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Karnataka High Court

Sri G S Nagaraja vs State Of Karnataka on 23 April, 2026

Author: S.R.Krishna Kumar

Bench: S.R.Krishna Kumar

                                             -1-
                                                          NC: 2026:KHC:22723
                                                       WP No. 24348 of 2025


                 HC-KAR



                     IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU

                          DATED THIS THE 23RD DAY OF APRIL, 2026

                                          BEFORE
                      THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S.R.KRISHNA KUMAR
                          WRIT PETITION NO. 24348 OF 2025 (S-RES)
                BETWEEN:

                1.   SRI G. S. NAGARAJA,
                     S/O CHIKKASADA NALLAPPA,
                     AGED ABOUT 54 YEARS,
                     WORKING AS A DRIVER (1998-PRESENT)
                     O/O DR. B. R. AMBEDKAR DEVELOPMENT
                     CORPORATION, 9TH FLOOR,
                     V. V. MINI TOWER, DR. B. R. AMBEDKAR VEEDHI,
                     BANGALORE - 560 001.
                     R/O NO.49, 1ST FLOOR, 12TH CROSS,
                     LAXMAIAH BLOCK, GANGANAGAR,
                     H.A. FARM, BANGALORE - 560 024

                2.   SRI. NINGARAJU L.,
                     S/O LATE. LAKKE GOWDA
                     AGED ABOUT 46 YEARS
                     WORKING AS A PEON ( 2004-PRESENT)
Digitally            O/O DR. B.R. AMBEDKAR DEVELOPMENT
signed by            CORPORATION, 9TH FLOOR,
CHANDANA
BM                   V.V. MINI TOWER, DR. B.R. AMBEDKAR VEEDHI,
Location:            BANGALORE - 560 001
High Court of        R/O CHIKKA KADANUR VILLAGE,
Karnataka            DODDAKADANUR POST,
                     HALLI-MYSORE HOBLI,
                     HOLENARASIPURA TALUK
                     HASSAN - 573 211.

                3.   SRI. RAMESH SURYAWANSHI
                     S/O AMBAJI
                     AGED ABOUT 49 YEARS
                     WORKING AS A PEON (1998-PRESENT)
                     O/O DR. AMBEDKAR DEVELOPMENT
                     CORPORATION KALABURAGI - 585 105
                     R/O AMBAJI, HULSOOR ROAD
                            -2-
                                          NC: 2026:KHC:22723
                                    WP No. 24348 of 2025


 HC-KAR



     GADIGONDGAON, BASAVAKALYAN TALUK
     BIDAR - 585 416

4.   SRI. NARAYANA SWAMY S.
     S/O LATE. SUBBARAYAPPA
     AGED ABOUT 59 YEARS
     WORKING AS A DRIVER (1998-PRESENT)
     O/O DR. B.R. AMBEDKAR
     DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION,
     NO.21, VENKATAPPA ROAD,
     NEAR ASTER LAB, QUEENS ROAD,
     BANGALORE - 560 051.
     R/O NO. 25, DODDATHAGGALI,
     JADIGENAHALLY POST,
     HOSAKOTE TALUK,
     BANGALORE RURAL - 562 114.

5.   SRI. MUNIRAJAPPA C. P.,
     S/O LATE CHIKKAPULLAPPA
     AGED ABOUT 53 YEARS
     WORKING AS DRIVER (1998-PRESENT)
     O/O DR. B. R. AMBEDKAR DEVELOPMENT
     CORPORATION,
     BANGALORE - 560 001.
     R/O NO.381, M.G. ROAD,
     NEAR SHAMBULINGESHWARA TEMPLE,
     SARJAPURA, ANEKAL TALUK,
     BANGALORE - 562 125

6.   SMT. LEELAVATHI K.
     D/O SHIVANNA N.K.
     AGED ABOUT 48 YEARS
     WORKING AS TYPIST (1996-PRESENT)
     O/O DR. B.R. AMBEDKAR DEVELOPMENT
     CORPORATION LTD., V.V.MINI TOWER,
     B'LORE - 01
     R/O NO.1859, 20TH MAIN, 20TH CROSS
     VIJAYANAGAR BANGALORE - 560 040.

