The Deputy General Manager State Bank of India Vs… — Writ and Judicial Review | Karnataka HC (2026)

The Deputy General Manager State Bank of India Vs… — Writ and Judicial Review | Karnataka HC (2026)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Writ petition disposed of with a modification to the CGIT award: back wages reduced from 60% to 40% (for the period from dismissal to superannuation); the preliminary-issue order on the fairness of the inquiry and the remainder of the final award were left undisturbed.

Issue for consideration

Whether the management of State Bank of India, Zonal Office, Church Street, Bangalore acted legally and justifiably in terminating the services of Sh. R. Srinivasa Rao and, if not, what relief he is entitled to (as framed in the Government reference to the CGIT). +1 more

Ratio / Principle

This Court found no scope to interfere, in exercise of its jurisdiction under Article 227 of the Constitution of India, either with the CGIT's order on the preliminary issue (fairness of the domestic inquiry) or with the final award dated 02.06.2020.

Key takeaways

The back-wages component of the CGIT award was reduced from 60% to 40% on the ground that the Workman placed no evidence on record to prove that he was not gainfully employed and had no source of income from the date of dismissal till the date of superannuation.ratio¶¶35

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

High Court of Karnataka (coram: D K Singh and T.M.Nadaf, JJ.; order authored by Justice D K Singh), Writ Petition (L-TER) No. 4099 of 2021, decided 06.07.2026: The petitioner-bank impugned the award dated 02.06.2020 of the CGIT-cum-Labour Court, Bengaluru in C.R.No.24/2010 (dispute referred by the Central Government on 24.06.2010 under Sections 10(1)(d) and 10(2A), Industrial Disputes Act, 1947) arising from the termination of workman R. Srinivasa Rao. The CGIT had held on 07.08.2013 (preliminary issue) that the domestic inquiry was not fair and proper, and in the final award, noting the workman had long crossed superannuation, treated him as continuously on duty and ordered 60% back wages from dismissal to superannuation. Exercising Article 227 jurisdiction, the High Court found no scope to interfere with the preliminary-issue order or the final award, but — because the workman adduced no evidence of being without gainful employment or income from dismissal until superannuation — reduced the back wages from 60% to 40% and disposed of the petition accordingly.

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NC: 2026:KHC:33876-DB WP No. 4099 of 2021

HC-KAR

IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 6^TH DAY OF JULY, 2026

PRESENT

THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE D K SINGH AND

THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE T.M.NADAF WRIT PETITION NO. 4099 OF 2021 (L-TER)

BETWEEN:

THE DEPUTY GENERAL MANAGER STATE BANK OF INDIA LOCAL HEAD OFFICE 48, CHURCH STREET BENGALURU-560001

Digitally signed by VASANTHA KUMARY B K Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA

NOW STATE BANK OF INDIA LOCAL HEAD OFFICE ST MARKS ROAD BENGALURU-560001 REPRESENTED BY ASSISTANT GENERAL MANAGER(HR)

(BY SRI. T P MUTHANNA., ADVOCATE)

AND:

R SRINIVASA RAO NO.2020, 1^ST FLOOR MARUTHI NIVAS, 33^RD CROSS JAYANAGAR 7^TH BLOCK BENGALURU-560082

…PETITIONER

…RESPONDENT

(BY SRI. B.D.KUTTAPPA., ADVOCATE)

THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLE 226 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA, PRAYING TO CALL FOR THE ENTIRE RECORDS LEADING TO PASSING OF THE AWARD

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NC: 2026:KHC:33876-DB WP No. 4099 of 2021

HC-KAR

DATED 02/06/2020 IN CR NO.24/2010 PASSED BY CGIT-CUMLABOUR COURT, BENGALURU, ETC.

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

CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE D K SINGH and HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE T.M.NADAF

ORAL ORDER

(PER: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE D K SINGH)

The present writ petition under Article 226 of the Constitution of India has been filed impugning the award dated 02.06.2020 passed in C.R.No.24/2010 by the Central Government Industrial Tribunal-cum-Labour Court (for short, 'the CGIT').

The Central Government, vide Order No.L12012/192/200-IR(B-I) dated 24.06.2010 and in exercise of the powers conferred by Clause (d) of Sub-Section (1) and Sub-Section 2(A) of Section 10 of Industrial Disputes Act, 1947, referred the following Industrial Dispute:

"Whether the action of this Management of State Bank of India, Zonal Office, Church Street, Bangalore in terminating the services of Sh.R.Srinivasa Rao is legal and justified? If not, what relief he is entitled to?"

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Vide order dated 07.08.2013, the CGIT decided the preliminary issue regarding the inquiry, holding that the domestic inquiry held against the respondent was not fair and proper.

The CGIT took note of the fact that the Workman

had crossed the age of superannuation long ago, hence, monetary compensation towards the years of service lost in view of the dismissal order would be the appropriate relief for him. Considering the workman as being on continuous duty, the CGIT ordered 60% back wages from the date of dismissal until his date of superannuation.

We have perused the order dated 07.08.2013 as well as the final award dated 02.06.2020. We find no scope for this Court to interfere with the order on preliminary issue on the fairness of the inquiry or the final award in exercise of our jurisdiction under Article 227 of the Constitution of India. However, considering the facts and circumstances of the case, we reduce the back wages as ordered by the CGIT from 60% to 40%. The Workman did not place any evidence on record to prove that he was not gainfully employed and had no source of

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HC-KAR

income from the date of dismissal till the date of

superannuation.

With the aforesaid modification to the award, the

writ petition is disposed of .

Sd/(D K SINGH) JUDGE

Sd/(T.M.NADAF) JUDGE

RKA List No.: 1 Sl No.: 21