Karnataka High Court
Sri. Shivaraju vs State Of Karnataka on 23 April, 2026
Author: S.R.Krishna Kumar
Bench: S.R.Krishna Kumar
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NC: 2026:KHC:22490
WP No. 34654 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. 34654 OF 2024 (S-RES)
BETWEEN:
SRI. SHIVARAJU
S/O KARIYAIAH,
AGED ABOUT 60 YEARS,
WORKED AS FOREST WATCHER,
OFFICE ASSISTANT (1982-2024)
O/O RANGE FOREST OFFICE,
NELAMANGALA, BENGALURU RURAL - 562 123
R/AT # 28/24, YARUB NAGAR,
BEHIND URDU SCHOOL,
CHANNAPATNA TOWN,
RAMANAGAR DIST. - 562 161
...PETITIONER
(BY SRI. V. LAKSHMINARAYANA, SENIOR COUNSEL FOR
SRI. VIKRAM BALAJI, ADVOCATE)
AND:
Digitally
signed by 1. STATE OF KARNATAKA
CHANDANA
BM REP. BY ITS CHIEF SECRETARY
Location: VIDHANA SOUDHA
High Court of BENGALURU - 560 001.
Karnataka
2. THE ADDITIONAL CHIEF SECRETARY,
DEPARTMENT OF FOREST,
ECOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENT
M.S. BUILDING, B
ENGALURU - 560 001.
3. THE PRINCIPAL CHIEF CONSERVATOR OF FORESTS,
HEAD OF FOREST FORCE,
ARANYA BHAVANA, 18TH CROSS,
MALLESWARAM,
BENGALURU - 560 003
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NC: 2026:KHC:22490
WP No. 34654 of 2024
HC-KAR
4. THE CHIEF CONSERVATOR OF FORESTS,
BENGALURU CIRCLE,
VANA VIKASA BUILDING, MALLESWARAM,
BENGALURU - 560 003.
5. DEPUTY CONSERVATOR OF FOREST,
BENGALURU RURAL DIVISION,
DEVANAHALLI - 562 110
6. RANGE FOREST OFFICER,
NELAMANAGALA RANGE,
SONDEKOPPA CIRCLE,
NELAMANGALA - 562 123
...RESPONDENTS
(BY SRI. REUBAN JACOB, AAG A/W
SRI. G. RAMESH NAIK, AGA)
THIS W.P. IS FILED UNDER ARTICLE 226 OF THE
CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO DIRECTING THE
RESPONDENT TO REGULARIZE THE SERVICE OF THE
PETITIONER ON COMPLETION OF 10 YEARS OF SERVICE UNDER
THE DHARWAD SCHEME DATED 06.08.1990 (ANNEXURE-D) ON
THE PRINCIPLE OF PARITY AND THE PETITIONER CANNOT BE
DISCRIMINATED IN THE MATTER OF ABSORPTION AND
REGULARIZATION INCLUDING THE FIXATION OF PAY-SCALE AND
PENSIONARY BENEFITS.
THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR ORDERS, THIS DAY,
ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER:
CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S.R.KRISHNA KUMAR
ORAL ORDER
In this petition, petitioner seeks the following reliefs:
a. Issue a Writ of Mandamus directing the Respondents to regularize the service of the petitioner on completion of 10 years of service under -3- NC: 2026:KHC:22490 WP No. 34654 of 2024 HC-KAR the Dharwad Scheme dated 06.08.1990 (Annexure- D) on the principle of parity and the Petitioner 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 petitioner 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 petitioner submits that the petitioner, who has 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 respondents, the petitioner is 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:
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NC: 2026:KHC:22490 WP No. 34654 of 2024 HC-KAR
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
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 -5- NC: 2026:KHC:22490 WP No. 34654 of 2024 HC-KAR
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 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 -6- NC: 2026:KHC:22490 WP No. 34654 of 2024 HC-KAR 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 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 -7- NC: 2026:KHC:22490 WP No. 34654 of 2024 HC-KAR 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 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 -8- NC: 2026:KHC:22490 WP No. 34654 of 2024 HC-KAR 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 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 -9- NC: 2026:KHC:22490 WP No. 34654 of 2024 HC-KAR 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 decision in accordance with law in the light of the following judgments:
i) Secretary, State of Karnataka vs Umadevi (3)- (2006) 4 SCC 1
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NC: 2026:KHC:22490 WP No. 34654 of 2024 HC-KAR
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
6. By way of reply, learned Senior Counsel for the petitioner submits that liberty may be reserved in favour of the petitioner to submit additional representation, which may be
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NC: 2026:KHC:22490 WP No. 34654 of 2024 HC-KAR 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 petitioner, ventilating their grievances for regularization to the respondent.
ii) Liberty is reserved in favour of the petitioner to submit additional representation within a period of four weeks from today.
iii) The concerned respondents shall address the grievances of the concerned petitioner and consider and take appropriate decision/pass appropriate orders on the representations for regularisation submitted by the petitioner 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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Sd/-
(S.R.KRISHNA KUMAR) JUDGE MDS List No.: 3 Sl No.: 0