HC-KAR IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA, AT DHARWAD DATED THIS THE 8^TH DAY OF OCTOBER, 2025 PRESENT THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S G PANDIT AND THE HON'BLE MRS. JUSTICE GEETHA K.B.

WRIT PETITION NO. 103034 OF 2023 (S-KAT)

C/W WRIT PETITION NO. 104797 OF 2024 IN WP NO.103034/2023 BETWEEN:

1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA BY ITS PRL. SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT AGRICULTURE DEPARTMENT M.S. BUILDING, BENGALURU-560001.

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…PETITIONERS (BY SRI. SANTOSH B. MALAGOUDAR, ADVOCATE)

AND:

1. SRI. ABDULKHADER RESHMI S/O FAKIR SAAB RASHMI AGED ABOUT 68 YEARS, RETIRED ASSISTANT AGRICULTURAL OFFICER, AGRICULTURE DEPARTMENT, PRESENTLY R/AT DAYANAND COLONY, HC-KAR KESHAVAPURA HUBBALLI-580023, DHARWAD DISTRICT.

2. THE REGISTRAR KARNATAKA LOKAYUKTA M.S. BUILDING, DR. AMBEDKAR VEEDHI, BENGALURU-560001.

3. THE ADDL. REGISTRAR OF ENQUIRIES-10, KARNATAKA LOKAYUKTA, M.S. BUILDING, DR. AMBEDKAR VEEDHI, BENGALURU-560001.

…RESPONDENTS (BY SRI. G.K. HIREGOUDAR, PRL. GOVERNMENT ADVOCATE)

THIS WP IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF CONSTITUTION OF INDIA, PRAYING TO, ISSUE A WRIT IN THE NATURE OF CERTIORARI TO QUASH THE IMPUGNED ORDER PASSED BY THE KARNATAKA STATE ADMINISTRATIVE TRIBUNAL, BELAGAVI BENCH IN APPLICATION, NO. 9/2018 BY ORDER DATED. 25.06.2020 VIDE ANNEXURE-A.

IN WP NO.104797/2024 BETWEEN:

1. KARNATAKA LOKAYUKTA REP. BY ITS REGISTRAR M.S.BUILDING, DR. AMBEDKAR VEEDHI, BENGALURU 560001.

2. THE ADDITIONAL REGISTRAR OF ENQUIRIES 10 KARNATAKA LOKAYUKTA, DR. B.R.AMBEDKAR VEEDHI, BENGALURU 560001.

…PETITIONERS (BY SRI. SANTOSH B. MALAGOUDAR, ADVOCATE)

AND:

1. SRI. ABDUL KHADER F. RESHMI S/O. FAKIR SAAB RESHMI HC-KAR AGED ABOUT 66 YEARS, OCC. RETIRED ASST. AGRICULTURE OFFICER AGRICULTURE DEPARTMENT R/O. DAYANAND COLONY KESHWAPUR HUBLI, DIST. DHARWAD.

2. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA R/BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, VIKAS SOUDHA, BENGLURU 560001.

3. THE COMMISSIONER FOR AGRICULTURE DEPARTMENT SHESHADRI ROAD, BENGALURU 580001.

…RESPONDENTS (BY SRI. G.K. HIREGOUDAR, PRL. GOVERNMENT ADVOCATE)

THIS WP IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF CONSTITUTION OF INDIA, PRAYING TO, CALL FOR RECORDS IN RESPECT OF THE IMPUGNED ORDER DATED 25-06-2020 MADE IN APPLICATION NO.9/2018 ON THE FILE OF THE KARNATAKA STATE ADMINISTRATIVE TRIBUNAL. QUASH THE IMPUGNED ORDER DATED 25-06-2020 MADE IN APPLICATION NO.9/2018 PASSED BY THE KARNATAKA STATE ADMINISTRATIVE TRIBUNAL, BELAGAVI, PRODUCED AS ANNEXURE-B BY ISSUE OF WRIT OF CERTIORARI OR ANY OTHER SUITABLE WRIT OR ORDER OR DIRECTIONS AND GRANT SUCH OTHER RELIEFS AS THIS COURT DEEMS FIT UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE PRESENT CASE INCLUDING ON ORDER FOR COSTS MAY KINDLY BE PASSED IN THE INTEREST OF JUSTICE AND EQUITY.

THESE PETITIONS, COMING ON FOR ORDERS, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER CORAM: THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S G PANDIT AND THE HON'BLE MRS. JUSTICE GEETHA K.B.

HC-KAR

ORAL ORDER

(PER: THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S G PANDIT)

The State as well as Karnataka Lokayutka are before this Court aggrieved by order dated 25.06.2020 in Application No.9/2018 passed by the Karnataka State Administrative Tribunal, Belagavi (for short, ‘Tribunal’) wherein the articles of charges against respondent No.1 is quashed.

2. Heard learned Principal Government Advocate Sri G.K. Hiregoudar for petitioner/State as well as learned counsel Sri Santosh B. Malagoudar, for Lokayukta and perused the writ petition papers.

3. It is noticed from the writ petition that respondent who was working as Assistant Agricultural Officer in Agricultural Department retired from service after attaining the age of superannuation on 31.05.2014. Prior to his retirement an incident took place during 2011-2012. The State Government entrusted enquiry to the petitioner-

HC-KAR Karnataka Lokayukta under Rule-14A of Karnatak