Allowed

Sri Venkatesh Murthy R S v. the State of Karnataka

Karnataka HC18 Jun 2026WP/37892/2025

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

Petitioner sought appointment as Archaka at temples in Chamarajanagar; the Tahasildar had not acted on the Commissioner's direction of 11.07.2025. The court held a subordinate authority must comply with a superior authority's order and directed compliance within four weeks.

What did the court decide?

Respondent No.4 (Tahasildar) directed to act on the Commissioner's order at Annexure-H within four weeks of receiving a copy of this order.

Sri Venkatesh Murthy R S Vs the State of Karnataka — Service and Employment | Karnataka HC (2026)

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NC: 2026:KHC:30347 WP No. 37892 of 2025

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HC-KAR

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IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 18^TH DAY OF JUNE, 2026

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BEFORE

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THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SURAJ GOVINDARAJ WRIT PETITION NO. 37892 OF 2025 (GM-R/C)

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BETWEEN:

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SRI VENKATESH MURTHY R S S/O OF SRINIVASA N MURTHY AGED 44 YEARS

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PRADHANA ARCHAKARU SRI. CHOWDESHWARI DEVASTANA BRAHMANARA BHEEDHI CHAMARAJA NAGARA 571313 TALUK CHAMARAJANAGARA DISTRICT

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…PETITIONER

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(BY SRI. ANURADHA S K., ADVOCATE)

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AND:

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THE STATE OF KARNATAKA

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Digitally signed by SHWETHA RAGHAVENDRA Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA

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MINISTRY OF RELIGIOUS AND CHARITABLE

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ENDOWMENTS REPRESENTED BY

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GOVERNMENT ADVOCATE

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HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA.

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THE COMMISSIONER RELIGIOUS AND CHARITABLE ENDOWMENTS GOVERNMENT OF KARNATAKA, MAHADESHWARA VARTHA BHAVAN VENKATARAO ROAD CHAMARAJPET BENGALURU 560 018.

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DEPUTY COMMISSIONER

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NC: 2026:KHC:30347 WP No. 37892 of 2025

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HC-KAR

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CHAMARAJA NAGARA DISCTRICT CHAMARAJANAGARA - 571313.

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4. TAHASILDAR

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CHAMARAJA NAGARA CHAMARAJA NAGARA TALUK CHAMARAJA NAGARA DISTRICT - 571313

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…RESPONDENTS

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(BY SRI. C.H. DEVARAJ, GOVT. ADVOCATE)

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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 OR ANY OTHER WRIT OR ORDER OR DIRECTION TO THE 4TH RESPONDENT TO TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION ON THE DIRECTION LETTER ISSUED THE COMMISSIONER RELIGIONS AND CHARITABLE ENDOMWMENT DEPARTMENT AND DEPUTY COMMISSIONER, CHAMARAJANAGAR, LETTER DATED 11/07/2025 THAT ANNEXURE H AND ISSUE APPROPRIATE ORDER TO APPOINT THE PETITIONER AS ARCHAKA AT THE MAHAGANAPATHY TEMPLE; B) OR ALTERNATIVELY ISSUE DIRECTION TO THE RESPONDENT NO. 4 TO APPOINT THE PETITIONER AS ARCHAKA AT CHAMARAJESHAWARA TEMPLE, CHAMARAJANAGAR & ETC.

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

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CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SURAJ GOVINDARAJ

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ORAL ORDER

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1. The petitioner is before this court seeking for the following reliefs:

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a) “Issue a writ in the nature of Mandamus or any other writ or order or direction to the 4^th

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3 - NC: 2026:KHC:30347 WP No. 37892 of 2025

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HC-KAR

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Respondent to take appropriate action on the Direction letter issued the Commissioner, Religions and Charitable Endowment Department and Deputy Commissioner, Chamarajanagar, letter dated 11.07.2025 that Annexure-H and issue appropriate order to appoint the petitioner as Archaka at the Mahaganapathy Temple.

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b) Or Alternatively issue direction to the Respondent No.4 to appoint the petitioner as archaka at Chamarajeshwara Temple, Chamarajanagar.

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c) Pass any other order or direction that this Hon’ble Court deems it fit and necessary in the facts and circumstances of the case and in the interest of justice and equity.”

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2. The grievance of the petitioner is that the representation submitted by the petitioner and the direction issued by the commissioner at Annexure - H has

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not been considered by respondent No. 4 and appropriate orders passed. Whenever any order is passed by a superior authority, it is required for the subordinate authority to comply with the same at the earliest. The order of the superior authority - respondent No. 2, having been passed on 11.07.2025, Tahasildar - respondent No. 4 is still to act on it, which cannot be countenanced either in law or fact.

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NC: 2026:KHC:30347 WP No. 37892 of 2025

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HC-KAR

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3. In that view of the matter, this Court passes the

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following:

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ORDER

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a) Writ Petition is allowed.

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b) Respondent No. 4 is directed to act on the order

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of respondent No. 2 at Annexure - H within a period of 4 weeks from date of receipt of a copy of this order.

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Sd/(SURAJ GOVINDARAJ) JUDGE

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BVK

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List No.: 1 Sl No.: 54

Sri Venkatesh Murthy R S v. the State of Karnataka

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

Sri Venkatesh Murthy R S v. the State of Karnataka

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

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