Sri H R Ranganathappa Vs the State of Karnataka — Writ and Judicial Review | Karnataka HC (2026)

Sri H R Ranganathappa Vs the State of Karnataka — Writ and Judicial Review | Karnataka HC (2026)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Direction to respondents to consider the petitioners' representations (Annexures-G1 to G6) and pass appropriate order / take appropriate decision in accordance with law within three months from receipt of a copy of the order; petition disposed of with the aforesaid directions.

Issue for consideration

Whether the respondents should be directed to consider the petitioners' representations (Annexures-G1 to G6) seeking regularization of their services as Forest Watchers with consequential benefits, and pass appropriate orders thereon.

Court's answer

The respondents are directed to address the grievances of the petitioners, consider their representations produced at Annexures-G1 to G6, and pass appropriate order / take appropriate decision in accordance with law within a period of three months from the date of receipt of a copy of the order.

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

High Court of Karnataka at Bengaluru (S.R. Krishna Kumar, J.), Writ Petition No. 10875 of 2026 (S-RES), decided 07.04.2026: Five Forest Watchers attached to the Range Forest Office, Social Forestry, Sira, Tumkur District filed a petition under Articles 226 and 227 of the Constitution seeking consideration of their representations (Annexures-G1 to G6, dated October-November 2025) for regularization of their services with consequential benefits, relying on the Regularize Committee's Resolution (Annexure-C dated 20.10.2008) and the recommendation of the Conservator of Forest, Sira (Annexure-D dated 14.11.2008), and seeking parity with benefits extended to some daily wages employees (Annexure-F dated 15.11.2018). Noting that the representations had not been considered and no order passed, and the learned AGA undertaking that the representations would be considered if reasonable time was given, the Court directed the respondents to address the petitioners' grievances, consider the representations and pass appropriate order / take appropriate decision in accordance with law within three months from receipt of a copy of the order; the petition was disposed of with these directions. No regularization itself was ordered; only a time-bound consideration was mandated.

NC: 2026:KHC:18774 WP No. 10875 of 2026

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HC-KAR

IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU

DATED THIS THE 7^TH DAY OF APRIL, 2026

BEFORE

THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S.R.KRISHNA KUMAR

WRIT PETITION NO. 10875 OF 2026 (S-RES)

BETWEEN:

SRI H R RANGANATHAPPA S/O. LATE RANGAPPA, AGED ABOUT 67 YEARS WORKED AS FOREST WATCHER, AT O/O THE RANGE FOREST OFFICE, SOCIAL FORESTRY, SIRA, TUMKUR DISTRICT, R/A HUYIL DORE POST, BUKKAPATTANA HOBLI, SIRA TALUK, HUYIL DORE, TUMKUR-572137.

Digitally signed by SHARADAVANI B Location: High Court of Karnataka

SMT. OBALAMMA, AGED ABOUT 50 YEARS, W/O LATE. B. K. ERA BOMMAIAH, (B. K. ERA BOMMAIAH, S/O KARE ERAPPA, AGED 72) WORKED AS FOREST WATCHER, AT O/O THE RANGE FOREST OFFICE, SOCIAL FORESTRY, SIRA, TUMKUR DISTRICT, R/A VADDANAHALLI POST, SIRA TALUK, TITIGANAHALLI, TUMKUR-572137.

SRI. RANGANATHAPPA, S/O LATE. SANNA MARULAPPA, AGED ABOUT 66 YEARS, WORKED AS FOREST WATCHER,

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HC-KAR

AT O/O THE RANGE FOREST OFFICE, SOCIAL FORESTRY, SIRA, TUMKUR DISTRICT, R/A HUYIL DORE POST, SIRA TALUK, HUYILDORE, TUMKUR-572137.

SRI MUDDALAH @ MUDDA BHOVI, S/O HANUMANTHA BHOVI, AGED ABOUT 70 YEARS, WORKED AS FOREST WATCHER, AT O/O THE RANGE FOREST OFFICE, SOCIAL FORESTRY, SIRA, TUMKUR DISTRICT, R/A HUYLL DORE POST, BUKKAPATTANA HOBLI, SIRA TALUK, HUYILDORE, RANGANAHALLI, TUMKUR-572137.

