IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA,AT DHARWAD DATED THIS THE 16^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. 103012 OF 2025 (S-KAT)

BETWEEN:

1. THE KARNAAKA LOKAYUKTA REPRESENTED BY ITS REGISTRAR M.S. BUILDING, AMBEDKAR VEEDHI, BENGALURU-560001.

2. THE ADDITIONAL REGISTRAR OF ENQUIRES-11 KARNATAKA LOKAYUKTA M.S.BUILDING, AMBEDKAR VEEDHI, BENGALURU-560001.

BHARATHI H M Digitally signed by B Lo H c A a R ti A on T : H H I I H G H M COURT …PETITIONERS OF KARNATAKA DHARWAD BENCH Date: 2025.10.27

15:03:43 +0530 (BY SRI. ANIL KALE, ADVOCATE)

AND:

1. SRI S. CHANDRASHEKAR S/O. LATE S VEERANNA AGE. 51 YEARS, OCC. SHIRESTADAR TALUK OFFICE KUDLIGI, R/O.7^TH WARD UJJINI ROAD, VEERSOMESHWARA BADAVANE, KOTTURU, DIST. VIJAYANAGAR-583134.

2. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA REPRESENTED BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY REVENUE DEPARTMENT M.S.BUILDING, VIDHAN SOUDHA, BANGALORE-560001.

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

THIS WP IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA, PRAYING TO, ISSUE A WRIT IN THE NATURE OF CERTIORARI AND QUASH THE ORDER DATED 19.08.2024 PASSED BY THE KARNATAKA STATE ADMINISTRATIVE TRIBUNAL, BELAGAVI IN APPLICATION NO.10706/2023 PRODUCED AT ANNEXURE-A, IN THE INTEREST OF JUSTICE AND EQUITY.

THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY HEARING, 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.

ORAL ORDER

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

The Karnataka Lokayukta represented by its Registrar is before this Court under Article 226 of the Constitution of India questioning the Order dated 19.08.2024 in Application No.10706 of 2023 passed by the Karnataka State Administrative Tribunal, Belagavi, (for short ‘the Tribunal’) wherein the respondent’s application is allowed quashing the order of Entrustment dated 08.12.2022 at Annexure- A14 as well as quashed the articles of charge dated

04.02.2023 at Annexure-A16.

2. Heard learned counsel Sri Anil Kale, for the petitioner and Sri. G.K.Hiregoudar, learned Principal Government Advocate for respondent No.2. Perused the entire writ petition papers.

3. It is seen that Entrustment order dated

08.12.2022 was passed in respect of petitioner as well as other officers and one more order dated 23.03.2020 was passed in respect of Group-A Senior Scale Officer Sri P.N. Lokesh. The entrustment order in respect of the same incident in respect of Sri P.N. Lokesh dated 23.02.2020 was the subject matter of Application No.10609 of 2020 and the tribunal by its order dated 09.02.2021 (Annexure-A17) quashed the order of entrustment solely on the ground of non-application of mind. Against the said order of the tribunal dated 09.02.2021, no writ petition is filed either by the Lokayukta or State Government before this Court. In respect of the present respondent on the same incident, taking note of the fact that in respect of. Sri P.N. Lokesh, Assistant Commissioner, the order of entrustment is set aside, the entrustment order in respect of the respondent herein was also quashed.

4. Learned counsel Sri Anil Kale, for the petitioner submits that the petitioners have not challenged the quashing of entrustment order in respect of Sri P.N. Lokesh. When the entrustment order in respect of other co- employee in respect of the same incident has been quashed and when it has become final, there is no reason to interfere with the present impugned order whereunder the entrustment order is quashed. Thus, we do not see any reason to interfere with the impugned order. Accordingly, the writ petition stands rejected.

Sd/-

(S G PANDIT)

JUDGE Sd/-

(GEETHA K.B.)

JUDGE VMB CT-CMU LIST NO.: 1 SL NO.: 36