IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA, AT DHARWAD DATED THIS THE 23^RD DAY OF JANUARY, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE SMT. JUSTICE LALITHA KANNEGANTI WRIT PETITION NO.100194 OF 2025 (S-KSRTC)

BETWEEN:

SHRI. CHANDRAKANTH Y.TORAVI …PETITIONER (BY SRI. RAGHUVEER R.SATTIGERI, ADVOCATE)

AND:

1. THE MANAGING DIRECTOR, N.W.K.R.T.C., CENTRAL OFFICE, GOKUL ROAD, HUBLI-580030.

Digitally signed by CHANDRASHEKAR 2. THE CHIEF TRAFFIC MANAGER, LAXMAN KATTIMANI N.W.K.R.T.C., CENTRAL OFFICE, Location: HIGH COURT OF GOKUL ROAD, HUBLI-580030.

KARNATAKA

3. THE DIVISIONAL CONTROLLER, N.W.K.R.T.C., CHIKKODI DIVISION, CHIKKODI-591201.

4. THE DEPOT MANAGER, N.W.K.R.T.C., ATHANI DEPOT-591304, CHIKKODI DIVISION, CHIKKODI.

…RESPONDENTS (BY SRI. PRASHANTH S.HOSMANI, ADVOCATE FOR R1 TO R4)

THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 OF CONSTITUTION OF INDIA, PRAYING TO ISSUE A WRIT OF CERTIORARI OR ANY OTHER APPROPRIATE WRIT, ORDER OR DIRECTION, QUASHING THE TRANSFER ORDER DATED

30.11.2024 IN NO.SAM.VA.KARASA/KEKA/SANCHAR/ADALITA/

3723/2024 ISSUED BY THE RESPONDENT NO.2, IN SO FAR AS THE PETITIONER IS CONCERNED, PRODUCED AS PER ANNEXURE-A AND ISSUE A WRIT OF CERTIORARI OR ANY OTHER APPROPRIATE WRIT, ORDER OR DIRECTION, QUASHING THE MOVEMENT ORDER DATED 02.01.2025 IN NO.SAM/VAKARASA/CHIVI/SIBBANDI/C-6/1898/24 ISSUED BY RESPONDENT NO.3 PRODUCED AS PER ANNEXURE-B AND ETC.,.

THIS WRIT PETITION, COMING ON FOR HEARING –

INTERLOCUTORY APPLICATION, 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 prayers:

“ i) Issue a writ in the nature of certiorari or any other appropriate writ, order or direction, quashing the transfer order dated 30.11.2024 in No. Sam. Va.

KaraSa/Keka/Sanchar/Adalita/3723/2024 issued by respondent No.2, insofar as the petitioner is concerned, produced as per Annexure-A;

ii) Issue a writ in the nature of certiorari or any other appropriate writ, order or direction, quashing movement order dated 02.01.2025 in No.Sam/VaKaraSa/ChiVi/Sibbandi/C-/1898/24 issued by respondent No.3 produced as per Annexure-B;

iii) Issue such other appropriate writ or order or direction as deemed fit under the facts and circumstances of the case, in the interest of justice.”

2. It is the case of the petitioner that, he was appointed as a Driver-cum-Conductor in the North West Road Transport Corporation (hereinafter referred to as ‘Corporation’) vide Government Order dated 30.05.2006 on temporary basis. Thereafter, the services of the petitioner were absorbed and regularized in the Corporation by order dated 12.10.2012 for having satisfactorily completed 2 years of probation. It is stated that the petitioner is presently working as a Driver-cum Conductor in Athani Depot, Chikodi Division, for the last 13 years, without any blemish in his service. It is stated that though the petitioner had received many awards from the respondent No.3 for the satisfactory service rendered in the Corporation, the order impugned was passed, whereby he was transferred on 30.11.2024 from Chikodi Division to Belagavi/Khanapur Division on administrative grounds. Along with other 43 employees, who were transferred on request, the petitioner is the only employee, who transferred without a request. It is further stated that pursuant to the transfer order dated 30.11.2024, respondent No.4 passed a movement order on 02.01.2025 directing respondent No.5 to relieve the petitioner from Chikodi Division. It is stated that the employees of the respondent/Corporation are governed by the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (Cadre and Recruitment) Regulations, 1982. As per the said Regulations, the employees holding Division wise posts will be considered for promotion in respect of promotional vacancies in the Division wise posts in their respective Division only. In respect of the employees, who are transferred from one Division to another on administrative grounds, the entire service rendered by them in the Divisio