M/S UDBHAVA PETROLEUM PVT LTD vs THE STATE OF KARNATAKA

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HC-KAR
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WP No. 106212 of 2026


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IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA
AT DHARWAD

TH
DATED THIS THE 16 DAY OF OCTOBER, 2026

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

WRIT PETITION NO.106212 OF 2026 (GM-RES)

BETWEEN:
M/S UDBHAVA PETROLEUM PVT.LTD.,
A COMPANY REGISTERED
UNDER THE COMPANIES ACT, 1956
HAVING ITS REGISTERED OFFICE AT, NO.4,
ST
1 FLOOR, SURYA HOUSE, CHAMUNDI NAGAR,
RD
BDA LAYOUT, HOSKEREHALLI, BSK 3 STAGE,
BENGALURU-560085.
REPRESENTED BY ONE OF ITS DIRECTOR,
SRI. NANDISH KUMAR B.J
AGED ABOUT 30 YEARS,
S/O. K.M. JAYARAMA.
…PETITIONER















(BY SRI. VIVEK B.N., ADVOCATE)

AND:
1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA,
REPRESENTED BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY,
DEPARTMENT OF FOOD,
CIVIL SUPPLIES AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS,
M.S. BUILDING, BENGALURU-560001.

2. THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER
AND DISTRICT MAGISTRATE,
UTTARA KANNADA DISTRICT, KARWAR-581301.
…RESPONDENTS


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

(BY SRI. PRASHANTH V. MOGALI, HCGP FOR R1 AND R2)

THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF
THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA, PRAYING TO, A WRIT IN THE NATURE OF
CERTIORARI QUASHING THE IMPUGNED ORDER BEARING
NO.DCB/MAGI/CR/436/2023-24 DATED 23.06.2026 PASSED BY THE
RESPONDENT NO.2 THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER AND DISTRICT
MAGISTRATE, UTTARA KANNADA DISTRICT, AT ANNEXURE-G TO THE
PRESENT WRIT PETITION AND ETC.

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

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

ORAL ORDER


1. Petitioner is running an LPG dispensing station under the
name and style of ‘Surya Auto LPG’ in the land bearing
Sy.No.591 A/2, Susagadi Grama Bhatkal Taluk, Uttara
Kannada District by entering into a registered lease
agreement with the owner of the land. The said land has
been duly converted from agriculture to non-agricultural
purposes in terms of the order dated 26.03.2018 issued by
the Deputy Commissioner, Uttara Kannada District,
Karwar. Petitioner had obtained requisite permission from
all the departments and had sought for issuance of ‘No
Objection Certificate’ for installation of Auto LPG
Dispensing Station, which was also issued by respondent
No.2. Petitioner has commenced the business engaged the
employees based on the aforesaid permissions and No
Objection Certificate.

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2. Things stood thus, by impugned order dated 23.06.2026 as
per Annexure-G, the Deputy Commissioner has
cancelled/revoked the ‘No-Objection Certificate’ issued to
the petitioner and has called upon the petitioner to
surrender the same. Being aggrieved by the same, present
writ petition is filed.

3. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the basis
for issuance of impugned communication is the complaint
apparently received from the neighbourers, as the said
property surrounded by the Government Hospital, Schools,
Colleges, Market, Mosque and Residential Area. The other
reason assigned is non-furnishing of order of conversion for
the purpose of carrying on the business of the Petroleum
Products.

4. Learned counsel for the petitioner brings to the notice of
this Court document at Annexure-C, which is an Official
Memorandum dated 26.03.2018, issued by the Deputy
Commissioner in exercise of his power under Section 95 of
the Karnataka Land Revenue Act, 1964 (“Act, 1964” for
short) according permission for change of land usage from

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agriculture to non-agriculture commercial purposes. Thus
referring to this, he submits that the reasons assigned by
respondent No.2/Deputy Commissioner to cancel the ‘No
Objection Certificate’ are unjustified and runs contrary to
the very order passed by him.

5. Learned High Court Government Pleader drawing attention
of this Court to the document ‘No Objection Certificate’
dated 23.08.2024 produced at Annexure-E submits that
said ‘No Objection Certificate’ was issued subject to
petitioner furnishing documents regarding change of land
use and the said document comes with a condition that the
same was liable to be cancelled any time following due
procedure in case of violation of Static and Mobile Pressure
Vessels (Unfired) Rules 2016. Thus, he submits that since
the petitioner has not furnished the required documents
namely change of land usage, the Deputy Commissioner
found it appropriate to revoke the license.

