Sri C Deepak Kumar Vs the Director (a and Hr) — Writ and Judicial Review | Karnataka HC (2025)

Sri C Deepak Kumar Vs the Director (a and Hr) — Writ and Judicial Review | Karnataka HC (2025)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Permission to file a reply to the show cause notice dated 27.05.2025 (Annexure-T) within two weeks; respondents directed to consider the reply and proceed in accordance with law; one week granted to the respondents' counsel to file vakalath. The certiorari sought against the Enquiry Officer's findings (Annexure-S) and the show cause notice, and the mandamus for a de novo enquiry, were not granted.

Issue for consideration

Whether the impugned findings of the Enquiry Officer bearing No. 05/2024 dated 31.12.2024 (Annexure-S), in so far as the petitioner is concerned, and the second show cause notice dated 27.05.2025 (Annexure-T) should be quashed. +1 more

Ratio / Principle

The petitioner is permitted to file a reply to the show cause notice dated 27.05.2025 (Annexure-T) within two weeks from the date of the order.

Key takeaways

If such a reply is submitted, the respondents are directed to consider the same and proceed further in accordance with law.ratio¶38
With the above observations, the writ petition stands disposed of; the prayed-for quashing of the impugned findings and show cause notice, and the mandamus for a de novo enquiry, were not granted.ratio¶39
A week's time is granted to the learned counsel for the respondents to file vakalath.obiter

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Karnataka High Court (H.T. Narendra Prasad, J.), oral order dated 04.09.2025 in Writ Petition No. 25315 of 2025 (S-RES), filed under Articles 226 and 227 of the Constitution of India by a Junior Assistant of CESCOM, Mysore, seeking (i) certiorari to quash the Enquiry Officer's findings No. 05/2024 dated 31.12.2024 (Annexure-S) in so far as he is concerned and the second show cause notice dated 27.05.2025 bearing KPTCL.B52-34366-22-23 (Annexure-T) issued by the Director (A & HR), KPTCL, and (ii) mandamus to the Superintending Engineer (Ele) O & M Circle, CESCOM, to hold a de novo enquiry using documents 1 to 12 at page 5 of the Special Audit Report dated 23.02.2022 (Annexure-E). Noting that in the connected matter W.P.No.21599/2025 of a co-employee, disposed of on 20.08.2025, the respondent had submitted the relevant documents, counsel for the petitioner undertook to take a copy and submit a reply to the show cause notice. The Court permitted the petitioner to file the reply within two weeks, directed the respondents to consider it and proceed in accordance with law, and disposed of the writ petition without quashing the impugned findings or ordering a de novo enquiry; one week was allowed for the respondents' counsel to file vakalath.

NC: 2025:KHC:34926 WP No. 25315 of 2025

1 -

HC-KAR

IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU

DATED THIS THE 4^TH DAY OF SEPTEMBER, 2025

BEFORE

THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE H.T. NARENDRA PRASAD WRIT PETITION NO. 25315 OF 2025 (S-RES)

BETWEEN:

SRI C DEEPAK KUMAR S/O. LATE M. CHIKKANNA AGED ABOUT 33 YEARS WORKING AS JUNIOR ASSISTANT CESCOM, ZONAL OFFICE MYSORE -570 022

…PETITIONER

(BY SRI. SRINIVASA K., ADVOCATE)

AND:

THE DIRECTOR (A & HR) KPTCL, CORPORATE OFFICE CAUVERY BHAVAN, K.G. ROAD BANGALORE-560 009.

Digitally signed by HEMALATHA A Location: HIGH COURTOF KARNATAKA

SUPERINTENDING ENGINEER (ELE) O & M CIRCLE

CHAMUNDESHWARI ELECTRICITY SUPPLY CORPORATION KANAKADASANAGAR, DATTAGALLI MYSORE 570 022

…RESPONDENTS (BY SRI.A CHANDRACHUD, ADVOCATE FOR R1 & R2)

THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO QUASH THE IMPUGNED FINDINGS OF THE ENQUIRY OFFICER BEARING NO. 05/2024 DATED 31.12.2024 VIDE ANNEXURE-S IN SO FAR AS PETITIONER IS CONCERNED AND ALSO THE 2ND

2 - NC: 2025:KHC:34926 WP No. 25315 of 2025

HC-KAR

SHOW CAUSE NOTICE DATED 27.05.2025 BEARING KPTCL.B52-34366-22-23 VIDE ANNEXURE-T ISSUED BY R1AND ETC.

THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY HEARING, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE H.T. NARENDRA PRASAD

ORAL ORDER

This writ petition is filed under Articles 226 & 227 of

the Constitution of India, seeking the following reliefs:

“(i) Issue a writ of certiorari quashing the impugned findings of the enquiry officer bearing No.05/2024 dated 31.12.2024 vide Annexure-S in so far as the petitioner is concerned and also the second show cause notice dated 27.05.2025 vide Annexure-T issued by the first respondent.

(ii) Issue a writ of mandamus directing the second respondent to hold a denovo enquiry by placing the relevant 1 to 12 documents at page 5 as mentioned in Special Audit Report dated 23.02.2022 vide Annexure-E.”

Sri A.Chandrachood, the learned counsel is directed to take notice for the respondents.

3 - NC: 2025:KHC:34926 WP No. 25315 of 2025

HC-KAR

The learned counsel for the petitioner submits that

in the connected matter filed by a co-employee in W.P.No.21599/2025, this Court on 20.08.2025 disposed of the matter on the basis that the respondent has submitted the relevant documents to the petitioner. Therefore, the learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the petitioner will take copy from the co-employee, who is the petitioner in W.P.No.21599/2025 and he will submit the reply to the show cause notice dated 27.05.2025 vide Annexure-T. Therefore, he prays a further time of two weeks from today to submit the reply.

In view of the above, the following order is passed:

(i) The petitioner is permitted to file a reply to the show cause notice dated 27.05.2025 vide Annexure-T, within two weeks from today.

4 -

NC: 2025:KHC:34926 WP No. 25315 of 2025

HC-KAR

(ii) If such a reply is submitted, the respondents are directed to consider the same and proceed further, in accordance with law.

(iii) With the above observations, the writ petition stands disposed of.

(iv) A week’s time is granted to the learned counsel for the respondents to file vakalath.

Sd/(H.T. NARENDRA PRASAD) JUDGE

CM

LIST NO.: 1 SL NO.: 3