Ms. Sharon. D. Vs the State of Karnataka — Writ and Judicial Review | Karnataka HC (2026)

Ms. Sharon. D. Vs the State of Karnataka — Writ and Judicial Review | Karnataka HC (2026)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Writ petition allowed; mandamus issued to respondent No.2 to consider the petitioner's representation dated 24.04.2026 (Annexure-F) and pass necessary orders within eight (8) weeks from receipt of a copy of the order; no opinion expressed on the petitioner's entitlement.

Issue for consideration

Whether a writ of mandamus should be issued directing respondent No.2 (Tahsildhar, Bengaluru North (Additional) Taluk) to consider and dispose of the petitioner's representation dated 24.04.2026 (Annexure-F) seeking correction of the caste/community entries maintained in the revenue records, in accordance with law, within eight weeks.

Court's answer

Whenever a representation is submitted to a statutory authority or a government authority, it is required for the said authority to consider the same and pass necessary orders, either accepting or rejecting the request made, within a reasonable period of time.

Ratio / Principle

An order of rejection of a representation should be accompanied by reasons; in the present case neither consideration of the representation nor a reasoned order had been made.

Key takeaways

A mandamus is issued directing respondent No.2 to consider the petitioner's representation dated 24.04.2026 (Annexure-F) and pass necessary orders within eight (8) weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of the order.ratio¶35
The Court expressly clarified that it has not expressed any opinion on the entitlement of the petitioner to the correction of caste/community entries sought.obiter¶40

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Writ Petition (GM-CC) under Articles 226 and 227 of the Constitution — mandamus — the petitioner sought a direction to the Tahsildhar, Bengaluru North (Additional) Taluk, to consider and dispose of her representation dated 24.04.2026 (Annexure-F) seeking correction of the caste/community entries maintained in the revenue records. Held, allowing the petition: whenever a representation is submitted to a statutory authority or a government authority, it must be considered and necessary orders passed, either accepting or rejecting the request, within a reasonable period of time; any order of rejection must be accompanied by reasons. A mandamus was issued to respondent No.2 to consider the representation and pass necessary orders within eight (8) weeks of receipt of a copy of the order. The Court expressly recorded that it had not expressed any opinion on the petitioner's entitlement. (Suraj Govindaraj, J.)

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NC: 2026:KHC:34263 WP No. 20228 of 2026

HC-KAR

IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU

DATED THIS THE 7^TH DAY OF JULY, 2026

BEFORE

THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SURAJ GOVINDARAJ WRIT PETITION NO. 20228 OF 2026 (GM-CC)

BETWEEN:

MS. SHARON D AGED ABOUT 19 YEARS D/O. S. DEVARAJ, R/AT NO. 68, 3^RD CROSS GOVERNMENT SCHOOL ROAD, CHIKKA BANSAWADI, KALYANANAGAR, BENGALURU - 560 043.

…PETITIONER

(BY SRI. THANISH C. REDDY, ADVOCATE FOR SRI. A. ABHINAV RAMANAND, ADVOCATE)

AND:

Digitally signed by SHWETHA RAGHAVENDRA Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA

THE STATE OF KARNATAKA DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE, VIDHANA SOUDHA, 6TH FLOOR, M.S.BUILDING, DR. B.R. AMBEDKAR VEEDHI, BENGALURU - 560 001. REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY.

THE TAHSILDHAR BENGALURU NORTH (ADDITIONAL) TALUK, BENGALURU DISTRICT - 560 064.

…RESPONDENTS

(BY SRI. MOHAMMED JAFAR SHAH, AGA)

2 - NC: 2026:KHC:34263 WP No. 20228 of 2026

HC-KAR

THIS WP IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO A. ISSUE A WRIT IN THE NATURE OF MANDAMUS DIRECTING RESPONDENT NO.2 TO CONSIDER AND DISPOSE OF THE PETITIONER'S REPRESENTATION DATED 24.04.2026 AT ANNX-F SEEKING CORRECTION OF THE CASTE/COMMUNITY ENTRIES MAINTAINED IN THE REVENUE RECORDS, IN ACCORDANCE WITH LAW, WITHIN A PERIOD OF 8 WEEKS AND ETC.,

THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY HEARING, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SURAJ GOVINDARAJ

ORAL ORDER

Learned Additional Government Advocate accepts notice for respondent Nos.1 and 2.

Petitioner is before this Court seeking for the following reliefs:

a. Issue a writ in the nature of mandamus directing respondent No.2 to consider and dispose of the petitioner's representation dated 24.04.2026 at Annexure-F seeking correction of the caste/community entries maintained in the revenue records, in accordance with law, within a period of 8 weeks and etc

b. Grant costs; and

c. Grant such other relief/s as this Hon'ble Court deems fit to grant in the facts and circumstances of the case and in the interest of justice and equity..

3 - NC: 2026:KHC:34263 WP No. 20228 of 2026

HC-KAR

The grievance of the petitioner is that despite a representation having been submitted to respondent No.2 on 24.04.2026 at Annexure-F to carry out a correction of the caste/community entries of the petitioner, the said request/representation has not been considered.

Whenever any representation is submitted to a statutory authority or a government authority, it is but required for the said authority to consider the same and pass necessary orders either by accepting or rejecting the request made within a reasonable period of time.

Needless to say, if an order of rejection is passed, it should be accompanied by reasons. In the present case neither have been done, this Court passes the following:

ORDER

i) Writ petition is allowed .

ii) A mandamus is issued. Respondent No.2 is directed to consider the representation of the petitioner dated 24.04.2026 at Anneuxre-F and pass necessary orders within a period of eight (8) weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order.

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NC: 2026:KHC:34263 WP No. 20228 of 2026

HC-KAR

iii)

It is made clear that this Court has not expressed any opinion on the entitlement of the petitioner.

SD/(SURAJ GOVINDARAJ) JUDGE

GJM List No.: 1 Sl No.: 17