Sri Krishna Nayak K N Vs the State of Karnataka — Writ and Judicial Review | Karnataka HC (2026)

Sri Krishna Nayak K N Vs the State of Karnataka — Writ and Judicial Review | Karnataka HC (2026)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Writ petition closed and disposed of as the petitioner's suspension stood revoked and he was reinstated vide Government Order dated 09.01.2026, with articles of charge issued under Rule 11 of the 1957 Rules; earlier, the suspension had been stayed by the Court's order dated 21.11.2025.

Issue for consideration

Whether the order dated 03.11.2025 of the Karnataka State Administrative Tribunal in Application No.1009/2025, rejecting the petitioner's challenge to his suspension dated 17.03.2025, should be set aside. +1 more

Court's answer

As the order of suspension has been revoked and articles of charge issued, the writ petition does not require any further consideration and is closed, standing disposed of.

Key takeaways

Apart from the Winter Session of the Legislature (08.12.2025 to 19.12.2025), there was no explanation for the delay from 19.12.2025 till the Court's order dated 08.01.2026, and the process for revocation and issuance of the charge memo appears to have been initiated only upon the Court issuing show cause by order dated 08.01.2026.obiter¶45
The Principal Secretaries of each Department shall monitor such Court directions and take effective steps, failing which it would lead to initiation of contempt proceedings and may result in initiation of disciplinary proceedings against such officers.obiter¶46

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Karnataka High Court (Division Bench: S.G. Pandit and K.V. Aravind, JJ.), Oral Order per S.G. Pandit J., dated 12.01.2026, in WP No. 34977 of 2025 (S-KSAT): The petitioner, a Gazetted Assistant in the Drugs Control Department, had challenged before the Karnataka State Administrative Tribunal his suspension dated 17.03.2025 (Annexure-A8); the Tribunal rejected the challenge by order dated 03.11.2025 in Application No.1009/2025, which the petitioner sought to set aside under Articles 226 and 227 of the Constitution. By order dated 21.11.2025 the Court stayed the suspension and directed a decision under Rule 10(5)(b) of the Karnataka Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules, 1957 on revocation or continuance; the authorities defaulted until the Court issued show-cause notice by order dated 08.01.2026 regarding contempt and disciplinary action. An affidavit dated 10.01.2026 of the Principal Secretary, Health and Family Welfare Department, enclosed a Government Order dated 09.01.2026 revoking the suspension, reinstating the petitioner, and issuing articles of charge under Rule 11 of the 1957 Rules (Document No.09 dated 09.01.2026). Observing that Principal Secretaries of each Department shall monitor such Court directions and take effective steps, failing which contempt and disciplinary proceedings may follow, and noting the unexplained delay from 19.12.2025 to 08.01.2026, the Court closed the writ petition, which stands disposed of.

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NC: 2026:KHC:1546-DB WP No. 34977 of 2025

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IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 12^TH DAY OF JANUARY, 2026

PRESENT

THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S.G.PANDIT

AND

THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE K. V. ARAVIND

WRIT PETITION No. 34977 OF 2025 (S-KSAT)

BETWEEN:

Digitally signed by VALLI MARIMUTHU Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA

SRI KRISHNA NAYAK K. N., S/O. LATE NEELA NAYAK, AGED ABOUT 53 YEARS, WORKING AS GAZETTED ASSISTANT, OFFICE OF THE COMMISSIONER, DEPARTMENT OF FOOD SAFETY AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION, PALACE ROAD, BANGALORE 560 001. RESIDING AT No.106, 1^ST FLOOR, SHAKAMBARINAGARA, NEAR SRI RAMA TEMPLE, JP NAGAR, 1^ST PHASE, BANGALORE 560 078.

(BY SRI PRITHVEESH M. K., ADVOCATE)

…PETITIONER

AND:

THE STATE OF KARNATAKA, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH FAMILY WELFARE, REPRESENTED BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY, VIKASA SOUDHA, BENGALURU 560 001.

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THE DRUGS CONTROLLER, DRUGS CONTROL DEPARTMENT, PALACE ROAD, BENGALURU 560 001.

…RESPONDENTS

(BY SRI VIKAS ROJIPURA, AGA)

THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO SET ASIDE THE IMPUGNED ORDER DATED 03/11/2025 PASSED BY THE HON'BLE KARNATAKA STATE ADMINISTRATIVE TRIBUNAL AT BANGALORE IN APPLICATION No.1009/2025 (ANNEXURE-A).

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

CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S.G.PANDIT and HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE K. V. ARAVIND

ORAL ORDER

(PER: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S.G.PANDIT)

Heard Sri. Prithveesh M.K., learned counsel for the

petitioner and learned Additional Government Advocate Sri. Vikas Rojipura, for respondents.

The petitioner is before this Court questioning the order of the Karnataka State Administrative Tribunal,

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Bengaluru¹ dated 03.11.2025 in Application No.1009/2025 by which the petitioner's challenge to the order of suspension dated 17.03.2025 (Annexure-A8) was rejected.

This Court taking note of the benefit of interim order of stay of suspension before the Tribunal, stayed the order of suspension by order dated 21.11.2025 with a further direction to the authorities to take decision as contemplated under Rule 10(5)(b) of Karnataka Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules, 1957² and place on record opinion on whether the petitioner's suspension must be revoked or continued. As the decision was not placed before this Court, in terms of order dated 08.01.2026, issued show-cause notice as to why contempt action shall not be initiated for disobeying the order dated 21.11.2025 and why disciplinary actions shall not be recommended.

Today, affidavit dated 10.01.2026 of the Principal

Secretary of Health and Family Welfare Department, Government of Karnataka is filed enclosing Government Order

1 the Tribunal

2 1957 Rules

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dated 09.01.2026 whereunder, the suspension of the petitioner

is revoked and the petitioner is reinstated into service and also under Document No.09 dated 09.01.2026 articles of charge is issued under Rule 11 of 1957 Rules.

In the affidavit, the deponent has stated that as the Winter Session of Karnataka Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council was held between 08.12.2025 to 19.12.2025, a decision as directed could not be taken. However, there is no explanation for the subsequent delay from 19.12.2025 till order passed by this Court on 08.01.2026. It appears that the process for revocation and issuance of charge memo was initiated only on this Court issuing show cause by order dated 08.01.2026. Be that as it may.

We observe that the Principal Secretaries of each Department shall monitor such Court directions and take effective steps, failing which, it would lead to initiation of contempt proceedings and also may result in initiation of disciplinary proceedings against such officers.

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In the instant case as the order of suspension is

revoked and articles of charge is issued, we close the writ petition as it would not require any further consideration. Writ petition stands disposed of.

Sd/(S.G.PANDIT) JUDGE

Sd/(K. V. ARAVIND) JUDGE

VBS List No.: 2 Sl No.: 3