IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA DHARWAD BENCH DATED THIS THE 04^TH DAY OF MARCH, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE M. NAGAPRASANNA WRIT PETITION No.101702 OF 2025 (GM-CC)

BETWEEN:

RAVI S/O CHANDRAPPA KASAMALAGI AGED ABOUT 48 YEARS OCC: AGRICULTURE AND BANGLES VENDING R/O MUGAD TALUK AND DISTRICT: DHARWAD – 580 007.

... PETITIONER (BY SRI CHETAN T. LIMBIKAI, ADVOCATE)

AND:

1 . THE STATE OF KARNATAKA REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE GOVERNMENT OF KARNATAKA VIDHAN SOUDHA BENGALURU – 560 001.

2 . THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER DHARWAD DISTRICT DHARWAD – 580 001.

3 . MANJUNATH S/O NINGAPPA SHEREWAD AGED ABOUT 33 YEARS OCC: AGRICULTURE R/O MUGAD TALUK AND DISTRICT: DHARWAD – 580 007. 4 . RAVINDRA S/O FAKKIRAPPA KENGANUR AGED ABOUT 31 YEARS OCC: AGRICULTURE R/O MUGAD TALUK AND DISTRICT: DHARWAD – 580 007.

5 . RAMESH S/O RAJAPPA HANAMUR AGED ABOUT 45 YEARS OCC: CONTRACTOR R/O MUGAD TALUK AND DISTRICT: DHARWAD – 580 007.

6 . THE ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER DHARWAD REVENUE SUB DIVISION DHARWAD – 580 001.

7 . TAHASILDAR GRADE II DHARWAD TALUK TAHASILDAR OFFICE DHARWAD – 580 001.

8 . THE REVENUE INSPECTOR DHARWAD REVENUE CIRCLE DHARWAD – 580 001.

9 . THE VILLAGE ACCOUNTANT MUGAD VILLAGE, MUGAD TALUK AND DISTRICT: DHARWAD – 580 007.

... RESPONDENTS (BY SRI T.HANUMAREDDY, AGA FOR R1, R2 AND R6 TO R9;

SRI Y.R.JOGI, ADVOCATE FOR R3 TO R5)

THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND

227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO ISSUE A WRIT OR DIRECTION OR ORDER IN THE NATURE OF WRIT OF CERTIORARI TO QUASH OR SET-ASIDE THE IMPUGNED ORDER PASSED BY RESPONDENT NO.2/THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER, IN SINDHUTVA/CR-108/2024-25, DATED 13/02/2025, AS PER ANNEXURE-A, BY DISMISSING THE APPEAL IN MAG/CR-27/2024- 25, DATED 19/11/2024 VIDE ANNEXURE-B PASSED BY THE RESPONDENT NO.6/THE ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER, IN THE INTEREST OF JUSTICE.

THIS WRIT PETITION HAVING BEEN HEARD AND RESERVED FOR ORDERS, COMING ON FOR PRONOUNCEMENT THIS DAY, THE COURT MADE THE FOLLOWING:-

CORAM: THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE M.NAGAPRASANNA

CAV ORDER

The petitioner is before this Court seeking the following prayer:

i) “Issue a writ or direction or order in the nature of Writ of Certiorari to quash or set aside the impugned order passed by respondent No.2/Deputy Commissioner, in SINDHUTVA/CR-108/2024-25, Dated 13-02-2025, as per Annexure-A by dismissing the appeal in MAG/CR- 27/2024-25 Dated 19.11.2024 vide Annexure-B passed by the Respondent No.6/the Assistant Commissioner, in the interest of justice.

ii) That this Hon’ble Court be pleased to call for records of Trial Court and, iii) Grant any other relief as deemed fit by this Hon’ble Court in the circumstances of the case in the interest of justice and equity.”

2. Heard Sri Chetan T Limbikai, learned counsel appearing for the petitioner, Sri T. Hanumareddy, learned Additional Government Advocate appearing for respondents 1, 2 and 6 to 9 and Sri Y.R.Jogi, learned counsel appearing for respondents 3 to 5.

3. Facts, in brief, germane are as follows:

3.1. The petitioner secures a caste certificate from the 7^th respondent/Tahsildar that he belongs to Jain-Digambar caste under Category III-B of Backward Classes with an annual income of ₹2,00,000/-. The caste certificate so issued had its validity for a period of five years. On 26-06-2019, the petitioner is said to have again secured a caste certificate on the same nature. On 26-06-2023, the Deputy Commissioner notifies reservation for the post of President/Adhyaksha of Mugad Gram Panchayat in favour of OBC-Category-A. The Tahsildar then issues OBC Category-A certificate to the petitioner certifying him to belong to Hindu Bogar caste. The election is conducted on 04-08-2023 to the post of Adhyaksha. The petitioner is declared as a returned candidate in the said election and thus elected as Adhyaksha of the Gram Panchayat. Respondents 3 to 5 submitted a representation to all three authorities viz., the Deputy Commissioner, the Assistant Commissioner and the Tahsildar seeking to investigate into the caste status o