Sri Kumar v. The State of Karnataka

IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 29TH DAY OF APRIL, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S.R.KRISHNA KUMAR WRIT PETITION NO. 14088 OF 2026 (S-RES) BETWEEN:

¶1SRI. KUMAR S/O LATE PAPASHETTARU, AGED ABOUT 51 YEARS, PRESENTLY WORKING AS FOREST WATCHER D GROUP, RANGE FOREST OFFICE HUNSUR, HUNSUR TALUK, MYSORE DISTRICT - 571 189.

¶2SRI. THAMMEGOWDA S/O LATE CHALUVEGOWDA, AGED ABOUT 59 YEARS, PRESENTLY WORKING AS FOREST WATCHER D GROUP, RANGE FOREST OFFICE HUNSUR, HUNSUR TALUK, MYSORE DISTRICT - 571 189.

¶3SRI. JAYARAMA S/O MUDDAMALLAIAH, AGED ABOUT 56 YEARS, PRESENTLY WORKING AS FOREST WATCHER D GROUP, RANGE FOREST OFFICE HUNSUR, HUNSUR TALUK, MYSORE DISTRICT - 571 189. by SHARADAVANI B Location: High Court of Karnataka e -e2e-eeeee e e NC:(2026:KHC:24248 WP(No.(14088(of(2026

4., SRI.,SHIVALINGAPPA, S/O,NINGAIAH,, AGED,ABOUT,55,YEARS,, PRESENTLY,WORKING,AS,, FOREST,WATCHER,D,GROUP,, RANGE,FOREST,OFFICE,HUNSUR,, HUNSUR,TALUK,, MYSORE,DISTRICT,-,571,189.,

5., SRI.,KUMARA,D, S/O,DEVAIAH,, AGED,ABOUT,48,YEARS,, PRESENTLY,WORKING,AS,, FOREST,WATCHER,D,GROUP,, RANGE,FOREST,OFFICE,HUNSUR,, HUNSUR,TALUK,, MYSORE,DISTRICT,-,571,189., …PETITIONERS, (BY,SRI.,BASAVARAJA,PATEL,G.K,,ADVOCATE), AND:

1., THE,STATE,OF,KARNATAKA, REP.,BY,ITS,PRINCIPAL,SECRETARY,, DEPARTMENT,OF,FOREST,,, ECOLOGY,AND,ENVIRONMENT,, M.S.BUILDING,, BENGALURU,-,560,001.,

2., THE,PRINCIPAL,CHIEF,CONSERVATOR,OF,FORESTS, (HEAD,OF,THE,FOREST,FORCE), ARANYA,BHAVANA,,3RD,FLOOR,, 18,CROSS,,MALLESHWARAM,, BENGALURU,-,560,003., e -e3e-eeeee e e NC:(2026:KHC:24248 WP(No.(14088(of(2026

3., THE,CHIEF,CONSERVATOR,OF,FORESTS, ARANYA,BHAVANA,,PORJECT,TIGER,, ASHOKAPURAM,,MYSORE,-,577,009.,

4., THE,DEPUTY,CONSERVATOR,OF,FORESTS, HUNSUR,DIVISION,,B.M.,ROAD,, HUNSUR,,MYSORE,DISTRICT,-,571,105.,

5., THE,RANGE,FOREST,OFFICER, HUNSUR,TALUK,, MYSORE,DISTRICT,-,571,189., …RESPONDENTS, (BY,SRI.,SPOORTHY,HEGDE,,AGA,FOR,R1,TO,R5), , THIS, WP, IS, FILED, UNDER, ARTICLES, 226, AND, 227, OF, THE, CONSTITUTIONOF, INDIA, PRAYING, TO, I., CALL, FOR, THE, RECORDS, RELATING, TO, THE, IMPUGNED, ENDORSEMENT, ORDER, BEARING, NO.A1/SIBBANDI/CR-14/2025-26, DATED,