6. Heard and perused the records.

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7. The impugned communication dated 23.06.2026 produced
at Annexure-G reads as under:
f¯Áè¢üPÁjUÀ¼À PÁAiÀiÁð®AiÀÄ, GvÀÛgÀ PÀ£ÀßqÀ, PÁgÀªÁgÀ - 581 301
OFFICE OF THE DEPUTY COMMISIONER, UTTARA KANNADA DISTRICT,
KARWAR
-581 301
Email: [email protected]
08382 226406, 226471
zÀÆgÀªÁt :
Telephone fax Website:http://uttara kannada.nic.in
: 08382 226603 ( )
No. DCB/MAG1/CR/436/2023-24 Date: As e-signing date
Proprietor,
Surya Auto LPG Udhbhava Petroleum Pvt Ltd,
No.4, Surya House, 1ª flooг,
Chamundi Nagar Banashankari 3rd stage,
Bangalore.
ªÀiÁ£ÀågÉÃ.
No Objection Certificate for our proposed
«µÀAiÀÄ:-
installation of 20 KL Auto LPG dispensing
station Sy No 591A/2 Susagadi Gram,
Bhatkal Taluk, Uttara Kannada Districe State
Karnataka.

UPPL/
G¯ÉèÃR: 1) ¤ªÀÄä Cfð ¸ÀA 104/2023, ¢£ÁAPÀ
24-11-2023
2) F PÁAiÀiÁð®AiÀÄzÀ ¤gÁPÉëÃ¥ÀuÁ ¥ÀvÀæ
¸ÀªÀĸÀASÉå ¢£ÁAPÀ 29-08-2024
3) ¸ÀºÁAiÀÄPÀ PÀ«ÄõÀ£ÀgÀ ¨sÀl̼À gÀªÀgÀ ¥ÀvÀæ ¸ÀA.
JA.J.f/«ªÀ/477/2024-25/73359, ¢£ÁAPÀ
01-12-2025
*

ªÉÄð£À «µÀAiÀÄPÉÌ ¸ÀA§A¢ü¹ GvÀÛgÀ PÀ£ÀßqÀ f¯ÉèAiÀÄ ¨sÀl̼À vÁ®ÆQ£À
Auto LPG dispensing station

¸ÀƸÀUÀr UÁæªÀÄzÀ ¸À.£ÀA 591J/2 gÀ°è
¸ÁÜ¥À£É PÀÄjvÀÄ G¯ÉèÃR (1) gÀAvÉ ¤ÃªÀÅ ¸À°è¹zÀ CfðUÉ ¸ÀA§A¢ü¹zÀAvÉ
G¯ÉèÃR (2) gÀ£ÀéAiÀÄ ¤gÁPÉëÃ¥ÀuÁ ¥ÀvÀæ vÀAiÀiÁj¹ ¸ÀzÀj ¤gÁPÉëÃ¥ÀuÁ
¥ÀvÀæzÀ°è ºÉZÀÄѪÀjAiÀiÁV ±ÀvÀð£ÀÄß «¢ü¹ GzÉÝòvÀ ¸ÀܼÀzÀ ¨sÀÆ¥ÀjªÀvÀð£É
GzÉÝñÀ §zÀ¯ÁªÀuÉ ªÀiÁrzÀ vÀgÀĪÁV ¥ÀA¥À ¸ÁÜ¥À£É PÁªÀÄUÁjAiÀÄ£ÀÄß
¥ÁægÀA©ü¸À®Ä w½¸À¯ÁVvÀÄÛ. ±ÀvÀÄð G®èAWÀ£ÉAiÀiÁzÀ°è ¸ÀzÀj ¤gÁPÉëÃ¥ÀuÁ
¥ÀvÀæ vÁ£ÁVAiÉÄà gÀzÀÄÝUÉƼÀÄîªÀÅzÀÄ JAzÀÄ w½¸À¯ÁVvÀÄÛ.

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NC: 2026:KHC-D:17356
WP No. 106212 of 2026


CNR: KAHC020135942026


¸ÀºÁAiÀÄPÀ PÀ«ÄõÀ£ÀgÀ ¨sÀl̼À gÀªÀgÀÄ G¯ÉèÃR (3) gÀ£ÀéAiÀÄ ¸À°è¹zÀ
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PÁ¯ÉÃdÄ, ªÀiÁgÀÄPÀmÉÖ. ªÀĹâ ºÁUÀÆ ªÀ¸Àw UÀȺÀUÀ½zÀÄÝ, ±Á¯Á ªÀÄPÀ̽UÉ
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zÀÆgÀÄ ¤ÃrzÀÄÝ, PÁgÀt UÁå¸À §APÀ ¤«Äð¸ÀĪÀÅzÀÄ
¸ÀÆPÀÛªÁVgÀĪÀÅ¢®èªÉAzÀÄ w½¹gÀÄvÁÛgÉ.

