IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA, AT DHARWAD DATED THIS THE 21^ST DAY OF APRIL, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE HANCHATE SANJEEVKUMAR WRIT PETITION NO.104038 OF 2023 (GM-RES)

BETWEEN:

1. SHIVALINGAPPA S/O. SHIVALINGAPPA PATIL, AGE: 83 YEARS, OCC: TAPCMS, HIREKERUR, R/O. HIREKERUR, DIST. HAVERI-581116.

2. RAMANAGOUDA S/O. SIDDARAMAGOUDA MUDIGOUDER, AGE: 65 YEARS, OCC: RETD. TAPCMS, HIREKERUR, R/O. HIREKERUR, DIST. HAVERI-581116.

3. UAJJAPPA S/O. MAHADEVAPPA MADIVALARA, AGE: 62 YEARS, OCC: RETD. TAPCMS, HIREKERUR, R/O. TARALABALU TOWN, HIREKERUR, Digitally signed by RAMYA D DIST. HAVERI-581116.

Location: High Court of Karnataka, Dharwad 4. MALLANNA GOUDA Bench S/O. SIDDANAGOUDA KORIGOUDER, AGE: 63 YEARS, OCC: RETD. TAPCMS, HIREKERUR, R/O. TARALABALU TOWN, HIREKERUR, DIST. HAVERI-581116.

…PETITIONERS (BY SRI NANDISH PATIL AND SRI RAMACHANDRA V. BHAT, ADV. FOR PETITIONER NO.1 & 2;

PETITION AGAINST PETITIONER NO.3 & 4-ABATED)

AND:

1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA, REP. BY STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA, DHARWAD BENCH-590004.

2. VEERAPPA S/O. SHIVAPPA DYAVANAKATTI, AGE: 57 YEARS, OCC: RETD. TAPCMS, HIREKERUR, R/O. RATTIHALLI, DIST. HAVERI-581116.

…RESPONDENTS (BY SRI ABHISHEK MALIPATIL,