7.   SRI. SARVESH MURTHY S.,
     S/O SIDDAPAJI
     AGED ABOUT 53 YEARS
     WORKING AS DRIVER (1996-PRESENT)
     O/O DR. B. R. AMBEDKAR DEVELOPMENT
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                                          NC: 2026:KHC:22723
                                      WP No. 24348 of 2025


 HC-KAR



     CORPORATION, 9TH FLOOR,
     V.V. MINI TOWER,
     DR. B. R. AMBEDKAR VEEDHI,
     BANGALORE - 560 001.
     R/O NO. 108, 3RD MAIN, 3RD CROSS,
     DEEPANJALI NAGAR, SIDDARTHA ROAD,
     BANGALORE - 560 026.

8.   SRI MAHADEVA K. M.
     S/O LATE HONNAIAH
     AGED ABOUT 51 YEARS
     WORKING AS DALAYAT (2004-PRESENT)
     O/O DR. B. R. AMBEDKAR DEVELOPMENT
     CORPORATION, 9TH FLOOR, V.V. MINI TOWER, DR. B.R.
     AMBEDKAR VEEDHI,
     BANGALORE - 560 001
     R/O NO. 133 OLD 117,
     SUBBARAYAPPANA PALYA,
     TAVAREKERE HOBLI, RAMOHALLY,
     BANGALORE - 560 060

9.   SRI. M. D. PRABAKARAMURTHY,
     S/O M D DEVARAJ,
     AGED ABOUT 54 YEARS,
     WORKING AS DRIVER (2005-PRESENT)
     O/O DR. B. R. AMBEDKAR DEVELOPMENT
     CORPORATION, 9TH FLOOR,
     V.V. MINI TOWER, DR. B. R. AMBEDKAR VEEDHI,
     BANGALORE - 560 001.
     R/A 5TH MAIN ROAD, GANESHA BLOCK,
     MAHALAKSHMI LAYOUT,
     BENGALURU - 560 086.

10. SMT. SHOBHA L KANCHAN
    W/O LAKSHMAN KANCHAN,
    AGED ABOUT 55 YEARS,
    WORKING AS TYPIST (1999-PRESENT)
    O/O DR. B. R. AMBEDKAR DEVELOPMENT
    CORPORATION, B BLOCK, ROOM NO. 302,
    II FLOOR, DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION COMPLEX,
    RAJATHADRI, MANIPAL - 576 104.
    R/A #1/204, SHREE CHANDRAMA,
    BEHIND OLD KEB, CHITHRAPADI GRAMA,
    SALIGRAMA - 576 225
                             -4-
                                        NC: 2026:KHC:22723
                                     WP No. 24348 of 2025


 HC-KAR




11. SMT. GEETHANJALI,
    W/O PRABHAKARA,
    AGED ABOUT 44 YEARS,
    WORKING AS DALAYAT (1999-PRESENT)
    O/O DR. B. R. AMBEDKAR DEVELOPMENT
    CORPORATION, B BLOCK,
    ROOM NO. 302, II FLOOR,
    DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION COMPLEX,
    RAJATHADRI, MANIPAL - 576 104.
    R/A #1/79(2), BOLURU, DHANANJAYA NILAYA,
    KARIMANELU GRAMA,
    VENURU, DK - 574 242.
                                           ...PETITIONERS
(BY SRI. V. LAKSHMINARAYANA, SENIOR COUNSEL FOR
    SMT. ANUSHA L., ADVOCATE)

AND:

1.   STATE OF KARNATAKA
     REPRESENTED BY CHIEF SECRETARY,
     VIDHAN SOUDHA, AMBEDKAR VEEDHI,
     BENGALURU - 560 001.

2.   STATE OF KARNATAKA,
     DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL WELFARE,
     REPRESENTED BY PRINCIPAL SECRETARY.
     2ND FLOOR, VIKASA SOUDHA,
     BENGALURU - 560 001.

3.   THE MANAGING DIRECTOR,
     DR. BR AMBEDKAR DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION,
     V V MINI TOWER, AMBEDKAR VEEDHI,
     BENGALURU - 560 001
                                          ...RESPONDENTS
(BY SRI. REUBEN JACOB, AAG A/W
    SRI. G. RAMESH NAIK, AGA FOR R1 & R2;
    SRI. SHISHIRA AMARANATH, ADVOCATE FOR R3)