SRI. P. NARAYANAPPA S/O PUTTANARASAPPA, AGED ABOUT 72 YEARS WORKED AS FOREST WATCHER, AT O/O THE RANGE FOREST OFFICE, SOCIAL FORESTRY, SIRA, TUMKUR DISTRICT, R/A JAYANAGARA, DODDERI HOBLI, BADAVANAHALLI POST, MADHUGIRI TALUK, TUMKUR-572112.

…PETITIONERS

(BY SRI. HALESHA R. GAVIMATH., ADVOCATE)

AND:

THE STATE OF KARNATAKA REP., BY ITS SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT, DEPARTMENT OF FOREST, K.G.S., M. S. BUILDING, BENGALURU-560 001.

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HC-KAR

THE PRINCIPAL CHIEF CONSERVATOR OF FORESTS, ARANYA BHAVAN, MALLESHWARAM, BENGALURU-560 003.

THE CONSERVATOR OF FOREST HASSAN CIRCLE, HASSAN-573201.

THE DEPUTY CONSERVATOR OF FOREST, TUMKUR DISTRICT, TUMKUR-572101.

THE RANGE FOREST OFFICER, SOCIAL FORESTRY, SIRA, TUMKUR DISTRICT-572137.

…RESPONDENTS

(BY SMT.SARITHA KULKARNI, AGA FOR R1 TO R5)

THIS WP IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF THE CONSITUTION OF INIDA PRAYING TO DIRECTIONS TO RESPONDENTS TO CONSIDER THE REPRESENTATION OF THE PETITIONERS MADE ON 10-10-2025, 30-10-2025, 31-10-2025, 3-11-2025, 05-11-2025 PRODUCED AT ANNEXURE-G1, G2, G3, G4, G5 AND G6 IN VIEW OF THE REGULARIZE COMMITTEE'S RESOLUTION-PRODUCED AT ANNEXURE-C, AND RECOMMENDATION OF CONSERVATOR OF FOREST, SIRA PRODUCED AT ANNEXURE-D, DTD 14.11.2008 BY REGULARIZING THE SERVICES OF THE PETITIONERS WITH ALL CONSEQUENTIAL SERVICE BENEFIT, IN THE INTEREST OF JUSTICE AND EQUITY.

THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY

HEARING, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER:

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NC: 2026:KHC:18774 WP No. 10875 of 2026

HC-KAR

CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S.R.KRISHNA KUMAR

ORAL ORDER

In this petition, the petitioners have sought for the following reliefs:

"(a) issue a Writ, Order or Directions to Respondents to consider the Representation of the Petitioners made on 10-10-2025, 30-10-2025, 31-10-2025, 3-11-2025, 05-11-2025 produced at Annexure-G1, G2, G3, G4, G5 and G6 in view of the Regularize Committee's Resolution-produced at Annexure-C dated 20.10.2008 and REcommendation of Conservator of Forest, Sira produced at AnnexureD dated 14.11.2008 by regularizing the services of the Petitioners with all consequential service benefit, in the interest of justice and equity.

(b) Further pleased to Direct the Respondents to extend the benefit as extended to some of the daily wages employees at Annexure-F dated 15.11.2018 to the Petitioners.

(c) Further pleased to grant such other relief as prayed under the facts and circumstances of the case, in the interest of justice and equity."

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HC-KAR

Heard learned counsel for the petitioners and learned AGA for the respondents and perused the material on record.

It is the grievance of the petitioners that their representations dated 10.10.2025, 30.10.2025, 31.10.2025, 31.10.2025, 03.11.2025 and 30.10.2025 produced at Annexures-G1, G2, G3, G4, G5 and G6 submitted to the respondents has not been considered so far by them nor any order has been passed on the same. Under these circumstances, the petitioners are before this Court by way of the present petition.

Per contra, learned AGA for the respondents submits that if reasonable time is given, they would consider and pass necessary order on the said representations.

In view of the aforesaid facts and circumstances and rival submissions, the respondents are hereby directed to address the grievances of the petitioners and consider their representations dated 10.10.2025, 30.10.2025, 31.10.2025, 31.10.2025, 03.11.2025 and 30.10.2025 produced at

NC: 2026:KHC:18774 WP No. 10875 of 2026

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HC-KAR

Annexures-G1, G2, G3, G4, G5 and G6 and pass appropriate order / take appropriate decision in accordance with law, within a period of three months from the date of receipt of a copy of this order.

With the aforesaid directions, the petition stands

disposed of.

Sd/(S.R.KRISHNA KUMAR) JUDGE

VM List No.: 1 Sl No.: 33