IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA, AT DHARWAD

DATED THIS THE 8^TH DAY OF DECEMBER, 2025

PRESENT

THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S G PANDIT

AND

THE HON'BLE MRS JUSTICE GEETHA K.B.

WRIT APPEAL NO.100729 OF 2025 (S-RES)

BETWEEN:

1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA,

REP. BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY,

DEPARTMENT OF RURAL

DEVELOPMENT & PANCHAYAT RAJ,

3^RD FLOOR, M.S. BUILDING,

AMBEKDAR VEEDHI, BANGALORE-560 001.

2. THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR

AND UNDER SECRETARY TO THE GOVERNMENT,

BY DESIGNATION,

DEPARTMENT OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT

AND PANCHAYAT RAJ,

3^RD FLOOR, M.S. BUILDING,

RAKESH

S

AMBEDKAR VEEDHI, BENGALURU-560 001.

HARIHAR

Digitally signed by

RAKESH S HARIHAR

Location: HIGH

C KA O R U N R A T T O A F KA 3. THE COMMISSIONER,

DHARWAD BENCH

DEPARTMENT OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT

AND PANCHAYAT RAJ, BENGALURU-560 001.

4. THE PRINCIPAL SECRETARY,

DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC INSTITUTION

AND PRIMARY EDUCATION,

BENGALURU-560 001.

5. THE DIRECTOR, DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC LIBRARY, CUBBON PARK, BENGALURU-560 001. 6. THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR DISTRICT CENTRAL LIBRARY, KARWAR, UTTARA KANNADA-581 301.

…APPELLANTS (BY SRI. SHARAD V. MAGADUM, AGA)

AND:

SRI RAMAMURTI S/O GANAPATHI HEGDE AGE. 51 YEARS, OCC. LIBRARY SUPERVISOR, G.P. LIBRARY, UNCHALLI, R/O. HALSINAKOPPA, UNCHALLI, TQ. SIRSI, DIST. UTTARA KANNADA.

…RESPONDENT (BY SRI. GIRISH V. BHAT, ADVOCATE)

THIS WRIT APPEAL IS FILED UNDER SECTION 4 OF KARNATAKA HIGH COURT ACT, 1961, PRAYING TO ALLOW THE WRIT APPEAL BY SETTING ASIDE THE ORDER DATED 17.02.2025 PASSED BY THE LEARNED HON’BLE SINGLE BENCH OF THIS COURT IN WP.NO.106282/2024 & ETC. THIS WRIT APPEAL COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY HEARING, THIS DAY, JUDGMENT WAS DELIVERED THEREIN AS UNDER:

CORAM: THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S G PANDIT AND THE HON'BLE MRS JUSTICE GEETHA K.B.

ORAL JUDGMENT

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

This appeal by the State filed under Section 4 of the High Court of Karnataka Act, 1961 is directed against the order dated 17.02.2025 in W.P.No.106282/2024 whereunder by following the order passed in W.P.No.100926/2022 of a Co-ordinate Bench, the following order was passed:

“(i) The petition is allowed.

(ii) The endorsement dated 06.08.2024 issued by the respondent No.2 vide Annexure-M stands quashed.

(iii) Mandamus issues to the respondents to make payment of six months minimum wages difference as is being paid to Library Supervisor at Kalaburgi District between 21.02.2021 and 21.08.2011 within an outer limit of six weeks from the date of receipt of copy of this order, if not earlier.

Ordered accordingly.”

2. Heard learned Additional Government Advocate Sri.Sharad V. Magadum for the appellants and learned counsel Sri.Girish.V. Bhat, for the respondent. Perused the entire writ appeal papers.

3. As the request of the petitioner for payment of minimum wages was turned down, he was before the learned Single Judge. The request of the petitioner for payment of minimum wages in terms of the Schedule of Minimum Wages issued by the State Government from time to time was accepted by the learned Single Judge by following the order passed in W.P.No.100926/2022.

4. It is also noticed that notification of minimum wages was the subject matter of W.A.No.1040/2022 and the same was taken up to Hon’ble Apex Court in Special Leave Petition (Civil) Diary No.64919/2025 and the said Special Leave Petition was also dismissed on 01.12.2025.

5. In view of the above, we are not inclined to interfere with the order passed by the learned Single Judge under appeal. Accordingly, writ appeal stands rejected. 6. In view of dismissal of the appeal, I.A.No.1/2025 for dispensation of production of English translation copies of Annexures, I.A.No.2/2025 for condonation of delay of 233 days delay in preferring the appeal and I.A.No.3/2025 for stay would not survive for consideration.

Sd/-

(S G PANDIT)

JUDGE Sd/-

(GEETHA K.B.)

JUDGE NC, CT:VP LIST NO.: 1 SL NO.: 39