Dismissed¶¶48

N Gopi v. the Managing Director

Karnataka HC10 Sept 2025WP/18297/2025

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

Karnataka High Court (single judge, Ravi V Hosmani, J.), WP No. 18297 of 2025 (GM-KEB), decided 10.09.2025, neutral citation NC: 2025:KHC:36735. Stranger/social worker lacking locus standi; PIL not maintainable in service matters; writ seeking mandamus to consider representations alleging BESCOM official negligence in electrocution death of lineman Chinnaswamy (14.12.2024, Kingston School, Kanakpura Main Road); enquiry into disputed facts required; petition an apparent abuse of process; dismissed with Rs.10,000/- costs to Chief Minister's Relief Fund within four weeks. No precedents cited.

What did the court decide?

There cannot be any public interest litigation in service matters; the writ petition was in the nature of espousing a public cause and the petitioner was not seeking any relief for himself. ¶¶41

N Gopi Vs the Managing Director — Writ and Judicial Review | Karnataka HC (2025)

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NC: 2025:KHC:36735 WP No. 18297 of 2025

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HC-KAR

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IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU

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DATED THIS THE 10^TH DAY OF SEPTEMBER, 2025

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BEFORE

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THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE RAVI V HOSMANI WRIT PETITION NO. 18297 OF 2025 (GM-KEB)

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BETWEEN:

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N. GOPI S/O NARASIMHA MURTHY AGED ABOUT 46 YEARS R/AT NO 115, ARKAVATHI LAYOUT, BEHIND HB GAS GODOWN, RAMANAGARAM CITY, RAMANAGARA DISTRICT - 562 159 MOB 8861858311

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…PETITIONER

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(BY SRI. HANUMANTHAPPA HARAVI, ADVOCATE)

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AND:

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Digitally signed by GEETHAKUMARI PARLATTAYA S Location: High Court of Karnataka

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THE MANAGING DIRECTOR BENGALURU ELECTRICITY SUPPLY COMPANY LTD., BESCOM, CORPORATE OFFICE, K.R. CIRCLE, BENGALURU - 560 001

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THE SUPERINTENDENT ENGINEER BENGALURU ELECTRICITY SUPPLY COMPANY LTD., BESCOM, RAMANAGARA CIRCLE, PTMC BUILDING, KENGERI, BENGALURU - 560 060.

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THE EXECUTIVE ENGINEER

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HC-KAR

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BENGALURU ELECTRICITY SUPPLY COMPANY LTD., BESCOM, RAMANAGARA DIVISION, NEAR RAILWAY STATION RAMANAGARA - 562 129.

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THE DEPUTY ELECTRICAL INSPECTOR BENGALURU ELECTRICITY SUPPLY COMPANY LTD., BESCOM, RAMANAGARA - 562 129.

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…RESPONDENTS

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(BY SRI. R. SRINIVASA GOWDA, ADVOCATE FOR R1 TO R4)

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THIS WP IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO I) WRIT IN THE ISSUE A NATURE OF MANDAMUS DIRECTING THE 1ST RESPONDENT SHALL CONSIDER REPRESENTATION DATED 0502-2025 VIDE ANNEXURE-A WITH IMMEDIATE EFFECT AND ETC.,

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THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY HEARING, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER:

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CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE RAVI V HOSMANI

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ORAL ORDER

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Writ Petition is filed seeking for mandamus directing respondents no.1 to 4 to consider petitioner's

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representations Annexures-A, B, C and E respectively.

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Sri Hanumanthappa Haravi, learned counsel for petitioner submitted that petitioner is a social worker. It

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3 - NC: 2025:KHC:36735 WP No. 18297 of 2025

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HC-KAR

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is submitted that on 14.12.2024 at time of carrying out electric repair work at Kingston School, Kanakpura main road, at 10:45 a.m., due to failure in taking precautionary measures, Chinnaswamy, Lineman died. Alleging it to be due to negligence on part of Executive Engineer and Assistant Engineer, organizations espousing social causes submitted representations to respondents no.1 to 4. It is submitted as representations had remained without consideration, petitioner was constrained to approach this Court for direction. It was submitted failure to consider representation amounts to dereliction of duty and therefore, petition requires to be allowed.

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Sri R.Srinivasa Gowda, learned counsel for respondents no.1 to 4 opposed petition. It was submitted that petitioner was not related to deceased Chinnaswamy. In absence of any relation, writ petition was in a nature of public interest litigation which would not be tenable. It was submitted that if legal representatives of deceased Chinnaswamy were to have made a claim, same could be

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HC-KAR

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considered after ascertaining that death was due to negligence on part of any official of Corporation. Determination of said fact would require enquiry into facts and for said purposes writ petition would not be tenable.

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Heard learned counsel on both sides.

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From above it is seen, petitioner (though not

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related to Chinnaswamy) alleges that Chinnaswamy, Lineman died due to electrocution, while carrying out repair work, allegedly due to negligence of respondents and is seeking for consideration of representation for taking action against negligent officials.

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A perusal of representations would reveal that

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same are submitted by petitioner and not by legal representatives or family members of deceased. Writ Petition is in nature of espousing public cause. Petitioner is not seeking any relief for himself. It is settled law that there cannot be any public interest litigation in service

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HC-KAR

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matters. Moreover, same would require enquiry into

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disputed facts.

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In view of above, as well as on ground that petitioner would not have locus standi and Writ Petition filed for initiation of action against officials appears to be

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apparent abuse of process of court, Writ Petition is

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dismissed, imposing cost of Rs.10,000/- payable to Chief

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Minister’s Relief Fund within four weeks.

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Sd/(RAVI V HOSMANI) JUDGE

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HNM

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List No.: 1 Sl No.: 15 CT: BHK