಾಗಗಳನು(cid:26) Jಾತ= ಗು-. ೆ ’ೕಡಬಹುದು. ಈ ವನA #ೕ(cid:12) ಸಂಘಗಳ(cid:7) Sೋಂ4ಾ^ತ ಸಂಘಗ_ಾUರ;ೇಕು. (cid:31)ೕನು ಪ=Lೇದಗಳ - 7 - NC: 2025:KHC:20875 WP No. 17239 of 2025 HC-KAR ಸಂರ[\ೆಯ12 :ೊಡU((cid:11)ೊಂ(cid:10)ರ;ೇಕು. %ಾಗೂ ಅವರ ;ೈ(cid:13)ಾಗಳ12 (cid:31)ೕನು ಸಂರ[\ೆ ಒಂದು ಪ=ಮುಖ ಉ4ೆNೕಶ(cid:3)ಾUರ;ೇಕು." 6. It is clear that in terms of the priority, the first right is reserved to eligible fishing co- operative societies. Even under such category, in terms of the Clause - IV(1) and sub-clause therein, there are further sub categorization of priorities depending on the geographical unit. Needless to state that, if there are co-operative societies, then, the public auction must be limited to those societies and cannot be reserved for other claimants. 7. Taking note of the tender notification at Annexure-K, clearly the tender notification does not take note of the priority at Clause (IV) of Annexure- D referred to above. 8. the notification Accordingly, at Annexure-K is set aside. It is clarified that the petitioner cannot insist for grant of fishing rights except as per the procedure provided for in the Government Order at Annexure-D. Accordingly, liberty is reserved to the respondent - State to take fresh steps as is permissible for grant of lease rights for fishing in terms of the Government Order at Annexure-D. In light of the above, petition is disposed off." 4. Accordingly, the notification at Annexure-'A' dated 22.05.2025 is set aside. in the order dated The directions 06.06.2025 in W.P.No.15379/2025 are to be kept the Government while proceeding further. In light of the above, petition is disposed off." in mind by issued - 8 - NC: 2025:KHC:20875 WP No. 17239 of 2025 HC-KAR 5. Accordingly, the E-Tender Publication dated 04.06.2025 at Annexure-A is set aside. Liberty is reserved to the State to take fresh steps for auction after taking note of the observations made in the order extracted above. 6. Accordingly, the petition is disposed off. Sd/- (S SUNIL DUTT YADAV) JUDGE NP List No.: 2 Sl No.: 10