Karnataka High Court
WP/23602/2023 of SR. R JAGADEESHA Vs THE STATE OF KARNATAKA on 23 June 2026
NC: 2026:KHC:31127-DB WP No. 23602 of 2023 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 23RD DAY OF JUNE, 2026 PRESENT THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S.G.PANDIT AND THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE RAJESH RAI K WRIT PETITION NO. 23602 OF 2023 (S-KSAT) BETWEEN: SRI. R.JAGADEESHA S/O D K
HC-KAR
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU
DATED THIS THE 23RD DAY OF JUNE, 2026
PRESENT
THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S.G.PANDIT
AND
THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE RAJESH RAI K
WRIT PETITION NO. 23602 OF 2023 (S-KSAT)
BETWEEN:
SRI. R.JAGADEESHA
S/O D K RAMASWAMY,
AGED 64 YEARS
R/A AT 415/B, LEVEN HILL VIEW
1ST FLOOR,7TH MAIN
HANUMANTHA NAGAR
BENGALURU – 560 019
…PETITIONER
(BY SRI. ANUPARNA BORDOLOI.,ADVOCATE)
AND:
1.
THE STATE OF KARNATAKA
REP BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
AND INDUSTRIES
M S BUILDING,
DR AMBEDKAR VEEDHI,
BENGALURU – 560 001
2.
THE DIRECTOR
DEPARTMENT OF MINES AND GEOLOGY
KANIJA BHAVAN
RACE COURSE ROAD
BENGALURU – 560 001
3.
THE HON’BLE LOKAYUKTA
REP BY ITS REGISTRAR
M.S. BUILDING
Digitally signed by
NANJUNDACHARI
Location: HIGH
COURT OF
KARNATAKA
HC-KAR
DR AMBEDKR VEEDHI
BENGALURU – 560 001
4.
THE ADDITIONAL REGISTRAR OF ENQUIRES 2
KARNATAKA LOKAYUKTA
MS BUILDING
DR AMBEDKAR VEEDHI
BENGALURU – 560 001.
…RESPONDENTS
(BY SRI. HARISHA. A.S., AGA FOR R1 & R2; SRI. VENKATESH .S. ARABATTI, ADVOCATE FOR R3& R4)
THIS WP IS FILED UNDER ARTICLE 226 AND 227 OF THE
CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO ISSUE A WRIT OF
CERTIORARI OR ANY OTHER WRIT OR ORDER TO SET ASIDE
THE IMPUGNED ORDER DATED 19/08/2021 PASSED IN
APPLICATION NO.6858/2017 BY THE KARNATAKA STATE
ADMINISTRATIVE TRIBUNAL (ANNEXURE-A) AND ISSUE A
WRIT OF CERTIORARI OR ANY OTHER WRIT OR ORDER
ALLOWING THE APPLICATION FILED BY THE PETITIONER IN
A.NO.6858/2017
BEFORE
THE
KARNATAKA
STATE
ADMINISTRATIVE
TRIBUNAL
AS
PRAYED
FOR
THEREIN
(ANNEXURE-B)
THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY HEARING
IN ‘B’ GROUP, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS
UNDER:
CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S.G.PANDIT
AND
HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE RAJESH RAI K
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 S.G.PANDIT)
The petitioner, a retired First Division Assistant is before this Court, under Article 226 of the Constitution of
HC-KAR
India, questioning the order dated 19.08.2021 in Application No.6858/2017 passed by the Karnataka State Administrative Tribunal at Bengaluru (for short “Tribunal”), by which, the petitioner’s request or prayer to quash the Government Order dated 08.10.2013 entrusting enquiry to the 3rd respondent-Lokayukta and Articles of Charge dated 02.08.2016 is rejected.
2. Heard Smt.Anuparna Bordoloi, learned counsel for the petitioner, learned Additional Government Advocate for respondents No.1 and 2 and Sri.Venkatesh S Arbatti, learned counsel for respondents No.3 and 4. Perused the entire writ petition papers.
3. Learned counsel for the petitioner would submit that there is inordinate delay in concluding the enquiry. It is submitted that Articles of Charge was issued on 02.08.2016 which was modified on 01.08.2023. Till today, the Enquiry Officer has not concluded the enquiry by submitting the report. Further, it is submitted that written
HC-KAR
arguments were filed by both the Presenting Officer as well as the counsel appearing on behalf of DGO. However, the matter is being adjourned from time to time for further hearing. Thus, it is prayed to direct to conclude the enquiry expeditiously or within a time frame.
4. Sri.Venkatesh S Arbatti, learned counsel for respondents No.3 and 4 would submit that the enquiry is posted to 30.06.2026 for further hearing and if some reasonable time is granted, the Enquiry Officer would submit his report.
5. It is true that prolonged enquiry would prejudice the case of the delinquent official. Moreover, in the instant case, the petitioner has retired from service on attaining the age of superannuation in the year 2019. Therefore, it would be expedient to conclude the enquiry early. In the facts and circumstances, taking note of the fact that the enquiry is commenced by issuing Articles of Charge in August 2016, we direct respondents No.3 and 4 to
HC-KAR
conclude the enquiry and submit the report within 31.07.2026.
Accordingly, the writ petition stands disposed of.
It is made clear that respondents No.3 and 4 shall not seek for further extension of time and even if asked, the Court would not consider the same .
It is also made clear that soon after the report is submitted, the same shall be forwarded to the Government for taking appropriate decision.
SD/- (S.G.PANDIT) JUDGE
SD/- (RAJESH RAI K) JUDGE MPK CT:RK List No.: 1 Sl No.: 21