Case brief
What is this about?
Karnataka High Court, Bengaluru (Ashok S. Kinagi, J.), WP No. 424 of 2024 (S-REG), decided 04-06-2026. Three Bill Collectors of Tumakuru Mahanagara Palike, appointed by Kesaramadu Gram Panchayat (16.09.1989), Melekote Mandal Panchayat (16.08.1994) and Satyamangala Mandal Panchayat (12.07.1995), challenged endorsement No. 488324/DMA/EST2/DAWE/34/2021/5498 dated 06.11.2023 of the Director of Municipal Administration declining regularisation. Held: appointments undisputed; service exceeded 10-15 years; respondents 3 and 4 had recommended regularisation; objection founded on absence of sanctioned posts answered by Supreme Court authority. Writ petition allowed; Annexure-Z quashed; respondents to reconsider in light of Dharam Singh (2025 INSC 998), Jaggo v. Union of India (2024 SCC Online SC 3826), Shripal v. Nagar Nigam (2025 SCC Online SC 221) and Sukhendu Bhattacharjee (Civil Appeal No.4514/2025) and pass appropriate orders within one month. Keywords: regularisation, daily wage, bill collector, sanctioned post, mandal panchayat merger, Articles 226/227, certiorari, mandamus.