Sri Kempanna Vs Karnataka Examination Authority — Writ and Judicial Review | Karnataka HC (2026)

Sri Kempanna Vs Karnataka Examination Authority — Writ and Judicial Review | Karnataka HC (2026)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Writ of mandamus directing the respondent to consider the petitioner's representations dated 30.05.2024, 18.07.2024 and 31.07.2024 (Annexures-D to F) within two weeks, at any rate on or before 30.06.2026; the Court expressed no opinion on the petitioner's entitlement.

Issue for consideration

Whether the respondent was bound to consider the petitioner's representations dated 30.05.2024, 18.07.2024 and 31.07.2024 (Annexures-D to F) and effect necessary corrections in the application submitted by the petitioner. +1 more

Court's answer

Whenever a representation is made by a citizen to an authority, it is required to be considered and necessary orders passed within a reasonable period of time, either accepting or rejecting the request made.

Ratio / Principle

In the present case, no order was passed on the first representation dated 30.05.2024 for more than two years, which cannot be said to be reasonable.

Key takeaways

When any order of rejection is passed on a representation, it is required to be accompanied by reasons.obiter¶¶35
Mandamus was issued directing the respondents to consider the petitioner's representations dated 30.05.2024, 18.07.2024 and 31.07.2024 (Annexures-D to F) within two weeks, at any rate on or before 30.06.2026.ratio¶¶38
The Court expressly did not express any opinion on the entitlement of the relief sought by the petitioner; the question of correcting the category entry and treating the petitioner as qualified in K-SET 2023 was left open.

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Mandamus for consideration of pending representations — Karnataka Examination Authority — K-SET 2023 category error (Category 2A vs Category I). Held: whenever a citizen makes a representation to an authority, it must be considered and necessary orders passed within a reasonable period of time, either accepting or rejecting the request, and any order of rejection must be accompanied by reasons. No order having been passed on the petitioner's first representation dated 30.05.2024 for more than two years — a period held unreasonable — the writ petition under Article 226 was allowed and the respondent directed to consider the representations dated 30.05.2024, 18.07.2024 and 31.07.2024 (Annexures-D to F) within two weeks, at any rate on or before 30.06.2026. The Court expressly expressed no opinion on the petitioner's entitlement to correction of the category entry or to being treated as qualified in K-SET 2023, leaving that question open.

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NC: 2026:KHC:29983 WP No. 36550 of 2024

HC-KAR

IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU

DATED THIS THE 17^TH DAY OF JUNE, 2026

BEFORE

THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SURAJ GOVINDARAJ

WRIT PETITION NO. 36550 OF 2024 (GM-TEN)

BETWEEN:

SRI KEMPANNA S/O DASAPPA, AGED ABOUT 25 YEARS, RESIDING AT SRINIVASAPURA VILLAGE, MADHUGIRI TALUK, TUMKUR DISTRICT - 572 124.

… PETITIONER

(BY SRI. HANUMANTHARAYAPPA K., ADVOCATE)

AND:

Digitally signed by SHWETHA RAGHAVENDRA Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA

KARNATAKA EXAMINATION AUTHORITY REPRESENTED BY ITS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, 18^TH CROSS, SAMPIGE ROAD, MALLESHWARAM, BANGALORE - 560 012.

… RESPONDENT

(BY SRI. N.K. RAMESH., ADVOCATE)

THIS W.P. IS FILED UNDER ARTICLE 226 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA, PRAYING TO A) CALL FOR RECORDS FROM THE RESPONDENT AND B) DIRECTING THE RESPONDENT TO CONSIDER THE REPRESENTATIONS OF THE PETITIONER DATED 30/05/2024, 18/07/2024 AND 31/07/2024 (ANNEXURE D TO F) AND CONSEQUENTLY DIRECT THE RESPONDENT TO CORRECT THE ERROR WHICH IS DEPICTED HIM AS BELONGING TO CATEGORY 2A TO THAT OF CATEGORY I IN THE ONLINE APPLICATION FILED BY THE PETITIONER FOR KARNATAKA STATE ELIGIBILITY TEST AND TREAT THE PETITIONER AS QUALIFIED IN K - SET 2023 AND ETC.

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

2 - NC: 2026:KHC:29983 WP No. 36550 of 2024

HC-KAR

CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SURAJ GOVINDARAJ

ORAL ORDER

The petitioner is before this Court seeking for the following reliefs:

a) CALL for records from the Respondent;

b) ISSUE WRIT OF MANDAMUS directing the Respondent TO CONSIDER the representations of the Petitioner dated 30/05/2024, 18/07/2024 and 31/07/2024 (ANNEXURE-D TO F) and CONSEQUENTLY DIRECT the Respondent to correct the error which is depicted him as belonging to Category - 2A to that of Category - I in the Online Application filed by the Petitioner for Karnataka State Eligibility Test and TREAT the Petitioner as qualified in K-SET - 2023, in the interest of justice and equity;

c) PASS any other Order including the costs of this Writ Petition, in the interest of justice and equity.

The grievance of the petitioner is that the

representations dated 30.05.2024, 18.07.2024 and

31.07.2024 at Annexures-D to F have not been considered by the respondents and necessary corrections be effected in the application submitted by the petitioner.

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NC: 2026:KHC:29983 WP No. 36550 of 2024

HC-KAR

Whenever any representation is made by a citizen to

any authority, the same is required to be considered, necessary orders passed within a reasonable period of time either accepting or rejecting the request made. Needless to say, when any order of rejection is passed, the same is required to be accompanied by reasons.

In the present case, the first representation is dated 30.05.2024, no order has been passed for more than two years, which cannot be said to be reasonable. As such, I pass the following:

ORDER

i. The writ petition is allowed. Mandamus is issued directing respondents to consider the representations of the petitioners dated 30.05.2024, 18.07.2024 and 31.07.2024 at Annexures-D to F within a period of two weeks from today, at any rate on or before 30.06.2026.

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NC: 2026:KHC:29983 WP No. 36550 of 2024

HC-KAR

ii. It is made clear that this Court has is not expressed any opinion on the entitlement of the permission sought for by the petitioners.

Sd/(SURAJ GOVINDARAJ) JUDGE

LN List No.: 1 Sl No.: 46