Karnataka High Court
Sri Deve Gowda vs Chief Secretary on 23 April, 2026
Author: S.R.Krishna Kumar
Bench: S.R.Krishna Kumar
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NC: 2026:KHC:22488
WP No. 15752 of 2024
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. 15752 OF 2024 (S-RES)
BETWEEN:
1. SRI DEVE GOWDA
S/O JAVARE GOWDA,
AGED ABOUT 61 YEARS,
RETIRED AS DRIVER
O/O SERICULTURE DEAPRTMENT
TECHNICAL SERVICE CENTER,
HITTANAHALLI KOPPALU,
MALAVALLI TALUK,
MANDYA - 571 424.
R/A DODDE GOWDANA KOPPALU,
KIRUGAVALU HOBLI, MALAVALLI TALUK,
MANDYA - 571 424
2. SRI ERAPPA
S/O CHANNAVEERAGOWDA,
AGED AOBUT 61 YEARS,
Digitally WORKED AS D-GROUP (FIELD ASSISTANT)
signed by O/O OFFICE OF SERICULTURE DEVELOPMENT
CHANDANA
BM OFFICER TECHNICAL SERVICE CENTER
Location: D-HALASAHALLI DHANAGURU,
High Court of MALAVALLI TALUK, MANDYA - 571 424.
Karnataka R/A MEGHALAPURA, HADLY POST,
MALAVALLI TALUK, MANDYA - 571 424.
3. SRI C. MARISWAMY
W/O LATE CHOWDEGOWDA
AGED ABOUT 61 YEARS,
WORKED AS FIRST DIVISION ASSISTANT,
O/O ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF SERICULTURE
MADDUR DIVISION, MADDUR - 571 428.
R/A #8, HKV NAGAR, 2ND WARD
RIGHT SHIVA CONVENTION HALL,
B M ROAD, MADDUR - 571 428.
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WP No. 15752 of 2024
HC-KAR
4. SRI HONNAPPA
S/O NINGEGOWDA,
AGED ABOUT 61 YEARS,
RETIRED AS SECOND DIVISION ASSISTANT,
O/O SERICULTUE DEPARTMENT,
TECHNICAL SERVICE CENTER,
K M DODDI, MADDUR TALUK,
MANDYA - 571 422.
R/O THORE BOMMANAHALLI,
H N HALLTI POST, CA KERE HOBLI,
MADDUR TALUK, MANDYA - 571 422.
5. SRI M S SHANMUKA ARADHYA
S/O LATE SHAMBULINGA ARADHYA,
AGED ABOUT 60 YEARS,
RETIRED AS GROUP D EMPLOYEE,
O/O TECHNICAL SERVICE CENTRE,
KODAMBALLI, CHANNAPATA TALUK,
RAMNAGAR - 571 424.
R/A DALAVAIAH KODIHALLI
HALAGUR HOBLI, MALAVALLAI TALUK,
MADNYA DISTRICT- 571 424.
...PETITIONERS
(BY SRI. V. LAKSHMINARAYANA, SENIOR COUNSEL FOR
SRI. VIKRAM BALAJI, & SMT. ANUSHA L., ADVOCATES)
AND:
1. CHIEF SECRETARY
GOVERNMENT OF KARNATKA,
DEAPRTMENT OF SOCILA WERLFARE,
VIDHANA DR. AMBEDKAR VEEDHI,
BENGALURU - 560 001.
2. THE PRINCIPAL SECRETARY
SERICULTURE DEPARTMENT,
VIKAS SOUDHA, AMBEDKAR VEEHI,
BENGALURU - 560 001.
3. THE COMMISSIONER
SERICULTURE DEPARTMENT
5TH FLOOR, M S BUILDING,
DR. AMBEKAR ROAD,
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NC: 2026:KHC:22488
WP No. 15752 of 2024
HC-KAR
BENGALURU - 560 001.
4. DIRECTOR,
SERICULTURE DEPARTMENT,
M S BUILDING, AMBEDKAR VEEDHI,
BENGALRUU - 560 001.
5. CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
ZILLA PANCHAYAT,
MANDYA - 571 401.
6. ASST. DIRECTOR,
SERICULTURE DEPARTMENT,
MADDUR DIVISION, MADDUR - 571 428
7. ASST. DIRECTOR
SERICULTURE DEPARTMENT
MANDYA DIVISION,
MANDYA - 571 401.
...RESPONDENTS
(BY SRI. REUBAN JACOB, AAG A/W
SRI. G. RAMESH NAIK, AGA FOR R1 TO R4, R6 & R7;
SRI. M. S. DEVARAJU, ADVOCATE FOR R5)
THIS W.P. IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 & 227 OF THE
CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO DIRECTING THE
RESPONDENT TO REGULARIZE THE SERVICE OF THE
PETITIONERS ON COMPLETION OF 10 YEARS OF SERVICE ON
THE PRINCIPLE OF PARITY AND THE PETITIONERS CANNOT BE
DISCRIMINATED IN THE MATTER OF ABSORPTION AND
REGULARIZATION INCLUDING THE FIXATION OF PAY-SCALE AND
PENSIONARY BENEFITS.
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
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WP No. 15752 of 2024
HC-KAR
ORAL ORDER
In this petition, petitioners seek the following reliefs:
a. Issue a Writ of Mandamus directing the Respondents to regularize the service of the Applicants on completion of 10 years of service on the principle of parity and the Applicants cannot be discriminated in the matter of absorption and regularization including the fixation of pay-scale and pensionary benefits; And b. 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.
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 35 years are entitled to regularization. It is also submitted that since the services of identically/similarly situated persons have already been regularised by the -5- NC: 2026:KHC:22488 WP No. 15752 of 2024 HC-KAR 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
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 -6- NC: 2026:KHC:22488 WP No. 15752 of 2024 HC-KAR
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 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 -7- NC: 2026:KHC:22488 WP No. 15752 of 2024 HC-KAR 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 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 -8- NC: 2026:KHC:22488 WP No. 15752 of 2024 HC-KAR 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 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 -9- NC: 2026:KHC:22488 WP No. 15752 of 2024 HC-KAR 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
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
- 10 -
NC: 2026:KHC:22488 WP No. 15752 of 2024 HC-KAR 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 since the petitioners have not submitted any representation ventilating their grievances prior to filing of the present petition, the present petition may be treated as a representation and the respondents would consider the same and pass appropriate order/take appropriate
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NC: 2026:KHC:22488 WP No. 15752 of 2024 HC-KAR 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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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 by treating the present petition as a representation submitted by the petitioners, ventilating their grievances for regularization to the respondent.
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
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NC: 2026:KHC:22488 WP No. 15752 of 2024 HC-KAR relation to the concerned respondents bearing in mind the judgments of the Hon'ble Apex Court and this Court referred to 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