Lokesha K N Vs the District Officer — Writ and Judicial Review | Karnataka HC (2025)

Lokesha K N Vs the District Officer — Writ and Judicial Review | Karnataka HC (2025)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Direction to the District Officer, Backward Class Welfare Department, Mandya District to grant the benefit under the Scheme dated 25.10.2011 to the petitioner on receipt of a certified copy of the order and to admit the petitioner to the Scheme under the Guidelines; liberty reserved to the petitioner to file a certified copy of the order with that officer along with all the annexures appended to the petition.

Issue for consideration

Whether the petitioner's application for stipend under the Scheme dated 25.10.2011, rejected by endorsement dated 28.11.2024 on the ground that he applied from Mysore although he is a permanent resident of Mandya, should be quashed and the application reconsidered. +1 more

Court's answer

The petition stands disposed of with a direction to the District Officer, Backward Class Welfare Department, Mandya District to grant the petitioner the benefit under the Scheme dated 25.10.2011 on receipt of a certified copy of the order, and to admit the petitioner to the Scheme under the Guidelines.

Key takeaways

In aid of the direction, the Court drew attention to Clause 2(b) of the Scheme dated 25.10.2011, the footnote to which states that training may be given in the respective district or in any other district at the option of the candidate, so that the petitioner may train and practise at Mysore even though his application is processed from Mandya.obiter¶41

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Writ Petition (GM-RES) under Articles 226 and 227 — Karnataka High Court at Bengaluru, oral order dated 06.08.2025, B M Shyam Prasad, J. An advocate enrolled with the Karnataka State Bar Council was denied stipend under the State Government's Scheme dated 25.10.2011 for law graduates from Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and other Backward Classes because he had applied from Mysore while being a permanent resident of Mandya; rejection was by endorsement No. HIM.VA.KA.E-09/KA.TA.HA/CR-17/2024-25 dated 28.11.2024 (Annexure-N). The Court took on record that the application would be considered from Mandya District, disposed of the petition directing the District Officer, Backward Class Welfare Department, Mandya District to grant the benefit on receipt of a certified copy of the order and to admit the petitioner to the Scheme under the Guidelines, and reserved liberty to file the certified copy with the annexures. Referring to Clause 2(b) of the Scheme — training may be given in the respective district or any other district at the candidate's option — the petitioner remains free to practise and train under his Senior at Mysore.

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NC: 2025:KHC:30519 WP No. 7116 of 2025

HC-KAR

IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU

DATED THIS THE 6^TH DAY OF AUGUST, 2025

BEFORE

THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE B M SHYAM PRASAD

WRIT PETITION NO. 7116 OF 2025 (GM-RES)

BETWEEN:

SRI K.N. LOKESHA S/O.NARASIMHEGOWDA AGED ABOUT 28 YEARS R/O.NO.2329, KAVYA KIRANA NILAYA 12^TH MAIN ROAD, 2^ND STAGE VIJAYANAGARA, MYSORE-570 017

… PETITIONER

(BY SRI. HARISH N.R., ADVOCATE)

AND:

THE DISTRICT OFFICER

BACKWARD CLASS WELFARE DEPARTMENT

Digitally signed by VANAMALA N

Location: High Court of Karnataka

MYSORE DISTRICT,

MYSORE DISTRICT LEVEL OFFICERS COMPLEX, ROOM NO.202, SIDDARTHA NAGARA

MYSORE-570 011

THE COMMISSIONER

BACKWARD CLASS

WELFARE DEPARTMENT

NO.16-D, DEVARAJA URS BHAVAN,

3^RD FLOOR, MILLERS TANK BED AREA, VASANTHANAGARA

BENGALURU-560 052

… RESPONDENTS

(BY SRI. SHAMANTH NAIK, HCGP FOR R2;

SRI ARUN KUMAR K.N., LEGAL OFFICER FOR R1)

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NC: 2025:KHC:30519 WP No. 7116 of 2025

HC-KAR

THIS W.P. IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA, PRAYING TO QUASH THE ENDORSEMENT BEARING NO. HIM.VA.KA.E-09/KA.TA.HA/CR-17/2024-25 DTD. 28.11.2024 ISSUED BY THE R-1 PRODUCED AS ANNEXURE-N TO THE WRIT PETITION AND FURTHER DIRECT THE R-1 TO RE-CONSIDER THE APPLICATION OF THE PETITIONER AND ETC.

THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR FRESH MATTERS LIST, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE B M SHYAM PRASAD

ORAL ORDER

The petitioner is enrolled with the Karnataka State Bar Council, and his request for a stipend under the State Government's Scheme to the Law Graduates from Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes and other Backward Classes [ Scheme dated 25.10.2011 ] is rejected. The petitioner’s request is rejected on the ground that he has applied for the benefit under the Scheme from Mysore when he is a permanent resident of Mandya.

3 - NC: 2025:KHC:30519 WP No. 7116 of 2025

HC-KAR

It is now brought on record that the petitioner's request would be considered from Mandya District based on this Court's order and it is also clarified that with this assistance, it would still be open to the petitioner to practice in Mysore receiving training from his Senior. This Court’s attention is also drawn to Clause 2(b)¹ of the Scheme dated 25.10.2011.

With this submission being taken on record, the petition stands disposed of directing the District Officer, Backward Class Welfare Department, Mandya District to grant the benefit to the petitioner under the Scheme dated 25.10.2011on receipt of a certified copy of this order and to admit the petitioner to the Scheme under the Guidelines. The petitioner is reserved with liberty to file a certified copy of this

1 The training may be given in the respective district or in any other District at the option of the candidate.

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NC: 2025:KHC:30519 WP No. 7116 of 2025

HC-KAR

order with the aforesaid officer along with all the

annexures appended to this petition.

SD/(B M SHYAM PRASAD) JUDGE

VGR