##PAGE1##

- 1 -

NC: 2026:KHC-D:1578

WP No. 100216 of 2026

HC-KAR

IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA, AT DHARWAD

DATED THIS THE 4^TH DAY OF FEBRUARY 2026

BEFORE

THE HON'BLE SMT. JUSTICE LALITHA KANNEGANTI

WRIT PETITION NO. 100216 OF 2026 (GM-RES)

BETWEEN:

SUNIL HANAGANDI,

AGE: 33 YEARS, OCC: BANK MANAGER,

R/O. SASALATTI, TQ: RABAKAVI-BANAHATTI,

DIST: BAGALKOT-587315.

…PETITIONER

(BY SRI. SHREEVATSA S. HEGDE, ADVOCATE)

AND:

1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA,

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORT,

BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY,

VIKAS SOUDHA, BENGALURU-560001.

2. THE TRANSPORT COMMISSIONER,

GOVERNMENT OF KARNATAKA,

Digitally signed by SHANTHINAGAR, BENGALURU-560027.

YASHAVANT

NARAYANKAR

Location: H IGH 3. THE JOINT COMMISSIONER OF TRANSPORT,

COURT OF

KARNATAKA BELAGAVI REGION, BELAGAVI-590001.

4. THE ASSISTANT REGIONAL TRANSPORT OFFICER,

JAMKHANDI SUB-DIVISION,

BAGALKOT DISTRICT-587301.

…RESPONDENTS

(BY SRI. T. HANUMAREDDY, AGA)

THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND

227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO ISSUE A

WRIT OF MANDAMUS DIRECTING THE RESPONDENTS TO GRANT

- 2 -

NC: 2026:KHC-D:1578

WP No. 100216 of 2026

HC-KAR

BH-SERIES REGISTRATION TO THE PETITIONER’S VEHICLE

HYUNDAI CRETA 1.5 CRDI MT E BEARING CHASSIS

NO.MALPA813LSM171013 AND ENGINE NO.D4FASM404236.

THIS WRIT PETITION, COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY

HEARING, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER:

CORAM: THE HON'BLE SMT. JUSTICE LALITHA KANNEGANTI

ORAL ORDER

The present writ petition is filed seeking the following

prayer:

“a) Issue a Writ of Mandamus directing the

Respondents to grant Bh-Series registration to the

Petitioner’s vehicle Hyundai Creta 1.5 CRDI MT E

bearing Chassis No.MALPA813LSM171013 and Engine

No.D4FASM404236.

b) Pass such other order or direction as this Hon’ble

court may deem fit in the interest of justice and

equity.”

2. It is the case of the petitioner that, he is employed as

a Manager with ICICI Bank which is a Scheduled Private Sector

Bank having primary operations with offices in more than 4

States and he is liable for interstate transfer during his service.

The petitioner had requested the respondents to grant the

BH-Series registration of his vehicle. But the respondents by the

endorsement dated 08.12.2025 had rejected the case of the

petitioner stating that the petitioner is an employee of the

- 3 -

NC: 2026:KHC-D:1578

WP No. 100216 of 2026

HC-KAR

Private Bank and is not entitled for the registration under

BH-Series.

3. Learned counsel appearing for the petitioner submits

that, the Government of India, Ministry of Road Transport and

Highways introduced the BH-Series vehicle registration under the

Central Motor Vehicle Rules to enable the transferable employees

to retain a single vehicle registration. The petitioner has applied

for BH-Series registration of his vehicle on 29.10.2025 and along

with that, he had submitted a valid employee certificate issued

by the ICICI Bank certifying the petitioner's employment.

Learned counsel has drawn the attention of the Court to the

notification issued by the Government of Karnataka dated

04.08.2022 which states that in partial modification to the

Notification No. TD 276 TDO 2021 issued on 30.11.2021,

permission is accorded for the registration of Non-transport

vehicle under BH-Series only for certain category of employees’

owned vehicles and in that at Sl.No.3, Officers of the Bank in the

post of Interstate Transfer were mentioned. Learned counsel

submits that, since the petitioner is in a managerial cadre and

holds a transferable post involving interstate movement and as

- 4 -

NC: 2026:KHC-D:1578

WP No. 100216 of 2026

HC-KAR

the Bank operates in more than four States, he is eligible to avail

registration of his vehicle under the BH-Series.

4. Learned Additional Government Advocate appearing

for the respondents does not dispute the fact that the

Government of Karnataka has issued the Notification dated

04.08.2022. As per the same, the bank employees who are in

the cadre of Interstate Transfer are entitled for the registration

of their vehicles under BS-series.

5. Having heard the counsels