IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 23^RD 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. 5783 OF 2026 (S-CAT)

BETWEEN:

1. THE UNION OF INDIA REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY ELECTRONICA NIKETAN, 6, CGO COMPLEX, LODHI ROAD, NEW DELHI-110 003.

2. THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR CENTRE FOR DEVELOPMENT OF ADVANCED COMPUTING NO.1, OLD MADRAS ROAD, OPPOSITE HAL AERO ENGINE, BAYAPPANAHALLI, Digitally signed by BENGALURU - 560 038.

NANJUNDACHARI Location: HIG H COURT OF 3. THE MANAGER KARNATAKA (HUMAN RESOURCE DEPARTMENT), CENTRE FOR DEVELOPMENT OF ADVANCED COMPUTING NO.1, OLD MADRAS ROAD, OPPOSITE HAL AERO ENGINE, BAYAPPANAHALLI, BENGALURU - 560 038.

4. THE MANAGER (ADMIN), MATERIALS MANAGEMENT GROUP.

CENTRE FOR DEVELOPMENT OF ADVANCED COMPUTING NO.1, OLD MADRAS ROAD, OPPOSITE HAL AERO ENGINE, BAYAPPANAHALLI, BENGALURU 560 038.

…PETITIONERS (BY SRI. UNNIKRISHNAN M., CGC)

AND:

SMT. KAVITA VADDE, AGED 45 YEARS, W/O. SRI. SUDHAKAR KATAKAM, WORKING AS ADMIN OFFICER, CENTRE FOR DEVELOPMENT OF ADVANCED COMPUTING, NO.1, OLD MADRAS ROAD, OPPOSITE HAL AERO ENGINE, BAYAPPANAHALLI, BENGALURU - 560 038.

R/AT NO.T01, 33D, PASHMINA WATERFRONT, BATTARAHALLI, BENGALURU - 560 049.

…RESPONDENT (BY SRI. SATISH K., ADV. FOR C/R)

THIS PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO ISSUE A WRIT OF CERTIORARI OR SUCH OTHER WRIT/S QUASHING ANNEXURE A I.E., THE ORDER PASSED BY THE CENTRAL ADMINISTRATIVE TRIBUNAL, BANGALORE IN ORIGINAL APPLICATION NO.170/00582/2025, DATED 05.02.2026, AND CONSEQUENTLY ALLOW THE ABOVE PETITION FILED BY THE PETITIONERS BY DISMISSING THE ORIGINAL APPLICATION NO.170/00582/2025, AGAINST THE RESPONDENT IN THE INTEREST OF JUSTICE AND EQUITY AND ETC.

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)

The Union of India, represented by the Secretary, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, is before this Court assailing the order dated 05.02.2026 passed in Original Application No.170/00582/2025 by the Central Administrative Tribunal, Bengaluru Bench, Bengaluru (for short, “the Tribunal”).

2. The respondent requested Child Care Leave from 16.12.2025 to 20.05.2026. The respondent was granted Child Care Leave for the period from 16.02.2026 to 07.03.2026. The respondent approached the Tribunal seeking a writ of mandamus to grant Child Care Leave for the period from 16.12.2025 to 20.05.2026. The said request was made on the ground that the respondent’s son was appearing for the 10th Board Examinations. By the impugned order, the Tribunal modified the order dated 24.11.2025 (Annexure-A9) and directed grant of Child Care Leave to the respondent for the period from 06.02.2026 to 20.05.2026.

3. Sri M. Unnikrishnan, learned counsel appearing for the petitioners, submits that the request for Child Care Leave was made to enable the respondent to support her son during the Class X Board Examinations. He submits that, having regard to the examination schedule, leave was granted for the period from 16.02.2026 to 07.03.2026.

3.1 It is further contended that the Tribunal has committed an error in granting leave beyond the period of the examinations. According to the learned counsel, grant of leave beyond the period necessitated by the stated purpose would hamper the functioning of the department and would also defeat the very object of sanctioning such leave.

4. Sri K. Satish, learned counsel appearing for the respondent, submits that the examinations were conducted in two stages and that the period sought in the application for Child Care Leave encompasses the pre-board examinations, the first stage of the main examinations, and the second stage of the examinations.

4.1 Learned counsel further contends that the determ