     THIS W.P. IS FILED UNDER ARTICLE 226 OF CONSTITUTION
OF INDIA PRAYING TO DIRECTING THE RESPONDENT TO
REGULARIZE THE SERVED OF THE PETITIONER ON COMPLETION
OF 10 YEARS OF SERVICE ON THE PRINCIPLE OF PARITY AND TO
                                      -5-
                                                     NC: 2026:KHC:22723
                                                  WP No. 24348 of 2025


HC-KAR



EXTEND ALL CONSEQUENTIAL BENEFITS ARISING THEREFROM
INCLUDING PENSIONARY AND MONETARY BENEFITS 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 S.R.KRISHNA KUMAR

                             ORAL ORDER

In this petition, petitioners seek the following reliefs:

a. Issue a Writ of Mandamus directing the Respondent to regularize the service of the Petitioners on completion of 10 years of service on the principle of parity and to extend all consequential benefits arising therefrom, including pensionary and monetary benefits;
b. Declare that the petitioners cannot be discriminated in the matter of absorption and regularization including the fixation of pay-scale and pensionary benefits;
c. Pass any other order or directions as deems fit to this Hon'ble Court in the interest of justice and equity.

2. Heard learned Senior Counsel for the petitioners and learned AAG for the respondents and perused the material on record.

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NC: 2026:KHC:22723 WP No. 24348 of 2025 HC-KAR

3. In addition to reiterating the various contentions urged in the petition and referring to the material on record, learned Senior Counsel for the petitioners submits that the petitioners, who have put in more than 25 years are entitled to regularization. It is also submitted that since the services of identically/similarly situated persons have already been regularised by the respondents, the petitioners are entitled to invoke the doctrine of parity and entitled for regularisation on this ground also.

4. In support of his submissions, he would place reliance upon the following judgments:

i) State of Karnataka v. Shashikala - WA No.5679-80/2000 in the High Court of Karnataka at Bengaluru dated 01.07.2002
ii) State of Karnataka v. Chandrashekarappa -WP No. 43246 -

43294 /2002 in the High Court of Karnataka at Bengaluru dated 14.01.2003

iii) Purnendu Mukhopadhyay Vs V K Kapoor - 2008 (14) SCC 403

iv) State of Karnataka v. K Bhagyalaksmi & Ors - WP No. 15716/2013 dated 29.10.2013

v) Nihal Singh Vs State of Punjab - 2013 (14) SCC 65

vi) Malathi Das & Ors. Vs. Suresh & Ors. Civil Appeal No. 3338/2014 -7- NC: 2026:KHC:22723 WP No. 24348 of 2025 HC-KAR

vii) Vinod Kumar Vs Union of India - SLP No. 22241-42/2016

viii) Jivanalal Vs Pravin Krishna - 2016 (15) SCC 747

ix) Dharam Singh and others Vs State Of U.P and Anr. Civil Appeal No(S). 8558 of 2018

x) Ravi Verma Vs Union of India - CA No. 2795-2796/2018

xi) Sheo Narain Nagar Vs State of Uttar Pradesh - 2018 (13) SCC 432

xii) Narendra Kumar Tiwari Vs State of Karnataka - 2018 (8) SCC 238

xiii) State of Karnataka Vs Khatoonbi - WP No. 107600/2017 in the High Court of Karnataka at Dharwad Bench dated 27.03.2019

xiv) State of Karnataka Vs Vijayamma - WA No. 4282/2012 in the High Court of Karnataka at Bengaluru dated 30.10.2019

xv) State of Karnataka Vs Revanna S - CA No. 5292/2019 xvi) Raman Kumar Vs Union of India - SLP No. 7898/2020 xvii) Joint Director of Agricultural v. Shankremma & Anr - WA No. 200005/2021 in the High Court of Karnataka at Kalburgi Bench dated 03.01.2022 xviii) Kuberappa Vs State of Karnataka & Ors - WP No. 107934/2017 in the High Court of Karnataka at Dharwad Bench dated 10.11.2022 xix) Dr. Sunitha N Vs Bangalore University Gnanabharathi and another -WP NO. 25103/2015(S-REG) dated 25.11.2022 -8- NC: 2026:KHC:22723 WP No. 24348 of 2025 HC-KAR xx) G Sandhya and others Vs State of Karnataka and others -WP NO.

19344/2024 C/w Premakumar M and others Vs State of Karnataka and others - WP No. 49497/2014 dated 16.05.2023 xxi) State of Karnataka Vs Mayanna Gowda - WP No. 8700/2021 dated 24.08.2023 xxii) State of Karnataka Vs Ashok Kumar - WP No. 201525/2023 dated 01.09.2023 xxiii) Om Prakash Banerjee Vs State of West Bengal reported in 2023 INSC 567 xxiv) Smt. Shanthalakshmi Vs State of Karnataka and others - WP No.40204/2012 (S-REG) C/w Sri. M Narayanaswamy and others Vs State of Karnataka and others - WP No.54553/2014 dated 22.07.2024 xxv) State of Madhya Pradesh Vs Shyam Kumar Yadav - SLP No. 26509/2018 dated 22.07.2024 xxvi) Mrs. Jayanti & Ors. V. The State of Karnataka & Ors.- WP No.7441/2021 (S-REG) in the High Court of Karnataka at Bengaluru dated 15.10.2024 xxvii) KM Shivagangamma Vs State of Karnataka & Ors - WP No. 201640/2016 in the High Court of Karnataka at Kalburgi Bench dated 22.10.2024 xxviii) Jaggo Vs UOI and others 2024 SCC Online SC 3826 xxix) Nagendra SG Vs KC Veeranna - CA No. 5586/2024 -9- NC: 2026:KHC:22723 WP No. 24348 of 2025 HC-KAR xxx) Mahanadi Coalfields Ltd Vs Brajrajnagar Coal Mines Worker's Union 2024 INSC 199 xxxi) Rajkaan Singh Vs Union of India 2024 INSC 621 xxxii) Bhola Nath Vs The State of Jharkhand & Ors - SLP(C)No. 30762 of 2024 xxxiii) Sri. Venkataraju V Vs. State of Karnataka and Others - WP. No. 4268/2022 (S-KSAT) In the High Court of Karnataka at Bengaluru dated 10.03.2025 xxxiv) P. Junjappa Vs The principal Cheif Conservator of Forests & Ors

-WP No. 6238/2020(S-KSAT) C/W WP No. 48123/2019(S-KAT) in the High Court of Karnataka at Bengaluru dated 17.03.2025 xxxv) N Ashok Vs State of Karnataka - WP No. 3552/2024 in the High Court of Karnataka at Bengaluru dated 20.03.2025 xxxvi) State of Karnataka & Ors. v. Ningappa Gudagi - WA No. 1180/2024 dated 24.03.2025 xxxvii) Somashekara & Ors. V. State of Karnataka & Anr - WP No. 988/2019 in the High Court of Karnataka at Bengaluru dated 25.03.2025 xxxviii) Mahabaleshwar & Anr Vs State of Karnataka & Ors - WP No. 18058/2025 (S-KSAT) In the High Court of Karnataka at Bengaluru dated 28.04.2025 xxxix) Lakshmana Vs State of Karnataka & - WP No. 26016/2024 (S-

KSAT) in the High Court of Karnataka at Bengaluru dated 29.04.2025

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NC: 2026:KHC:22723 WP No. 24348 of 2025 HC-KAR xl) Thyagaraju v. State of Karnataka & Anr -WP No. 3805/2023 dated 14.07.2025 xli) State of Karnataka & Ors Vs K Dodda Arasaiah & Anr - WA No. 1882/2024 in the High Court of Karnataka at Bengaluru dated 27.11.2025 xlii) Sharanayya Swamy Vs State of Karnataka & Ors - WP No. 100911/2022 in the High Court of Karnataka at Dharwad Bench dated 02.12.2025 xliii) The Registrar & Ors. Vs Chikkanna & Ors. WA No. 705/2024 C/W CCC No.626/2024 ,WA No. 629/2024,WA No. 711 of 2024 ,WA No. 742/2024 in the High Court of Karnataka at Bengaluru dated 16.12.2025 xliv) Ramesh R Vs State of Karnataka Anr. - WP No. 25892/2024 In the High Court of Karnataka at Bengaluru dated 16.12.2025 xlv) Shripal Vs Nagar Nigam, Ghaziabad 2025 INSC 144 xlvi) State of Karnataka & Ors Vs N Ashok SLP Diary No. 69711/2025 xlvii) Mahendra Prasad Agarwal v. Aravind Kumar Singh SLap 17141/2025 xlviii) Chandrappa Vs. State of Karnataka and Others - WP. No. 10973/2023 In the High Court of Karnataka at Bengaluru dated 03.04.2025 xlix) Nabisab V. The State of Karnataka & Ors. - WA No. 200160/2025 (S-REG) in the High Court of Karnataka at Bengaluru dated 30.01.2026

