IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 4^TH DAY OF MARCH, 2026 PRESENT THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S.G.PANDIT AND THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE K. V. ARAVIND WRIT PETITION No. 3819 OF 2026 (S-KSAT)

BETWEEN:

1. SMT. THEJAVATHI K., W/O MANJUNATHA N., AGED ABOUT 37 YEARS, LABOUR OFFICER, TUMAKURU SUB-DIVISION, R/AT MANJUNATHA NILAYA, 5^TH B CROSS, KANAKADASA ROAD NEAR TUDA LAYOUT, TUMAKURU-572101.

…PETITIONER Digitally signed by (BY SRI S. RAJASHEKAR, ADVOCATE)

VINUTHA B S Location: H igh Court of AND:

Karnataka

1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA, DEPARTMENT OF LABOUR, VIKASA SOUDHA, DR. AMBEDKAR VEEDHI, BENGALURU-560001, REPRESENTED BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY.

2. THE COMMISSIONER OF LABOUR, DEPARTMENT OF LABOUR, KARMIKA BHAVAN, DAIRY CIRCLE, BANNERGHATTA ROAD, BENGALURU-560029.

3. MR. G. IBRAHIM SAB, S/O DODDAGUDA SAB, AGED ABOUT 51 YEARS, WORKING AS LABOUR OFFICER, KARNATAKA BUILDINGS AND OTHER CONSTRUCTION WORKERS WELFARE BOARD, R/AT MUSAIB APARTMENT, KANNIKA SCHOOL ROAD, MELEKOTE RING ROAD, BEHIND OM SHANTHI ROAD, TUMAKURU-572105.

…RESPONDENTS (BY SRI V. SHIVAREDDY, AGA FOR R1 & R2)

THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO QUASH ORDER DATED 22/01/2026 PASSED BY THE KARNATAKA STATE ADMINISTRATIVE TRIBUNAL AT BENGALURU IN APPLICATION No.4177/2025 VIDE ANNEXURE-

A.

THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY HEARING, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER:

CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S.G.PANDIT and HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE K. V. ARAVIND

ORAL ORDER

(PER: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE K. V. ARAVIND)

Heard Sri.S. Rajashekar, learned counsel for the petitioner and Sri. V. Shivareddy, learned Additional Government Advocate for respondent Nos.1 and 2.

2. This petition is filed by the respondent No.3 in Application No.4177/2025 impugning the order dated 22.01.2026 passed by the Karnataka State Administrative Tribunal, Bengaluru (for short, “the Tribunal”).

3. The petitioner was appointed as Labour Officer and was posted at Madhugiri Sub-Division. The petitioner was also given additional charge of the post of Labour Officer, Tumkur Sub- Division. The petitioner reported for duty and assumed the additional charge at Tumkuru on 30.09.2023. Subsequently, the petitioner was regularly transferred as Labour Officer, Tumkur Sub-Division on 07.11.2023, and reported to the said post on 10.11.2023. In the year 2024, the probation of the petitioner was declared.

3.1 On 13.06.2025, the petitioner was transferred from Tumkuru Sub-Division to the Karnataka Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board, Bengaluru, and respondent No.3 was posted in her place. The petitioner challenged the transfer order dated 13.06.2025 before the Tribunal in Application No.3089/2025. During the pendency of the application, on 12.09.2025, the transfer order was modified by continuing the petitioner as Labour Officer, Tumkuru Sub- Division and transferring respondent No.3 as Labour Officer, Karnataka Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board, Bengaluru.

3.2 On 15.09.2025, the petitioner reported as Labour Officer, Tumkuru Sub-Division. In view of the modification of the transfer order impugned in Application No.3089/2025, the petitioner, on 15.09.2025, filed a memo seeking withdrawal of the application.

3.3 Challenging the order modifying the transfer dated 12.09.2025, respondent No.3 preferred Application No.4177/2025 before the Tribunal. On 18.09.2025, the Tribunal passed an interim order directing the parties to maintain status quo as on that date. Thereafter, on 25.09.2025, the Tribunal passed an interim order staying the operation of the order dated 12.09.2025.

3.4 Challenging the said interim order, the petitioner preferred W.P. No.30035/2025 before this Court. The writ petition came to be disposed of by this Court on 30.09.2025, reserving liberty to the petitioner to agitate all contentions before the Tribunal.

3.5 The petitioner filed a statement of objections in Application No.4177/2025 filed by respondent No.3. The Tribunal,