31.01.2026,VIDE,ANNEXURE-H,PASSED,BY,THE,RESPONDENT, NO.4,,PERUSE,AND,QUASH,THE,SAME,AS,ARBITRARY,,ILLEGAL, AND, VIOLATIVE, OF, ARTICLES, 14, AND, 16(1), OF, THE, CONSTITUTION,OF,INDIA,AND,ETC.,, , THIS, PETITION,, COMING, ON, FOR, PRELIMINARY, HEARING,,THIS,DAY,,ORDER,WAS,MADE,THEREIN,AS,UNDER:, CORAM:, HON'BLE,MR.,JUSTICE,S.R.KRISHNA,KUMAR ORAL(ORDER Inethisepetition,epetitionereseekseforetheefollowingereliefs:-e

1.e Calle fore thee recordse relatinge toe thee impugnede commone endorsemente ordere bearinge No.A1.Sibbandi.CR-14/2025-26e Dated.31.01.2026e videe Annexure-H,e passede bye thee RespondenteNo.4,eperuseeandequashetheesameeasearbitrary,e illegale ande violativee ofe Articlese 14e ande 16(1)e ofe thee constitutioneofeIndia.e

ii. Issue a writ in the nature of mandamus to consider the claim of the Petitioner for the service benefits in terms of the Karnataka Daily Wage Employees Welfare Act 2012 vide Annexure-D, by holding him eligible for the benefits under the said Act for the long services rendered by the Petitioner with all monetary benefits; iii. Pass such other orders or direction as this Hon'ble Court may be deemed fit in the circumstances of the case, in the interest of justice and equity.

¶2This petition is squarely covered by the order dated

10.04.2026 passed in W.P.No.888/2026, which reads as under: In this petition, petitioners seek the following reliefs: "i) Issue a writ of mandamus directing the Respondents No.2 to consider the representations made by the petitioners dated 19.12.2025 vide Annexures – H, J, K & L and to regularize the services of the petitioners has been done in the case of Uma Devi & Others from the date of completion of 10 years of service and also to grant them and pay scale attached to the post of Deputy Registrar from the date of their appointments or at least from the date they completed 10 years of service as revised from time to time and to pay them the arrears of salary, increment and other service benefits on par with regular employees under the 7th pay commission. ii. Pass such other orders as deemed fit in the facts and circumstances of the case, in the interest of justice and equity."

¶2Heard learned counsel for the petitioners and learned AGA for respondent No.1 and learned counsel for respondent Nos.2 and 3 and perused the material on record. 3. It is the grievance of the petitioners that their representations at Annexures – H, J, K and L dated 19.12.2025 submitted to the respondent No.2 has not been considered so far by respondent No.2 nor any order has been passed on the same. Under these circumstances, the petitioners are before this Court by way of present petition.

¶4Per contra, learned counsel for respondent Nos.2 and 3 would reiterate the contentions urged in the statement of objection and submits that there in no merit in the petition and the same is liable to be dismissed.

¶5Though several contentions have been urged by both sides in support of their respective claims, having regard to the fact that representations submitted by the petitioners having not been considered by the respondent so far, I deem it just and appropriate to dispose of this petition by directing the concerned respondent to address the grievances of the petitioners and consider their - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:20482 WP No. 888 of 2026 representations at Annexures – H, J, K and L dated 19.12.2025 and take appropriate decision / pass appropriate order in accordance with law, within a period of two months from the date of receipt of a copy of this order.

¶6Subject to the aforesaid observations and directions, the petition stands disposed of."

¶3In view of the above, the present writ petition is disposed of in similar terms directing the respondents to consider the claim of the petitioner for the service benefits in terms of the

Karnataka Daily Wage Employees Welfare Act 2012 vide Annexure-D and take appropriate decision / pass appropriate order in accordance with law, within a period of two months from the date of receipt of a copy of this order.

¶6Subject to the aforesaid observations and directions, the petition stands disposed of. Sd/- (S.R.KRISHNA KUMAR) JUDGE SS List No.: 1 Sl No.: 15