Vivekananda Educational and Social Trust Vs the… — Writ and Judicial Review | Karnataka HC (2026)

Vivekananda Educational and Social Trust Vs the… — Writ and Judicial Review | Karnataka HC (2026)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Writ petition disposed of with directions: (i) respondent No.4 to provide the documents mentioned in Annexure-J to the petitioner within two weeks of receipt of certified copy of the order; (ii) petitioner to file a comprehensive reply to the impugned notices within six weeks of receipt of those documents; (iii) no precipitative action against the petitioner-Institution until conclusion of the proceedings upon such reply.

Issue for consideration

Whether the respondent-authorities were required to furnish the documents sought by the petitioner (being the basis of the show-cause notices) before the petitioner was called upon to submit its reply to those notices. +1 more

Court's answer

Since the respondent-authorities had not considered the petitioner's reply dated 21.05.2025 (Annexure-J) or provided the documents underlying the show-cause notices, respondent No.4 is directed to provide the documents mentioned in Annexure-J to the petitioner within two weeks from the date of receipt of certified copy of the order.

Ratio / Principle

On receipt of the documents, the petitioner is directed to file a comprehensive reply to the impugned notices within a period of six weeks from the date of receipt of the documents as per Annexure-J to the Writ Petition.

Key takeaways

Till the conclusion of the proceedings upon filing of the comprehensive reply by the petitioner to the impugned notices, no precipitative action shall be taken against the petitioner-Institution by the respondents.ratio¶¶41

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Writ Petition (Art. 226) by Vivekananda Educational and Social Trust challenging show-cause notices dated 16/17.05.2025, 22.05.2025 and 18.08.2025 (Annexures K, L and M) issued by the fourth respondent (Deputy Director, School Education and Literacy Department, Bengaluru North District), including Final Show-Cause Notice-2 dated 18.08.2025 (No.ANU1/PRA SHI AA/HO KHA SHA VI DOORU/59/2024-25/162). Noting that the authorities had not considered the petitioner's reply dated 21.05.2025 (Annexure-J) seeking the documents underlying the notices, the Court directed respondent No.4 to provide the documents listed in Annexure-J within two weeks, permitted the petitioner six weeks thereafter to file a comprehensive reply, and ordered that no precipitative action be taken against the institution until conclusion of the proceedings upon such reply. Petition disposed of accordingly.

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NC: 2026:KHC:12790 WP No. 27335 of 2025

HC-KAR

IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 3^RD DAY OF MARCH, 2026

BEFORE

THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE E.S.INDIRESH WRIT PETITION NO.27335 OF 2025 (EDN-RES)

BETWEEN:

VIVEKANANDA EDUCATIONAL AND SOCIAL TRUST B.G. ROAD, YASHODHAMMA BUILDING NEAR ABHISHEK INDUSTRIES, IIMB POST, DEVARACHIKKANAHALLI, BANNERGHATTA ROAD, BENGALURU - 560 076, REP. BY ITS MANAGING TRUSTEE, SMT. ROOPA G. DEVARAJ, REGISTERED UNDER ACT.

…PETITIONER

(BY SRI. SRIKANTH M.P., ADVOCATE)

AND:

Digitally signed by CHAYA S A Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA

THE STATE OF KARNATAKA

BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT, SCHOOL EDUCATION AND LITERACY DEPARTMENT, M.S. BUILDING, BENGALURU - 560 001.

THE COMMISSIONER SCHOOL EDUCATION AND LITERACY DEPARTMENT, NEW PUBLIC OFFICES,

2 - NC: 2026:KHC:12790 WP No. 27335 of 2025

HC-KAR

NRUPATHUNGA ROAD, K.R. CIRCLE,

BENGALURU - 560 001.

THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTIONS SCHOOL EDUCATION AND LITERACY DEPARTMENT, PRIMARY EDUCATION, NRUPATHUNGA ROAD, K.R. CIRCLE, BENGALURU - 560 001.

THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR SCHOOL EDUCATION AND LITERACY DEPARTMENT, BENGALURU NORTH DISTRICT - 560 002.

THE BLOCK EDUCATION OFFICER SCHOOL EDUCATION AND LITERACY DEPARTMENT, NORTH RANGE-I, RAJAJINAGARA, BENGALURU - 560 010.

…RESPONDENTS

(BY SMT. SUKANYA BALIGA B., AGA )

THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLE 226 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO QUASH THE FINAL SHOW-CAUSE NOTICE-2 DATED 18.08.2025 BEARING NO.ANU1/PRA SHI AA/HO KHA SHA VI DOORU/59/2024-25/162 ISSUED BY THE FOURTH RESPONDENT VIDE ANNEXURE-M AND ALL FURTHER PROCEEDINGS PURSUANT THERETO; AND ETC.

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NC: 2026:KHC:12790 WP No. 27335 of 2025

HC-KAR

THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR ORDERS, THIS DAY,

ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER:

CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE E.S.INDIRESH

ORAL ORDER

In this writ petition, petitioner is assailing the show-cause notices dated 18.08.2025, 22.05.2025 and 16/17.05.2025 issued by the fourth respondent, vide Annexures - M, L and K, respectively.

It is submitted by Sri. M.P. Srikanth, learned counsel for the petitioner, by referring to the reply dated 21.05.2025 (Annexure-J), that the petitioner has sought for certain information from the respondent - authorities and to provide documents which are basis for issuance of the impugned notices at Annexures - M, L and K.

In that view of the matter, as the respondent - authorities have not considered the reply dated 21.05.2025 (Annexure-J) for providing the relevant documents which have been sought for by the petitioner, which are the basis for issuance of the notices at Annexures - M, L and K, I am of the view that,

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NC: 2026:KHC:12790 WP No. 27335 of 2025

HC-KAR

respondent No.4 be directed to provide the documents mentioned in Annexure-J, to the petitioner herein, within two weeks from the date of receipt of certified copy of this order.

On receipt of the same, the petitioner is directed to file comprehensive reply to the impugned notices within a period of six weeks from the date of receipt of documents as per Annexure-J to the Writ Petition.

In that view of the matter, till the conclusion of the proceedings upon filing of comprehensive reply by the petitioner to the impugned notices, no precipitative action shall be taken against the petitioner - Institution by the respondents.

Accordingly, the Writ Petition stands disposed of.

SD/(E.S.INDIRESH) JUDGE

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