Mr M Krishnappa Vs the State of Karnataka — Writ and Judicial Review | Karnataka HC (2026)

Mr M Krishnappa Vs the State of Karnataka — Writ and Judicial Review | Karnataka HC (2026)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

No relief to the petitioner; petition dismissed with liberty reserved to file a Public Interest Litigation (PIL), and Registry directed to return all original and/or certified copies filed.

Issue for consideration

Whether a writ petition filed by an elected municipal councilor in a representative capacity, and in public interest, seeking directions on solid waste management and allied municipal matters in the Sira City Municipal area can be maintained as a private lis.

Court's answer

A petition filed in a representative capacity and in public interest for issuance of directions regarding solid waste management in the Sira City Municipal area by the Sira Municipal Council cannot be maintained as a private lis.

Ratio / Principle

Liberty is reserved to the petitioner to file a Public Interest Litigation (PIL), and on that basis the writ petition stands dismissed.

Key takeaways

The Registry is directed to return all the original and/or certified copies filed, by following the due procedure.obiter¶¶48

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Karnataka High Court (Bengaluru), Suraj Govindaraj J. — Writ Petition No. 4959 of 2026 (LB-RES) under Articles 226 and 227 of the Constitution of India, decided 24.02.2026. An elected councilor of Sira City Municipal Council (Tumakuru District) sought (i) mandamus to respondent No.1 to consider and dispose of his six representations dated 24.11.2023 to 27.01.2026, (ii) deployment of adequate vehicles and manpower for door-to-door collection and timely disposal of dry and wet waste in all wards of the Sira City Municipal area in compliance with statutory waste management norms, (iii) furnishing of supporting income and expenditure documents dated 31.01.2026 shown in the General Meeting/Ajanda or a private audit of the Council's finances, and (iv) performance of statutory municipal duties and disposal of public complaints by respondent No.4. Held: the petition, having been filed in a representative capacity and in public interest for directions on solid waste management by the Sira Municipal Council, cannot be maintained as a private lis; the petition stands dismissed with liberty reserved to the petitioner to file a Public Interest Litigation (PIL); the Registry is directed to return all original and/or certified copies filed following due procedure.

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NC: 2026:KHC:11569 WP No. 4959 of 2026

HC-KAR

IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU

DATED THIS THE 24^TH DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2026

BEFORE

THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SURAJ GOVINDARAJ WRIT PETITION NO. 4959 OF 2026 (LB-RES)

BETWEEN:

MR. M. KRISHNAPPA

ELECTED COUNCILOR, SIRA CITY MUNICIPAL COUNCIL, AGED ABOUT 59 YEARS, S/O. MUDALGIRIYAPPA, R/O. BHOVI COLONY, WARD NO.5, SHIRA TOWN, TUMKURU DISTRICT - 572 137.

…PETITIONER

(BY SRI. PRABHUGOUDA B. TUMBIGI, ADVOCATE)

AND:

Digitally signed by SHWETHA RAGHAVENDRA Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA

THE STATE OF KARNATAKA URBAN DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT, M.S.BUILDING, BENGALURU - 560 001 REP. BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY.

THE DIRECTOR OF MUNICIPAL ADMINISTRATION V.V.TOWER, 9TH FLOOR, AMBEDKAR VEEDHI, BENGALURU - 560 001.

THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER TUMAKURU DISTRICT, TUMAKURU - 572 101.

THE JOINT DIRECTOR LOCAL AUDIT TERMINAL, KYATHASANDRA, TUMKURU - 572 104.

2 - NC: 2026:KHC:11569 WP No. 4959 of 2026

HC-KAR

THE PRESIDENT C.M.C SIRA, TUMKURU - 572 137.

THE MUNICIPAL COMMISSIONER SIRA MUNICIPAL COUNCIL SHIRA - 572 137.

…RESPONDENTS

(BY SMT. SPOORTHI V, HCGP FOR R1 TO R4; SRI. RAJU S, ADVOCATE FOR R5 AND R6)

THIS WP IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO (I) ISSUE WRIT OF MANDAMUS TO DIRECTING THE RESPONDENT NO.1 TO CONSIDER AND DISPOSE OF THE PETITIONERS REPRESENTATIONS DATED 24.11.2023, 29.01.2024, 29.02.2024, 09.01.2025, 08.01.2026 AND 27.01.2026 VIDE PRODUCED AT ANNEXURE-C TO H WITHIN A TIME BOUND PERIOD AND ETC.,

THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY HEARING,

THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER:

CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SURAJ GOVINDARAJ

ORAL ORDER

Learned Additional Government Advocate accepts notice for respondent Nos.1 to 4.

Sri. Raju S, learned counsel accepts notice for respondent Nos.5 and 6.

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NC: 2026:KHC:11569 WP No. 4959 of 2026

HC-KAR

Petitioner is before this Court seeking for the following

reliefs:

a. Issue writ of mandamus to directing the respondent No.1 to consider and dispose of the petitioner's representations dated 24.11.2023, 29.01.2024, 29.02.2024, 09.01.2025, 08.01.2026 and 27.01.2026 vide produced at Annexure-C to H within a time bound period and;

b. Issue direction to the respondents to deploy adequate number of vehicles and manpower for door to door collection and timely disposal of dry and wet waste in all wards of the Sira City Municipal area and to ensure compliance with statutory waste managements norms and;

c. Issue direction to the respondent Nos.5 and 6 to furnish the supporting document details with regard to income and expenditure dated 31.01.2026 shown in the General Meeting / Ajanda or else directed the respondent No.5 and 6 to arrange for private auditing for more transparency with regard to income and expenditure of the respondent No.5 / Sira City Municipal Council produced vide Annexure-J and;

d. Issue direction to the respondent No.4 to perform statutory Municipal Duties, ensure availability during grievance hours and dispose of public complaints in accordance with law and;

e. This Hon'ble Court be pleased to pass any order/s as deems fit in the facts and circumstances of the case.

A perusal of the reliefs as also the averments which have been made indicates firstly that the above petition has been filed in a representative capacity. Secondly, the same has been filed in a public interest for the purpose of issuing directions as regards the solid waste management in the Sira City Municipal area by the Sira Municipal

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NC: 2026:KHC:11569 WP No. 4959 of 2026

HC-KAR

Council. Such a petition cannot be maintained as a private lis .

Reserving liberty to the petitioner to file a Public Interest Litigation (PIL), the petition stands dismissed .

The Registry is directed to return all the original and/or certified copies filed, by following the due procedure.

SD/(SURAJ GOVINDARAJ) JUDGE

GJM

List No.: 2 Sl No.: 8