MR. DEVENDRAPPA MALLAPPA KOTI vs STATE OF KARNATAKA

Court
Karnataka High Court

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WP No. 109090 of 2026


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IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT DHARWAD


TH
DATED THIS THE 6 DAY OF NOVEMBER, 2026

BEFORE

THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE M.G.S. KAMAL

WRIT PETITION NO. 109090 OF 2026

BETWEEN:


1. MR. DEVENDRAPPA MALLAPPA KOTI
AGED ABOUT 64 YEARS
R/A HIREHULLAL, HAVERI – 581148


2. MR. BASAVARAJ D. VARDI
AGED ABOUT 44 YEARS, S/O DEVAPPA M. VARDI
R/A CHANDAPUR, HAVERI – 581193


3. MR. BASAYYA MURAGAYA MATHAD
AGED ABOUT 59 YEARS
R/A CHANDAPUR, HAVERI – 581193


4. MR. BIRAPPA R. JATTEPPANAVAR
AGED ABOUT 51 YEARS
R/A CHANDAPUR, HAVERI – 581193


5. MR. MANJAYYA CHANNAYYA MATHAPATI
AGED ABOUT 34 YEARS
R/A NADUVIN STREET,
AGADI VILLAGE, DHARWAD – 581207


6. MR. MANJUNATH IRAYYA MATHAPATI
AGED ABOUT 42 YEARS
R/A AGADI VILLAGE, DHARWAD – 581207

7. MR. RAMAPPA SHANMUKAPPA BYAHATTI
AGED ABOUT 42 YEARS
R/A AGADI VILLAGE, DHARWAD – 581207


8. MR. HEMANTH V. LAXMANI AKKASALI
C/O VEERAPPA
R/A SHIVAPUR, KONANKERI,
SHIGGAON, HAVERI – 581193













Digitally
signed by
SAROJA
HANGARAKI
Location: high
court of
karnataka,
dharwad bench

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9. MR. IRANNA ULAVAYYA MATHAPATI
AGED ABOUT 34 YEARS
R/A NADUVIN STREET, AGADI VILLAGE,
DHARWAD – 581207

10.MR. KANTAPPA GUDDAPPA KAMBALI
AGED ABOUT 30 YEARS
R/A BASAPUR VILLAGE, HAVERI – 581108

11.MR. KIRAN P. KURAVATTIGOUDRA
AGED ABOUT 24 YEARS, S/O PUTTAYYA
R/A AGADI VILLAGE, DHARWAD – 581207

12.MR. MAHANTESH GOVINDAPPA HOSAMANI
AGED ABOUT 48 YEARS
R/A HOSAMANER STREET, BUDAGATTI,
MACHAPUR VILLAGE, HAVERI – 581128

13.MR. MANJUNATH BASAPPA HOSAMANI
MAJOR IN AGE
R/A KVATI ONI, BUDAGATTI,
MACHAPUR VILLAGE, HAVERI – 581128

14.MR. MARTANDAPPA LAKKIKOPPA
AGED ABOUT 50 YEARS
R/A CHANDAPUR, HAVERI – 581193

15.MR. MAHABOOBASAB KUNDGOL
AGED ABOUT 51 YEARS
R/A ARALIKATTI VILLAGE, DHARWAD – 581207

16.MR. NINGAPPA S. HOSAMANI
AGED ABOUT 50 YEARS
R/A KVATI ONI, BUDAGATTI,
MACHAPUR VILLAGE, HAVERI – 581128

17.MR. NINGAPPA KAMBALI
AGED ABOUT 37 YEARS
R/A BASAPUR VILLAGE, HAVERI – 581108

18.MR. PARAMESH HALAGANCHANAVAR
AGED ABOUT 40 YEARS
R/A BASAPUR VILLAGE, HAVERI – 581108

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19.MR. PRABHU BANKAPUR
AGED ABOUT 20 YEARS
R/A GANDHI NAGARA,
BASAPUR VILLAGE, HAVERI – 581108

20.MR. SHIVARAJ HOSAMANI
AGED ABOUT 28 YEARS
R/A KVATI ONI, BUDAGATTI,
MACHAPUR VILLAGE, HAVERI – 581128

21.MR. SHIVASHANKARAPPA HOSAMANI
AGED ABOUT 42 YEARS
R/A BUDAGATTI,
MACHAPUR VILLAGE, HAVERI – 581128

22.MR. VEERABASAPPA HOSAMANI
AGED ABOUT 69 YEARS
R/A BUDAGATTI, MACHAPUR VILLAGE,
HAVERI – 581128

23.MR. DILLEPPA N. KESARAHALLI
MAJOR IN AGE
R/A BASAPUR VILLAGE, HAVERI – 581108

24.MR. RAJAPPA N. HULLUR
MAJOR IN AGE
R/A BASAPUR VILLAGE, HAVERI – 581108
…PETITIONERS
(BY SRI. PRABHULING K. NAVADGI, SENIOR COUNSEL FOR
SRI. SHIVRAJ S. BALLOLI, ADVOCATE)
AND:

1. STATE OF KARNATAKA
VIDHANA SOUDHA,
DR. AMBEDKAR VEEDHI, BENGALURU – 560001
REPRESENTED BY ITS CHIEF SECRETARY


2. HOME DEPARTMENT,
STATE OF KARNATAKA
VIDHANA SOUDHA, DR. AMBEDKAR VEEDHI,
BENGALURU – 560001
REPRESENTED BY ITS ADDITIONAL CHIEF SECRETARY