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§UÉÎ AiÀiÁªÀÅzÉà ¥ÀæªÀiÁt ¥ÀvÀæ F PÁAiÀÄð®AiÀÄPÉÌ ¹éÃPÀÈvÀªÁVzÀÄÝ EgÀĪÀÅ¢®è.
PÁgÀt ªÀÄÆgÀÄ CA±ÀUÀ¼ÀAvÉ G¯ÉèÃTvÀ (2) gÀ ¤gÁPÉëÃ¥ÀuÁ ¥ÀæªÀiÁt¥ÀvÀæ
gÀzÀÄÝ UÉƽ¸ÀĪÀzÀÄ ¸ÀÆPÀÛªÁVgÀÄvÀÛzÉ

(1) G¯ÉèÃTvÀ d«ÄãÀÄ ªÁtÂdå ¥ÉmÉÆæÃ¯ï §APï GzÉÝñÀPÉÌ
¨sÀÆ¥ÀjªÀvÀð£ÉAiÀiÁVgÀĪÀÅ¢®è.
2) ¸ÀºÁAiÀÄPÀ PÀ«ÄõÀ£ÀgÀ ¨sÀl̼À gÀªÀgÀÄ £ÀPÁgÁvÀäPÀªÁV ªÀgÀ¢ ¸À°è¹gÀÄvÁÛgÉ.
LSDA
(3) ¸ÀzÀj ¤gÁPÉëÃ¥ÀuÁ ¥ÀvÀæ ¥ÉÇÃlð®£À°è C£ÀĪÉÆÃzÀ£ÉUÉÆArzÀÄÝ
EgÀĪÀÅ¢®è.

F J¯Áè PÁgÀtUÀ½AzÁV ¨sÀl̼À vÁ®ÆQ£À ¸ÀƸÀUÀr UÁæªÀÄzÀ ¸À.£ÀA
Auto LPG dispensing station

591J/2 gÀ°è ¸ÁÜ¥À£ÉUÉ F
PÁAiÀiÁð®AiÀÄ¢AzÀ G¯ÉèÃR (2) gÀAvÉ ¤ÃqÀ¯ÁzÀ ¤gÁPÉëÃ¥ÀuÁ ¥ÀvÀæªÀ£ÀÄß
F ªÀÄÆ®PÀ gÀzÀÄÝUÉƽ¹zÉ. ¥ÀæAiÀÄÄPÀÛ ¸ÀzÀj ¤gÁPÉëÃ¥ÀuÁ ¥ÀvÀæªÀ£ÀÄß F
PÁAiÀiÁð®AiÀÄPÉÌ »A¢gÀÄV¸À®Ä w½¹zÉ.

vÀªÀÄä «±Áé¹,

Digitally signed by
LAKSHMI PRIYA K
Date 23.06.2026
16:14:28
GvÀÛgÀ PÀ£ÀßqÀ, PÁgÀªÁgÀ

¥Àæw:- ¸ÀºÁAiÀÄPÀ PÀ«ÄõÀ£Àgï ¨sÀl̼ÀgÀªÀjUÉ,

2/- G¯ÉèÃR (2) gÀAvÉ ºÉÆgÀr¹zÀ ¤gÁPÉëÃ¥ÀuÁ ¥ÀvÀæªÀ£ÀÄß ªÉÄð£À
PÁgÀtUÀ½AzÀ gÀzÀÄÝ¥Àr¸À¯ÁVzÉ. CzÀgÀAvÉ ¸ÀzÀj ¤gÁPÉëÃ¥ÀuÁ ¥ÀvÀæªÀ£ÀÄß

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¸ÀA¨sÀAzÀ ¥ÀlÖªÀjAzÀ ¤AiÀĪÀiÁ£ÀĸÁgÀ »AzÉ ¥ÀqÉzÀÄ F PÀbÉÃjUÉ

ªÀgÀ¢AiÉÆA¢UÉ »A¢gÀÄV¸ÀĪÀzÀÄ.”

8. Perusal of the aforesaid communication indicates that one
of the reasons assigned for revocation of licence is non-
furnishing of the document evidencing change of land use.
Annexure-C is the document dated 26.03.2018 issued by
the Deputy Commissioner in exercise of power under
Section 95 of Act, 1964 providing change of land use from
agriculture to non-agriculture commercial purposes.
Learned counsel for the petitioner insisted that it is only on
submission of the said document, ‘No Objection Certificate’
at Annexure-H came to be issued.

9. Be that as it is. Since one of the reasons for revocation of
the “No objection Certificate” is petitioner not furnishing
the document regarding change of land usage. The said
ground cannot be sustained in the light of availability of the
document at Annexure-C, which has been issued by none
other than the Deputy Commissioner himself changing the
land usage from agriculture to non-agriculture commercial
use in the name of the lessor of the petitioner.

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10. As regards, the complaints received from the locals even if
such complaints were filed, the Deputy Commissioner
would not have accepted the same and proceeded to
cancel the ‘No objection Certificate’ unilaterally without
calling upon the petitioner or furnishing the copy of the
said complaints for his response.

11. In that view of the matter, the following;
ORDER

(i) The writ petition is allowed.

(ii) The impugned communication dated
23.06.2026 at Annexure-G is quashed .

(iii) “No Objection Certificate” is restored.

(iv) Deputy Commissioner is at liberty to take
action if he finds any violation of the terms of
the license by the petitioner after giving
sufficient opportunity of being heard strictly
in accordance with law.


Sd/-
(M.G.S. KAMAL)
JUDGE
EM, CT:VP
LIST NO.: 1 SL NO.: 42