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

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

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Relief granted to the litigants in the Junjappa decision (extension of pensionary benefits as granted to similarly situated employees, with computation and disbursement of arrears) extended mutatis mutandis to the petitioner; costs made easy.

Issue for consideration

Whether a writ of certiorari should issue setting aside the KSAT order dated 08.11.2023 in Application No.1114/2023 and the petitioner's application be allowed with all reliefs sought. +1 more

Ratio / Principle

It is a fundamental principle of administration of justice that like cases should be decided alike; relief granted to one litigant cannot ordinarily be denied to similarly circumstanced litigants, subject to all just exceptions.

Key takeaways

As learned AGA could not differentiate the fact matrix and legal parameters of the Junjappa decision, the petition is allowed and the relief granted to the litigants in Junjappa is extended mutatis mutandis to the petitioner; costs made easy.ratio¶43

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Pensionary benefits - parity for similarly placed employees - Forest Watcher (Social Forestry Division, Kolar) denied benefits; writ under Articles 226 and 227 of the Constitution seeking certiorari against KSAT order dated 08.11.2023 in Application No.1114/2023. Subject matter substantially similar to P. Junjappa v. Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (WP.No.6238/2020 (S-KSAT) c/w WP.No.48123/2019 (S-KSAT)), where the same Bench, by order dated 17.03.2025, having dismissed the State's WP.No.48123/2019, directed (i) extension of pensionary benefits as to similarly situated employees, (ii) computation and disbursement of arrears within three months, (iii) avoidance of further arbitrary denial, (iv) filing of a compliance report, and (v) retention of the original order for reference. Learned AGA unable to differentiate the fact matrix and legal parameters; Bench holds like cases must be decided alike and relief once granted cannot ordinarily be denied to similarly circumstanced litigants. Petition allowed; Junjappa relief extended mutatis mutandis; costs made easy. (Per Krishna S Dixit, J.; Ramachandra D. Huddar, J.)

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NC: 2025:KHC:17755-DB WP No. 26016 of 2024

IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU

DATED THIS THE 29^TH DAY OF APRIL, 2025

PRESENT

THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE KRISHNA S DIXIT

AND

THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE RAMACHANDRA D. HUDDAR WRIT PETITION NO. 26016 OF 2024 (S-KSAT)

BETWEEN:

SRI. LAKSHMANA S/O LATE VANARASHAPPA AGED ABOUT 55 YEARS WORKING AS FOREST WATCHER OFFICE OF DEPUTY CONSERVATOR OF FOREST SOCIAL FORESTRY DIVISION KOLAR-563 101

RESIDING AT WARD NO.1 TAMAKA POST AND VILLAGE KOLAR TALUK KOLAR DISTRICT-563 101

…PETITIONER

Digitally signed by SHAKAMBARI Location: High Court of Karnataka

(BY SRI. SUBRAMANYA BHAT M, ADVOCATE)

AND:

THE STATE OF KARNATAKA DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY ENVIRONMENT AND BIOLOGY REPRESENTED BY THE SECRETARY M.S.BUILDING BANGALORE- 560 001

CHIEF CONSERVATOR OF FOREST BANGALORE CIRCLE, ARANYA BHAVAN MALLESHWARAM

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NC: 2025:KHC:17755-DB WP No. 26016 of 2024

18^TH CROSS, ARANYA BHAVANA BANGALORE- 560 003

CONSERVATOR OF FOREST BANGALORE CIRCLE, ARANYA BHAVAN MALLESHWARAM

18^TH CROSS, ARANYA BHAVANA BANGALORE- 560 003

DEPUTY CONSERVATOR OF FORESTS SOCIAL FORESTRY RANGE KOLAR- 563 114

RANGE FOREST OFFICER SOCIAL FORESTRY KOLAR RANGE-563 114

…RESPONDENTS

(BY SRI. B. RAVINDRANATH, AGA)

THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO ISSUE A WRIT OF CERTIORARI OR ANY OTHER WRIT, ORDER OR DIRECTION, SETTING ASIDE THE ORDER OR DIRECTION, SETTING ASIDE THE ORDER DATED 08.11.2023 PASSED IN APPLICATION No.1114/2023 ON THE FILE OF THE HON'BLE KSAT (ANNEXURE-C) AND ALLOW THE ABOVE APPLICATION BY GRANTING ALL THE RELIEFS SOUGHT BY THE PETITIONER TO MEET THE ENDS OF JUSTICE AND ETC.

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

CORAM: HON'BLE MR JUSTICE KRISHNA S DIXIT and

HON'BLE MR JUSTICE RAMACHANDRA D. HUDDAR

3 - NC: 2025:KHC:17755-DB WP No. 26016 of 2024

ORAL ORDER

(PER: HON'BLE MR JUSTICE KRISHNA S DIXIT)

The subject matter of this petition is substantially similar to the one in P.JUNJAPPA V/S. THE PRINCIPAL CHIEF CONSERVATOR OF FORESTS AND OTHERS in WP.No.6238/2020 (S-KSAT) connected with WP.No.48123/2019 (S-KSAT), wherein this Bench vide order dated 17.03.2025 has accorded the following relief after dismissing State's WP.No.48123/2019.

"(i) Extend pensionary benefits to the respondents in the same manner as granted to other similarly situated employees.

(ii) Compute and disburse the arrears of pensionary benefits to the respondents within a period of three months from the date of receipt of a certified copy of this judgment.

(iii) Ensure that no further instances of arbitrary denial of pensionary benefits arise in respect of employees who are similarly placed as that of respondents.

(iv) A compliance report regarding implementation of this order shall be filed before the Registry of this Court within the stipulated time frame to ensure adherence to the directions issued herein.

4 - NC: 2025:KHC:17755-DB WP No. 26016 of 2024

(v) Keep the original order in Writ Petition No.6238/2020 and a copy of the same in Writ Petition No.48123/2019 for reference.

Despite vehement submission, learned AGA is not in a

position to differentiate the fact matrix and legal parameters of the Junjappa decision. It is a fundamental principle of administration of justice that like cases should be decided alike, and if relief is granted to a litigant, the same cannot ordinarily be denied to the similarly circumstanced litigants, subject to all just exceptions.

In view of the above, this petition is also allowed and the relief granted to the litigants in Junjappa supra is mutatis mutandis extended to these petitioners as well.

Costs made easy.

Sd/(KRISHNA S DIXIT) JUDGE

Sd/(RAMACHANDRA D. HUDDAR) JUDGE

SK/List No.: 1 Sl No.: 40