IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 16^TH DAY OF OCTOBER, 2025 PRESENT THE HON'BLE MR. VIBHU BAKHRU, CHIEF JUSTICE AND THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE C.M. POONACHA WRIT APPEAL NO. 1599 OF 2025 (EDN-RES)

BETWEEN:

1. KARNATAKA EXAMINATION AUTHORITY

18^TH CROSS, SAMPIGE ROAD MALLESHWARAM BANGALURU - 560 012 REPRESENTED BY ITS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.

…APPELLANT (BY SRI N.K. RAMESH, ADVOCATE)

AND:

Digitally signed by

1. UNION OF INDIA PRABHAKAR SWETHA MINISTRY OF YOUTH AFFAIRS & SPORTS KRISHNAN HALL NO. 103 Location: High Court of JAWAHARLAL NEHRU STADIUM Karnataka LODHI ROAD NEW DELHI - 110 003 REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY.

2. DEPARTMENT OF YOUTH EMPOWERMENT AND SPORTS GOVT. OF KARNATAKA NRUPATUNGA ROAD BANGALORE - 560 002 REPRESENTED BY ITS COMMISSIONER.

3. SRI KOUSHIK B. K.

S/O SRI B.M. KRISHNA MURTHY AGED 19 YEARS R/AT NO.1, SANJAY LAYOUT VINAYAKANAGAR RAMOHALLI (P)

KENGERI (H)

NEAR V.R. INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL BENGALURU - 560 074.

…RESPONDENTS (BY SRI H.S. SURESH, CGC FOR R-1, SRI K.S. HARISH, GOVERNMENT ADVOCATE FOR R-2 &

SRI SKANDA KUMAR, ADVOCATE FOR SRI M.D. RAGHUNATH, ADVOCATE FOR C/R-3)

THIS WRIT APPEAL IS FILED UNDER SECTION 4 OF THE KARNATAKA HIGH COURT ACT PRAYING TO SET ASIDE THE ORDER DATED 16.07.2025 PASSED BY THE LEARNED SINGLE JUDGE IN W.P No. 18861/2025, AND DISMISS THE WRIT PETITION IN THE INTEREST OF JUSTICE AND EQUITY.

THIS APPEAL, COMING ON FOR ORDERS, THIS DAY, JUDGMENT WAS DELIVERED THEREIN AS UNDER:

CORAM: HON'BLE MR. VIBHU BAKHRU, CHIEF JUSTICE and HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE C.M. POONACHA

ORAL JUDGMENT

(PER: HON'BLE MR. VIBHU BAKHRU, CHIEF JUSTICE)

1. For the reasons stated in the application―I.A.No.2/2025, the same is allowed. The delay of 38 days in filing the appeal is condoned.

2. The appellant (Karnataka Examination Authority) has filed the present appeal impugning an order dated 16.07.2025 passed by the learned Single Judge of this Court in W.P.No.18861/2025 (EDN-RES). The said petition was filed by respondent No.3 (writ petitioner), inter alia, praying that directions be issued to reconsider his application for admission to Medical Colleges for the MBBS degree under 'Sports Quota'.

3. The writ petitioner was found ineligible for admission under the 'Sports Quota' on the ground that the sports events in which he had participated were not recognized in terms of the Circular dated 13.05.2025 and therefore, the writ petitioner did not satisfy the criteria as set out under the Karnataka Selection of Candidates for Admission to Government Seats in Professional Educational Institutions Rules, 2006 as amended by the Karnataka Selection of Candidates for Admission to Government Seats in Professional Educational Institutions (Amendment) Rules, 2024 [the Rules].

4. The learned Single Judge had rejected the said contention and found that the writ petitioner was eligible for being considered under the 'Sports Quota' on account of having participated in the following events:

i) 67^th National School Games 2023-2024 in Taekwondo (Boys U-19) held at Betul, Madhya Pradesh between

31.12.2023 to 05.01.2024; and ii) 40^th National Senior Kyorugi Taekwondo Championships, 2024.

5. The writ petitioner had won a silver medal in 67^th National School Games and had participated in the 40^th National Senior Kyorugi Taekwondo Championships, 2024.

6. The learned Single Judge also observed that the 40^th National Senior Kyorugi Taekwondo Championship 2024 had been organised by the Puducherry Taekwondo Sports Association, which is affiliated to Indian Olympic Association [IOA] and is also recognised by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India [MY & S]. Accordingly, the learned Single Judge had directed the appellant to reconsider the writ petitioner’s eligibility for admission under the Sports Quota in the light of the observations made in the impugned order, and if the writ petitioner satisfies the same to take further steps for admitting the writ petitioner.

7. The appellant has impugned the said order on essentially, two grounds. First