HC-KAR

IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA, AT DHARWAD

DATED THIS THE 10^TH DAY OF DECEMBER, 2025

PRESENT

THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S G PANDIT

AND

THE HON'BLE MRS JUSTICE GEETHA K.B.

WRIT PETITION NO. 108138 OF 2023 (S-KAT)

C/W

WRIT PETITION NO. 107144 OF 2023 (S-KAT)

IN WP NO. 108138/2023:

BETWEEN:

1. THE KARNATAKA LOKAYUKTA,

M.S. BUILDING, BENGALURU 560001.

REP. BY ITS REGISTRAR KARNATAKA LOKAYUKTA.

2. THE ADDITIONAL REGISTRAR,

ENQUIRIES 4, KARNATAKA LOKAYUKTA,

M.S. BUILDING, DR. B.R. AMBEDKAR VEEDHI,

BENGALURU 560001.

…PETITIONERS

Digitally signed by (BY SRI. SRINIVAS B. NAIK, ADVOCATE)

BHARATHI H M Location: HIGH

C KA O R U N R A T T O A F KA

DHARWAD BENCH Date: 2025.12.18

11:05:41 +0530 AND:

1. SRI. UMESH D. HADAPADA S/O DEENDRAPPA

AGE. 54 YEARS,

OCC. ASSISTANT AGRICULTURE OFFICER,

OFFICE OF THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR,

TALUK KALAGHATAGI, DIST. DHARWAD.

RESIDING AT FLAT NO.44, DHANESHWARI NAGAR,

J.S.S. COLLEGE, BACK SIDE DHARWAD,

DHARWAD DISTRICT.

2. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA,

REP. BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY,

HC-KAR DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, VIKAS SOUDHA, BENGALURU 560001.

3. THE COMMISSIONER, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, SHESHADARI ROAD, BENGALURU 560012.

4. THE JOINT DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE, DHARWAD, DISTRICT DHARWAD.

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

THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA, PRAYING TO ISSUE A WRIT OF CERTIORARI AND QUASH THE IMPUGNED ORDER DATED 12-11-2021 PASSED BY THE HON’BLE KARNATAKA STATE ADMINISTRATIVE TRIBUNAL BELAGAVI IN APPLICATION NO.6186/2017 PRODUCED AS ANNEXURE-A AND CONSEQUENTLY, PASS AN ORDER PERMITTING THE PETITIONER TO CONTINUE THE DEPARTMENTAL ENQUIRY AGAINST THE RESPONDENT NO.1 IN THE ENDS OF JUSTICE AND EQUITY & ETC.

IN WP NO. 107144/2023:

BETWEEN:

1. THE KARNATAKA LOKAYUKTA, M.S. BUILDING, BENGALURU 560001. REP. BY ITS REGISTRAR LOKAYUKTA.

2. THE ADDITIONAL REGISTRAR, ENQUIRIES-4, KARNATAKA LOKAYUKTA, M.S. BUILDING, BENGALURU 560001.

...PETITIONERS (BY SRI. SRINIVAS B. NAIK, ADVOCATE)

AND:

1. SRI. UMESH D. HADAPADA S/O DEVENDRAPPA AGE. 54 YEARS, OCC. ASSISTANT AGRICULTURE OFFICER, HC-KAR OFFICE OF THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR TALUK KALAGHATAGI, DIST. DHARWAD.

RESIDING AT FLAT NO.44, DHANESHWARI NAGAR, J.S.S. COLLEGE, BACK SIDE DHARWAD, DHARWAD DISTRICT-580001.

2. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA, REP. BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, VIKAS SOUDHA, BENGALURU 560001.

3. THE COMMISSIONER, DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, SHESHADARI RAOD, BENGALURU 560012.

4. THE JOINT DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE, DHARWAD, DISTRICT DHARWAD 580007.

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

THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA, PRAYING TO ISSUE A WRIT OF CERTIORARI AND QUASH THE IMPUGNED ORDER DATED 12/11/2021 PASSED BY THE HON’BLE KARNATAKA STATE ADMINISTRATIVE TRIBUNAL BELAGAVI IN APPLICATION NO.5262/2017 PRODUCED AS ANNEXURE-A AND CONSEQUENTLY, PASS AN ORDER PERMITTING THE PETITIONER TO CONTINUE THE DEPARTMENTAL ENQUIRY AGAINST THE RESPONDENT NO.1 IN THE ENDS OF JUSTICE AND EQUITY & ETC.

THESE WRIT PETITIONS 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.

HC-KAR

ORAL ORDER

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

In both the above writ petitions, the Lokayukta Authorities are before this Court under Article 226 of Constitution of India aggrieved by the order dated 12.11.2021 in Application No. 5262/2017 and Application No.6186/2017 whereunder, the Tribunal quashed the order of Entrustment dated 27.05.2017, 10.08.2017 and Articles of Charge dated 11.08.2017 and remitted the matter to the first respondent-State Government to take appropriate decision in the matter in accordance with law.

2. The parties would be referred in terms of their ranking before the Tribunal.

3. Heard learned counsel Sri.Srinivas B. Naik for petitioners-Lokayukta Authorities, learned Prl.Government Advocate Sri.G.K.Hiregoudar for respondent Nos.2 to 4 and pe