Siddaganga Enterprises Vs the State of Karnataka — Writ and Judicial Review | Karnataka HC (2026)

Siddaganga Enterprises Vs the State of Karnataka — Writ and Judicial Review | Karnataka HC (2026)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Writ petition disposed of with a direction to the respondents to consider the petitioner's representations at Annexures-C and C.1 to C.10 and pass an appropriate order in accordance with law within three months of receipt of a certified copy, and to communicate the decision to the petitioner forthwith. No monetary amount was adjudicated or awarded.

Issue for consideration

Whether the respondent-State should be directed to consider the petitioner's representations seeking release of Rs. 20,40,638/- with interest and damages of Rs. 10,00,000/- for bills raised for work executed under the decorative illumination tender.

Court's answer

Recording the AGA's submission and having regard to the limited grievance, the Court held that the ends of justice would be met by directing the respondents to consider the petitioner's representations within a time-bound framework, rather than adjudicating the monetary claim.

Ratio / Principle

The respondents are directed to consider the representations/correspondences dated 16.02.2023, 08.06.2023, 14.06.2023, 30.09.2023, 20.12.2023, 09.09.2024, 30.08.2024, 27.08.2024, 23.12.2024 and 31.12.2024 produced at Annexures-C and C.1 to C.10, and pass an appropriate order in accordance with law.

Key takeaways

Such consideration and decision shall be completed within three months from the date of receipt of a certified copy of the order.ratio¶46
The Court observed that the decision so taken shall be duly communicated to the petitioner forthwith.ratio¶47

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA (Bengaluru), single Bench (Sachin Shankar Magadum, J.), Writ Petition No. 13501 of 2026 (GM-RES), decided 27 April 2026 — Contractor's dues; direction to consider representations. The petitioner, a Class-1 Government electrical contractor and successful bidder under a State tender for decorative illumination/lighting with DG sets at Vidhana Soudha and Vikasa Soudha, sought release of Rs. 20,40,638/- with interest and damages of Rs. 10,00,000/-, alleging that its post-completion bills and invoices were not processed despite repeated representations (Annexures-C and C.1 to C.10). The learned AGA submitted that the bills were under active consideration. Holding that the ends of justice would be met by a time-bound consideration rather than adjudication of the monetary claim, the Court disposed of the petition, directing the respondents to consider the ten representations and pass an appropriate order in accordance with law within three months of receipt of a certified copy of the order, and to communicate the decision to the petitioner forthwith.

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NC: 2026:KHC:23302 WP No. 13501 of 2026

HC-KAR

IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 27^TH DAY OF APRIL, 2026 BEFORE

THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SACHIN SHANKAR MAGADUM WRIT PETITION NO. 13501 OF 2026 (GM-RES)

BETWEEN:

SIDDAGANGA ENTERPRISES

CLASS-1 GOVT. ELECTRICAL CONTRACTORS AND CONSULTING ENGINEERS, NO.55, 10^TH MAIN, MC LAYOUT, VIJAYANAGARA, BENGALURU - 560 040. REP BY ITS PROPRIETOR SRI. SHIVARUDRAIAH EMAIL: [email protected] MOBILE: 9880032661.

…PETITIONER

(BY SRI. SOMASHEKHARAIAH.R.P, ADVOCATE)

Digitally signed by NAGARAJA B M Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA

AND:

THE STATE OF KARNATAKA REP. BY THE SECRETARY, DEPT. OF PERSONAL ADMINISTRATION REFORMS, (EXECUTION), VIDHANA SOUDHA DR. AMBEDKAR VEEDHI, BANGALORE - 560 001.

…RESPONDENT

(BY SMT. NAVYA SHEKAR, AGA)

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THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO DIRECT THE RESPONDENT TO RELEASE THE AMOUNT OF RS.20,40,638/- TOGETHER WITH APPLICABLE INTEREST WITH DAMAGES OF RS. 10,00,000/BY CONSIDERING THE CORRESPONDENCE MADE BETWEEN THE PETITIONER AND RESPONDENT DATED 16.02.2023, 08.06.2023, 14.06.2023, 30.09.2023, 20.12.2023, 09.09.2024, 30.08.2024, 27.08.2024, 23.12.2024, 31.12.2024 ARE HEREWITH PRODUCED AND MARKED AS ANNEXURE-C, C1, C2, C3, C4, C5, C6, C7, C8, C9 AND C10 RESPECTIVELY AND ETC.,

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

CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SACHIN SHANKAR MAGADUM

ORAL ORDER

The petitioner, in the captioned writ petition, is seeking direction against the respondent to release an amount of ₹20,40,638/- and also with interest and damage of ₹10,00,000/- by considering correspondence made by the petitioner as per Annexures-C and C1 to C.10 respectively.

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2. Heard learned counsel for the petitioner and

learned AGA.

3. Facts leading to the case are as under;

The petitioner, being a successful bidder pursuant to the tender notification issued by the State Government for undertaking Decorative Illumination/Lighting with DG Set at Vidhana Soudha and Vikasa Soudha, asserts that he has duly executed the work entrusted to him in terms of the contractual stipulations. It is the specific case of the petitioner that upon completion of the work, he has submitted the requisite bills and invoices to the competent authority for processing and disbursement. However, despite repeated representations and correspondences placed on record, the respondents have not taken any steps to process the said bills. The inaction on the part of

the respondents in settling the legitimate dues has compelled the petitioner to invoke the extraordinary

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NC: 2026:KHC:23302 WP No. 13501 of 2026

HC-KAR

jurisdiction of this Court under Article 226 of the

Constitution of India.

4. Per-contra , learned Additional Government

Advocate, on instructions, submits that the bills and invoices furnished by the petitioner are under active consideration by the competent authority. She would submit that certain administrative formalities are required to be complied with and, if reasonable time is granted, the respondents would process the petitioner’s claim and take an appropriate decision in accordance with law.

5. Recording the submission made by the learned Additional Government Advocate and having regard to the limited grievance ventilated by the petitioner, this Court is of the considered view that the ends of justice would be met by issuing a direction to the respondents to consider the petitioner’s representations within a time-bound framework.

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ORDER

(i) The writ petition is disposed of.

(ii) The respondents are directed to consider the representations/correspondences dated 16.02.2023, 08.06.2023, 14.06.2023, 30.09.2023, 20.12.2023, 09.09.2024, 30.08.2024, 27.08.2024, 23.12.2024 and 31.12.2024, produced at Annexures–C and C.1 to C.10 and pass an appropriate order in accordance with law.

(iii) Such consideration and decision shall be completed within a period of three (3) months from the date of receipt of a certified copy of this order.

(iv) It is needless to observe that the decision so taken shall be duly communicated to the petitioner forthwith.

Sd/(SACHIN SHANKAR MAGADUM) JUDGE

NBM

List No.: 1 Sl No.: 31