Sri Syed Burhaan Ahamed Vs M/S Karnataka Power Corporation Limited — Karnataka HC (2026) — LawSathi Research

Sri Syed Burhaan Ahamed Vs M/S Karnataka Power Corporation Limited — Karnataka HC (2026) — LawSathi Research

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Dismissed

Issue for consideration

Whether, as per Notification dated 03.06.2025, separate recruitment examinations ought to have been conducted for Karnataka Region and Hyderabad-Karnataka Region. +1 more

Court's answer

Finding no merit in the writ appeals challenging the Single Judge's dismissal (including the contention of separate examinations for Karnataka Region and Hyderabad-Karnataka Region under Notification dated 03.06.2025), the Division Bench dismissed the appeals, leaving undisturbed the recruitment concluded under the third Notification dated 19.11.2025 and the resulting appointments.

Ratio / Principle

Recruitment to the Public Office has to be concluded at the earliest because it is in public interest.

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Service Law — Recruitment — Karnataka Power Corporation Limited (KPCL) recruitment originating from advertisement dated 03.08.2017 — decade-long litigation in three rounds before the Court — 2017 examination cancelled for gross irregularities — second Notification of 2023; result challenged over non-disclosure of negative marking — Single Judge's dismissal of W.P.No.14233/2024 (Provisional Score List dt. 08.05.2024) reversed by Division Bench in W.A.No.1298/2024 (order dt. 28.05.2025) with direction to hold re-examination of all candidates who appeared on 18.02.2024 — upheld by the Supreme Court in SLP (Civil) No.32255/2025 — third Notification dt. 19.11.2025; examination held, selection list published, appointees appointed — unsuccessful candidates (appellants in WA Nos. 971/2026 and 992/2026, under S.4, Karnataka High Court Act, 1961) challenged the process claiming separate examinations ought to have been held for Karnataka Region and Hyderabad-Karnataka Region per Notification dt. 03.06.2025 — Single Judge had dismissed holding that participants without demur cannot challenge the examination after announcement of results — Held: recruitment to public office must be concluded at the earliest in public interest; after one decade of candidate-driven litigation, no merit found in the appeals; writ appeals dismissed (per D K Singh, J.; Coram: D K Singh and T.M.Nadaf, JJ.).

Procedural history

How this case reached the court

AI extract

Order under challenge
Judgment and order dated 26.02.2026 of the learned Single Judge (Writ Court) dismissing the writ petitions of the appellants (W.P.No.2328/2026 in WA 971/2026; W.P.No.39094/2025 in WA 992/2026), on the ground that participants in the examination without demur cannot challenge it after announcement of results¶64
High Court of Karnataka (learned Single Judge) · 26.02.2026
Prior proceeding
This is the third round before the Court concerning recruitment to various posts in Karnataka Power Corporation Limited.¶66
Prior proceeding
Advertisement for selection to various posts issued on 03.08.2017; an examination held in pursuance thereof was cancelled because of gross irregularities in conducting the examination.¶66
Prior proceeding
Second Notification issued in 2023 and examination conducted; the result was challenged on the ground that negative marking for wrong answers was neither notified nor candidates informed.¶70
Prior proceeding
Learned Single Judge dismissed W.P.No.14233/2024 challenging the Provisional Score List dated 08.05.2024 prepared after announcement of the examination result.¶71
Prior proceeding
Division Bench allowed writ appeals in W.A.No.1298/2024 and connected matters vide order dated 28.05.2025, set aside the Single Judge's judgment and directed re-examination of all candidates who appeared in the examination on 18.02.2024 pursuant to the Notification dated 03.08.2017.¶71
Prior proceeding
Matter taken to the Supreme Court in SLP (Civil) No.32255/2025; the Supreme Court upheld the Division Bench's judgment and order.¶75
Prior proceeding
After conclusion before the Supreme Court, third Notification issued on 19.11.2025; examination conducted, selection list published and selected candidates appointed.¶75
Prior proceeding
Unsuccessful petitioners filed writ petitions claiming that as per Notification dated 03.06.2025 separate recruitment examinations ought to have been conducted for Karnataka Region and Hyderabad-Karnataka Region; the learned Single Judge dismissed them by order dated 26.02.2026, giving rise to these appeals.¶76