IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 13^th DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2026 PRESENT THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE H.P. SANDESH AND THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE VENKATESH NAIK T WRIT PETITION NO.38263 OF 2025 (S-KSAT)

IN W.P. NO.38263 OF 2025:

BETWEEN:

SRI VIJAYA KUMAR CHAVADANNAVAR S/O. LATE NAGAPPA AGED ABOUT 59 YEARS CHIEF ENGINEER, PANCHAYATH RAJ ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT (NOW WITHOUT POSTING)

RESIDING AT NO.18

23RD CROSS, 2ND BLOCK RAJAJINAGAR BENGALURU-560 010.

…PETITIONER (BY SRI P.S. RAJAGOPAL, SENIOR COUNSEL FOR Digitally signed by MOUNESHWARAPPA SRI SUBRAMANI M.A., ADVOCATE)

NAGARATHNA Location: High C ourt of Karnataka AND:

1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY DEPARTMENT OF PERSONAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE REFORMS, VIDHANA SOUDHA BENGALURU-560 001.

2. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA REPRESENTED BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY RURAL DEVELOPMENT AND PANCHAYATH RAJ DEPARTMENT

3RD FLOOR, M.S. BUILDING BENGALURU-560 001.

3. SRI K. SRINATH S/O. KRISHNA MURTHY AGED ABOUT 56 YEARS WORKING AS ENGINEER-IN-CHIEF PANCHAYATH RAJ ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT GRAMEENABHIVRUDHI BHAVAN ANAND RAO CIRCLE BENGALURU-560 009.

…RESPONDENTS (BY SRI V. SHIVAREDDY, AGA FOR R-1 AND R-2;

SRI B.O. ANIL KUMAR, ADVOCATE FOR R