CENTRAL ADMINISTRATIVE TRIBUNAL BANGALORE BENCH, BENGALURU ORIGINAL APPLICATION NO.170/00513/2025 DATED THIS THE 16^TH DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2026 CORAM:

HON’BLE MRS. JUSTICE S. SUJATHA, MEMBER (J)

HON’BLE DR. SANJIV KUMAR, MEMBER (A)

Dr. M.V. Venkatesh, IAS, S/o Late Venkataramaiah, Aged about 47 years, Commissioner for Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments, Bengaluru Minto Anjaneya Bhavana, Aluru Venkatarao Road, Chamarajpet, Bengaluru 560 018 And residing at No. 394, RHBCS Layout, 2nd Stage, 60 feet road, Srigangadhada Kavalu, Nagarabhavi, Near Arun Ice Cream, Bengaluru 560 091. .... Applicant (By Shri P.S. Rajagopal, Senior Advocate along with Shri A.

Vishwanath Bhat, Advocate)

Vs.

1. The Union of India, Represented by Secretary, Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pension, Department of Personnel & Training, North Block, New Delhi 110 001.

2. The Election Commission of India, Represented by its Principal Secretary, Nirvachan Sadan, Ashoka Road, New Delhi 110 001

3. The Chief Secretary to Government of Karnataka, Vidhana Soudha, Bengaluru 560 001

4. The State of Karnataka, Represented by Secretary, Department of Personnel & Administrative Reforms, Vidhana Soudha, Bengaluru 560 001. .… Respondents (By Shri S. Prakash Shetty, Senior Panel Counsel for Respondent No. 1, Shri S.R. Dodawad Advocate for Respondent No. 2, Shri Mahantesh Shettar, AGA for Respondent Nos. 3 & 4)

O R D E R (ORAL)

PER: JUSTICE S. SUJATHA, MEMBER (J)

This application is filed by the applicant under Section 19 of the Administrative Tribunals Act, 1985 seeking the following reliefs:

“WHEREFORE, the applicant humbly prays that this Hon’ble Tribunal may be pleased call for the entire records pertaining to the order dated 31.10.2025 vide Annexure-A12, peruse and declare that the same is arbitrary, illegal, unjust, suffers out of improper application of mind and is not only in violation of Rule 3 (1) (a) of the All India Service (D&A) Rules, 1969 but also the rights guaranteed to the applicant under Article 14, 16 and 21 of the Constitution of India.

As a consequence, thereof, a. Issue a writ of certiorari or any appropriate order or direction to quash the impugned order bearing No. DPAR 212 SEC 2025, Bengaluru dated 31.10.2025, issued by the Respondent No. 4, vide Annexure A12; and b. Pass such other order as this Hon’ble Tribunal deems fit and proper to grant in the facts and circumstances of the case including the cost of this Petition, in the interest of justice and equity.”

2. Facts in brief as narrated by the applicant are that he entered into the services of Indian Administrative Service (IAS) in the year 2009. The applicant while working as Commissioner for Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments, Bengaluru, the Respondent No. 2 addressed a letter dated 26.09.2025 to the Chief Electoral Officer, Karnataka, Bengaluru inter alia requesting him to ensure all the officers whose name figures in the list enclosed therein are informed well in time to attend the Briefing Meeting on the stipulated date, time and venue, further directing the Chief Electoral Officer, Karnataka, Bengaluru to get the confirmation report in writing of the officers whose names find place in the list annexed to the said letter. The applicant's name was found in the said list. On receipt of the said information, the applicant was preparing himself to attend the said Briefing Meeting scheduled at 9 AM on 03.10.2025 at New Delhi. Due to his medical issues, not being able to attend the Briefing Meeting, he sent an e-mail to the Respondent No. 2 seeking for exemption from attending election Briefing Meeting on 03.10.2025 but the Respondent No. 2 insisted his presence vide reply e-mail. Subsequently, when he was still under constant treatment for the chronic gout, he was informed that he was appointed as General Observer for the General Election to Legislative Assembly of Bihar and Bye-Elections, 2025 vide letter dated 13.10.2025 issued by the Respondent No. 2 but his health condition worsened an