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NC: 2026:KHC:22723 WP No. 24348 of 2025 HC-KAR

l) State of Karnataka Vs Somashekara & Ors. - WA No. 1072/2025 in the High Court of Karnataka at Bengaluru dated 20.02.2026 li) Saraswati Vs Rashmi Mahesh & ors. - CCC No. 200302 C/W WA No. 200331/2025 in the High Court of Karnataka at Kalburgi Bench dated 25.02.2026 lii) The State of Karnataka & Ors v. Smt. Lakshmi Devi - WP No. 37850/2025 (S-KSAT) in High Court of Karnataka at Bengaluru dated 11.03.2026 liii) State of Karnataka & Ors Vs Mahabaleshwar & ANR -SLP Diary No. 11476/2026 dated 08.04.2026 liv) Pawan Kumar and others Vs Union of India and others - 2026 SCC Online SC 200 lv) Mahendra Prasad Agarwal V. Aravind Kumar Singh & Ors. -2026 INSC 175 lvi) Abhishek Sharma Vs State of JK 2026 INSC 220 lvii) Smt. T. Meenakshi & Ors. Vs. State of Karnataka and Others -

WP. No. 29102/2024 (S-RES) in High Court of Karnataka at Bengaluru dated 03.02.2026 lviii) Satish Mangesh Chandavar vs. The State of Karnataka and Others - WP. No. 104676/2023 (S-KAT) dated 27.03.2026

5. Per contra, learned AAG submits that if reasonable time is granted, respondents would consider the and pass

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NC: 2026:KHC:22723 WP No. 24348 of 2025 HC-KAR appropriate order/take appropriate decision in accordance with law in the light of the following judgments:

i) Secretary, State of Karnataka vs Umadevi (3)- (2006) 4 SCC 1
ii) Official Liquidator vs Dayanand - (2008) 10 SCC 1
iii) Satya Prakash vs State of Bihar - (2010) 4 SCC 179
iv) Punjab Water Supply and Sewerage Board vs Ranjodh Singh. - (2007) 2 SCC 491
v) State of Rajasthan vs Dayalal - (2011) 2 SCC 429
vi) Union of India vs Vartak LabourUnion (2) - (2011) 4 SCC 200
vii) Upendra Singh vs State of Bihar. - (2018) 3 SCC 680
viii) Madam Singh vs State of Haryana - 2026 INSC 379 -
Civil Appeal No.1996/2024
ix) Karnataka Power Transmission Corporation Limited vs Nagaraj B R - Final Order dated 24.01.2025 in W.A.No.34/2021
x) Vibhuti Shankar Pandey vs State of Madhya Pradesh -
(2023) 3 SCC 639
xi) Union of India vs Ilmo Devi - (2021) 20 SCC 290
xii) Union of India vs All India Trade Union Congress -
(2019) 5 SCC 773
xiii) State of Jammu & Kashmir vs District Bar Association, Bandipora - (2017) 3 SCC 410
xiv) Government of Tamil Nadu vs Tamil Nadu Makkal Nala Paniyalargal - (2023) SCC Online 393
xv) Ernakulam Regional Co-operative Milk Producers Union Limited vs Nithu -(2024) 19 SCC 695
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NC: 2026:KHC:22723 WP No. 24348 of 2025 HC-KAR

6. By way of reply, learned Senior Counsel for the petitioners submits that liberty may be reserved in favour of the petitioners to submit additional representation, which may be directed to be considered by the respondents within a stipulated time frame.

7. In view of the aforesaid facts and circumstances, I deem it just and appropriate to dispose of this petition by issuing certain directions. In the result, I pass the following:

ORDER
i) The petition is hereby disposed of.
ii) Liberty is reserved in favour of the petitioners to submit additional representation within a period of four weeks from today.
iii) The concerned respondents shall address the grievances of the concerned petitioners and consider and take appropriate decision/pass appropriate orders on the representations for regularisation submitted by the petitioners in relation to the concerned respondents bearing in mind the judgments of the Hon'ble Apex Court and this Court referred to
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NC: 2026:KHC:22723 WP No. 24348 of 2025 HC-KAR above and in accordance with law within a period of two months from the date of receipt of a copy of this order.

Sd/-

(S.R.KRISHNA KUMAR) JUDGE MDS List No.: 3 Sl No.: 0