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3. INSPECTOR GENERAL OF POLICE
EASTERN RANGE, DEVARAJ URS ROAD,
KONDAJJI ROAD, DAVANGERE – 577006


4. DEPUTY COMMISSIONER
HAVERI DISTRICT, HAVERI – 581110


5. SUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE
HAVERI DISTRICT, HAVERI – 581110


6. POLICE SUB-INSPECTOR
BANKAPUR POLICE STATION,
BANKAPUR, SHIGGAON TALUK,
HAVERI – 581104


7. V.I.N.P. DISTILLERIES & SUGARS PRIVATE LIMITED,
KONANAKERI, SHIGGAON TALUK, HAVERI – 581193
REPRESENTED BY ITS VICE PRESIDENT,
MR. MANJUNATH CB
…RESPONDENTS
(BY SRI. SHASHIKIRAN SHETTY, AG,
SRI. GANGADHAR J.M., AAG AND
SRI. PRASHANTH V. MOGALI, HCGP FOR R1 TO R6)

THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLE 226 OF THE
CONSTITUTION OF INDIA, PRAYING TO PASS AN APPROPRIATE
WRIT, DIRECTION OR ORDER DIRECTING THE RESPONDENTS NO.2
TO 6 HEREIN TO CONSIDER THE REPRESENTATIONS DATED
29.10.2026 AND 30.10.2026 SUBMITTED BY THE PETITIONERS
HEREIN AND TO TAKE NECESSARY STEPS TO GRANT ADEQUATE
POLICE PROTECTION TO THE PETITIONERS HEREIN AND OTHER
CANE GROWERS OF HAVERI DISTRICT, THEIR STANDING CROP,
HARVESTED CANE, LABOURERS, TRACTORS, LORRIES AND OTHER
VEHICLES, AT THE TIME OF HARVEST, AT THE TIME OF LOADING,
AND ON THE ROUTE FROM THE FIELDS TO THE RESPONDENT NO.7
FACTORY HEREIN, AS SOUGHT IN THE REPRESENTATIONS
PRODUCED AS ANNEXURE-“A”, “A-1” & “B” AND ETC.

THIS WP COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY HEARING, THIS DAY,
ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER:

CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE M.G.S. KAMAL

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ORAL ORDER



1. Heard learned Advocate General as well as the Senior
counsel appearing for the petitioners.

2. This writ petition is filed seeking following reliefs:
“a. Pass an appropriate writ, direction or order
directing the respondents no.2 to 6 herein to consider the
representations dated 29.10.2026 and 30.10.2026
submitted by the Petitioners herein and to take necessary
steps to grant adequate police protection to the Petitioners
herein and other cane growers of haveri district, their
standing crop, harvested cane, labourers, tractors, lorries
and other vehicles, at the time of harvest, at the time of
loading, and on the route from the fields to the
respondent no.7 factory herein, as sought in the
Representations produced as ANNEXURE-“A”, “A-1” & “B”,
b. Pass an appropriate writ, direction or order in the
nature of mandamus directing the Respondents No.3 to 6
herein to ensure regular police patrolling in the villages
where the cane of the Petitioners herein is grown and on
the main roads leading to the Respondent No.7 Factory
herein, until the completion of the Crushing Season 2026-
27, and to take immediate action in accordance with law
against any person who threatens, obstructs or causes
damage to the Petitioners herein, their crop, harvested
cane, labourers or vehicles as sought in the
Representations produced as ANNEXURE-“A”, “A-1” AND
“B”,
c. Pass an appropriate writ, direction or order in the
nature of mandamus directing the Respondent No.4 herein
to ensure compliance with the Government Order dated
15.09.2026, by securing, in coordination with the
Respondents No.5 and 6 herein, the unhindered harvest of
the sugarcane of the Petitioners herein and its transport to
the Respondent No.7 Factory herein, which Government
Order is produced as ANNEXURE-“D”,
d. Pass an appropriate Writ, direction or Order
directing the Respondent No.7 herein to receive the
sugarcane of the Petitioners herein as sought for by the
Petitioners herein as per the Representations dated

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29.10.2026 and 30.10.2026 submitted to the Respondent
No.7 herein which is herein produced as ANNEXURE-“E”
e. Pass such other Order/s as this Hon’ble Court may
deem fit and proper in the ends of justice.”


3. Learned Advocate General on instruction and in the
presence of Additional Chief Secretary submits that the
State would ensure necessary and adequate protection and
safeguards are provided to the petitioners in they
harvesting and transporting the sugarcane crop to the
destination and he further submits that the petitioners may
also be directed to extend necessary information and co-
operation in the State discharging its obligation.

4. Sri Prabhuling K. Navadgi, learned Senior counsel
appearing for the petitioners submits that he would
instruct the petitioners to furnish the details of the persons
who will be involved in the process of harvesting the
sugarcane and transporting the same to the destination.

5. Details of such nature shall be furnished to the
Superintendent of Police, Haveri.

6. In the light of the aforesaid submission, respondents No.3
to 6 are hereby directed to provide all necessary and

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adequate and sufficient protection and safeguards to the
petitioners.

7. The petitioners shall also furnish the requisite details of the
persons, who will be harvesting the sugarcane crops and
transporting the same to the destination and shall render
necessary co-operation with the law enforcing agencies as
directed above.

8. With the above observation, without going to the other
aspects of the matter, petition is disposed of .


Sd/-
(M.G.S. KAMAL)
JUDGE


Sh
CT:VP
List no.: 1 sl no.: 1