Karnataka High Court
WP/26016/2024 of SRI LAKSHMANA Vs THE STATE OF KARNATAKA on 27 July 2026
2025:KHC:17755-DB WP No. 26016 of 2024 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 29TH DAY OF APRIL, 2025 PRESENT THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE KRISHNA S DIXIT AND THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE RAMACHANDRA D. HUDDAR WRIT PETITION NO. 26016 OF 2024 (S-KSAT) BETWEEN: SRI. LAKSHMANA S/O LATE
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU
DATED THIS THE 29TH DAY OF APRIL, 2025
PRESENT
THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE KRISHNA S DIXIT
AND
THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE RAMACHANDRA D. HUDDAR
WRIT PETITION NO. 26016 OF 2024 (S-KSAT)
BETWEEN:
SRI. LAKSHMANA
S/O LATE VANARASHAPPA
AGED ABOUT 55 YEARS
WORKING AS FOREST WATCHER
OFFICE OF DEPUTY CONSERVATOR OF FOREST
SOCIAL FORESTRY DIVISION
KOLAR-563 101
RESIDING AT WARD NO.1
TAMAKA POST AND VILLAGE
KOLAR TALUK
KOLAR DISTRICT-563 101
…PETITIONER
(BY SRI. SUBRAMANYA BHAT M, ADVOCATE)
AND:
1.
THE STATE OF KARNATAKA
DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY
ENVIRONMENT AND BIOLOGY
REPRESENTED BY THE SECRETARY
M.S.BUILDING
BANGALORE- 560 001
2.
CHIEF CONSERVATOR OF FOREST
BANGALORE CIRCLE, ARANYA BHAVAN
MALLESHWARAM
Digitally signed
by SHAKAMBARI
Location: High
Court of
Karnataka
18TH CROSS, ARANYA BHAVANA
BANGALORE- 560 003
3.
CONSERVATOR OF FOREST
BANGALORE CIRCLE, ARANYA BHAVAN
MALLESHWARAM
18TH CROSS, ARANYA BHAVANA
BANGALORE- 560 003
4.
DEPUTY CONSERVATOR OF FORESTS
SOCIAL FORESTRY RANGE
KOLAR- 563 114
5.
RANGE FOREST OFFICER
SOCIAL FORESTRY
KOLAR RANGE-563 114
…RESPONDENTS
(BY SRI. B. RAVINDRANATH, AGA)
THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226
AND 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO ISSUE
A WRIT OF CERTIORARI OR ANY OTHER WRIT, ORDER OR
DIRECTION, SETTING ASIDE THE ORDER OR DIRECTION, SETTING ASIDE THE ORDER DATED 08.11.2023 PASSED IN
APPLICATION No.1114/2023 ON THE FILE OF THE HON'BLE
KSAT (ANNEXURE-C) AND ALLOW THE ABOVE APPLICATION BY
GRANTING ALL THE RELIEFS SOUGHT BY THE PETITIONER TO
MEET THE ENDS OF JUSTICE AND ETC.
THIS
PETITION,
COMING
ON
FOR
PRELIMINARY
HEARING IN 'B' GROUP, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE
THEREIN AS UNDER:
CORAM: HON'BLE MR JUSTICE KRISHNA S DIXIT
and
HON'BLE MR JUSTICE RAMACHANDRA D. HUDDAR
Citations and Judicial Treatment
Cited by
0
Decisions in the index citing it
Cites
0
Decisions referred to
In this index
0
Of the decisions it cites
Overruled / Questioned
0
No negative treatment found
Loading the citing and cited decisions…
This judgment in the centre: on the left the decisions it cites, on the right the decisions citing it. Colour is the treatment; choose a decision to open it.
ORAL ORDER
(PER: HON'BLE MR JUSTICE KRISHNA S DIXIT)
The subject matter of this petition is substantially similar to the one in P.JUNJAPPA V/S. THE PRINCIPAL CHIEF CONSERVATOR OF FORESTS AND OTHERS in WP.No.6238/2020 (S-KSAT) connected with WP.No.48123/2019 (S-KSAT), wherein this Bench vide order dated 17.03.2025 has accorded the following relief after dismissing State's WP.No.48123/2019.
"(i) Extend pensionary benefits to the respondents in the same manner as granted to other similarly situated employees.
(ii) Compute and disburse the arrears of pensionary benefits to the respondents within a period of three months from the date of receipt of a certified copy of this judgment.
(iii) Ensure that no further instances of arbitrary denial of pensionary benefits arise in respect of employees who are similarly placed as that of respondents.
(iv) A compliance report regarding implementation of this order shall be filed before the Registry of this Court within the stipulated time frame to ensure adherence to the directions issued herein.
(v) Keep the original order in Writ Petition No.6238/2020 and a copy of the same in Writ Petition No.48123/2019 for reference.
Despite vehement submission, learned AGA is not in a position to differentiate the fact matrix and legal parameters of the Junjappa decision. It is a fundamental principle of administration of justice that like cases should be decided alike, and if relief is granted to a litigant, the same cannot ordinarily be denied to the similarly circumstanced litigants, subject to all just exceptions.
In view of the above, this petition is also allowed and the relief granted to the litigants in Junjappa supra is mutatis mutandis extended to these petitioners as well.
Costs made easy.
Sd/- (KRISHNA S DIXIT) JUDGE
Sd/- (RAMACHANDRA D. HUDDAR) JUDGE
SK/List No.: 1 Sl No.: 40