IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 18^TH DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2026 PRESENT THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S.G.PANDIT AND THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE K. V. ARAVIND WRIT PETITION No. 3796 OF 2025 (S-KSAT)

BETWEEN:

1. THE KARNATAKA LOKAYUKTA, REP. BY ITS REGISTRAR, M.S. BUILDING, DR. B.R. AMBEDKAR ROAD, BANGALORE - 560001.

…PETITIONER (BY SRI JOSEPH ANTHONY, ADVOCATE)

AND:

Digitally signed by 1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA, VINUTHA B S REP. BY ITS ADDITIONAL CHIEF SECRETARY, Location: High Court of DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS AND Karnataka INLAND WATER WORKS, VIKASA SOUDHA, BANGALORE - 560001.

2. SRI R. K. SHASHIDHAR, AGED ABOUT 62 YEARS, S/O LATE KALAIAH, R/AT No.19/20, 8^TH CROSS, 2^ND STAGE, J.P.NAGAR SECOND STAGE, BANGALORE - 560078.

3. SRI MAHADEVAIAH K. P., AGED ABOUT 63 YEARS, S/O SRI PUTTAISH, RETIRED EXECUTIVE ENGINEER, R/AT No.159, 3^RD CROSS, 1^ST PHASE, BSK 3^RD STAGE, GIRINAGAR, BANGALORE - 560085.

…RESPONDENTS (BY SRI SHIVAREDDY, AGA FOR R1)

THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLE 226 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO QUASHING THE IMPUGNED ORDER DATED 17.01.2023 IN A.No-5962 AND

5963/2021 (ANNEXURE-A).

THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY HEARING THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE T