IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 27^TH DAY OF APRIL, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE SMT. JUSTICE LALITHA KANNEGANTI WRIT PETITION NO. 26007 OF 2023 (GM-RES)

BETWEEN:

SRI. HARISH KUMAR B.S., S/O SHARANAPPA B., AGED ABOUT 35 YEARS PROJECT DIRECTOR CHITRADURGA NIRMITHI KENDRA NEAR MEDHAHALLI CHITRADURGA DISTRICT – 577 502 …PETITIONER (BY SRI. RAHUL P., ADVOCATE)

AND:

1. THE STATE INFORMATION COMMISSIONER MAHITH SOUDHA, 104

1^ST FLOOR, DEVRAJ URS ROAD OPP. VIDHANA SOUDHA, WEST GATE - 2 Digitally signed by BENGALURU – 560 001 SUVARNA T Location:

HIGH COURT 2. THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER OF KARNATAKA CHITRADURGA DISTRICT CHITRADURGA - 577 502

3. SRI.PRAKASH MURTHY FATHER NAME NOT KNOWN TO PETITIONER MAJOR R/AT SHIVALINGAPPA LAYOUT HOSADURGA – 577 527 …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI. SHARATH GOWDA G.B., ADVOCATE FOR R1 SRI.MAHANTESH SHETTAR, AGA FOR R2)

THIS WP IS FILED UNDER ARTICLE 226 AND 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA, PRAYING TO QUASH THE IMPUGNED ORDER IN KIC/14367/APL/2018 DATED 27.06.2023 VIDE ANNEXURE-A, PASSED BY THE R1.

THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY HEARING IN ‘B’ GROUP, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER:

CORAM: HON'BLE SMT. JUSTICE LALITHA KANNEGANTI

ORAL ORDER

The