The State of Karnataka Vs Sri Vinay Kumar Patil — Writ and Judicial Review | Karnataka HC (2026)

The State of Karnataka Vs Sri Vinay Kumar Patil — Writ and Judicial Review | Karnataka HC (2026)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Writ petition disposed of with a request to the Tribunal to commence hearing on 15.04.2026, hear the applications on priority, complete the hearing early and pass orders soon thereafter; no certiorari issued at this stage.

Issue for consideration

Whether the interim order dated 25/08/2025 passed by the Karnataka State Administrative Tribunal, Bengaluru in Application Nos. 3826-3830/2024 (staying action on the options-invitation circular dated 03.09.2024) should be quashed by a writ of certiorari, as prayed by the State. +1 more

Court's answer

The writ petition stands disposed of, with a request to the Tribunal to commence hearing on 15.04.2026.

Ratio / Principle

The Tribunal was further requested to hear the applications on priority, complete the hearing early and pass orders soon thereafter.

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

High Court of Karnataka (Division Bench: S.G. Pandit and K.V. Aravind, JJ.; oral order per S.G. Pandit, J.), 02.04.2026, in WP No. 9737 of 2026 (S-KSAT): The State of Karnataka challenged, under Articles 226 and 227, the Karnataka State Administrative Tribunal's interim order dated 25.08.2025 in Application Nos. 3826-3830/2024, whereby the Tribunal had restrained the State from precipitating with Circular No.Dgïr 284 JJ¸ïr 2024 dated 03.09.2024 (Annexure-A36) inviting options from Tahasildar Grade-I and Grade-II officers under the Karnataka Public Employment (Reservation and appointment of Hyderabad Karnataka region) (Organization of local cadres, allotment and transfer of persons) Rules, 2013. The AAG reported that finalization of options and of the seniority list of the Tahasildar Grade-I/II cadres had come to a standstill, stalling promotions, and sought vacation of stay or early hearing; the applicants' senior counsel and the State both confirmed readiness for final arguments, the main matter having been listed for 15.04.2026 by the Tribunal's proceedings dated 05.03.2026. The Court disposed of the writ petition, requesting the Tribunal to commence hearing on 15.04.2026, hear the applications on priority, complete the hearing early and pass orders soon thereafter. No precedent was cited and no quantum arose.

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IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 2^ND DAY OF APRIL, 2026 PRESENT

THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S.G.PANDIT

AND

THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE K. V. ARAVIND WRIT PETITION NO. 9737 OF 2026 (S-KSAT)

BETWEEN:

THE STATE OF KARNATAKA REPRESENTED BY ITS ADDITIONAL CHIEF SECRETARY, REVENUE DEPARTMENT, M.S.BUILDING, BENGALURU - 560 001.

THE STATE OF KARNATAKA REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY, DEPARTMENT OF PERSONNEL AND ADMINISTRATIVE REFORMS, VIDHANA SOUDHA, BENGALURU 560 001.

Digitally signed by NANJUNDACHARI Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA

THE REGIONAL COMMISSIONER, KALABURGI DIVISION, KALABURGI- 585 102.

…PETITIONERS

(BY SRI. REUBEN JACOB, AAG A/W SRI V SHIVAREDDY, AGA)

AND:

SRI VINAY KUMAR PATIL S/O. SHIVAPPA PATIL, AGED ABOUT 39 YEARS, WORKING AS DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF FOOD AND CIVIL SUPPLIES,

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OFFICE OF THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER, VIJAYAPURA - 586 101, R/AT MATOSHREE NILAYA, SHIVAYOGI NAGARA, VIJAYAPURA DIST.- 586 103.

SRI GURUSIDDAYYA, S/O SHEKHARAYYA, AGED ABOUT 37 YEARS, WORKING AS SPECIAL LAND ACQUISITION OFFICER, NATIONAL HIGHWAY AUTHORITY OF INDIA, OPPOSITE: NAVODAYA COLLEGE, MANTRALAYA ROAD, RAICHUR DISTRICT - 584 101, RESIDING AT BUDDINNI TALUK, GUDIHAL POST, MASKI TALUK, RAICHUR DISTRICT 584 125.

SMT. MAHIBOOBEE, D/O ABDULSAB, AGED ABOUT 40 YEARS, WORKING AS ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER OF LAND ACQUISITION, KARNATAKA STATE HIGHWAYS IMPROVEMENT PROJECT, RESIDING AT PLOT NO.624, 6^TH BLOCK, EMBASSY HABITAT, VASANTH NAGARA, BENGALURU - 560 001. 4. SRI ASHAPPA S/O BHIMANNA, AGED ABOUT 37 YEARS, WORKING AS ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER MYSURU SUB-DIVISION, MYSURU - 570 001, R/AT ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER QUARTERS, MYSURU - 570 001.

DR. HAMPANNA SAJJAN, S/O SANGANNA SAJJAN, AGED ABOUT 41 YEARS, WORKING AS ASSISTANT SECRETARY, OFFICE OF THE ZILLA PANCHAYATH, KALABURGI, KALABURGI DISTRICT-585 101,

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R/AT KOLLUR POST, CHITTAPURA TALUK, KALABURGI DISTRICT - 585 218.

…RESPONDENTS

(BY SRI. M.S. BHAGWATH, SR. ADV. FOR SRI K SATISH, ADV. FOR C/R2 SRI UDAY HOLLA, SR. ADV. FOR SRI M.S. RAJENDRA, ADV. FOR R3 & R5)

THIS PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO A) ISSUE A WRIT OF CERTIORARI OR ANY OTHER APPROPRIATE WRIT, ORDER OR DIRECTION TO QUASH THE INTERIM ORDER DATED 25/08/2025 (ANNEXURE-A) PASSED BY THE KARNATAKA STATE ADMINISTRATIVE TRIBUNAL, BENGALURU IN APPLICATION NOS. 3826-3830/2024 AND B) PASS SUCH ANY OTHER ORDER OR DIRECTION.

THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR ORDERS, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER:

CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S.G.PANDIT AND HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE K. V. ARAVIND

ORAL ORDER

(PER: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S.G.PANDIT)

Heard learned Additional Advocate General Sri.Reuben Jacob along with learned Additional Government Advocate Sri.V.Shivareddy for petitionersState, learned senior counsel Sri.M.S.Bhagwath for Sri.K.Satish, learned counsel for respondent No.2 and learned senior counsel Sri.Udaya Holla for

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Sri.M.S.Rajendra, learned counsel for respondent Nos.3

and 5. Perused the entire writ petition papers.

It is seen that the State is before this Court questioning the interim order dated 25.08.2025 in Application Nos.3826-3830/2024 passed by the Karnataka State Administrative Tribunal at Bengaluru (for short, ‘the Tribunal’), whereunder the Tribunal directed the respondents i.e., petitioners herein not to precipitate with the Circular No.Dgïr 284 JJ¸ïr 2024 dated 03.09.2024

(Annexure-A36). It is seen that under Annexure-A36, the State invited options from Tahasildar Grade-I and Tahasildar Grade-II under the Karnataka Public Employment (Reservation and appointment of Hyderabad Karnataka region) (Organization of local cadres, allotment and transfer of persons) Rules, 2013.

The proceedings dated 05.03.2026 in Application Nos.3826-3830/2024 before the Tribunal indicating that considering the submissions of both the

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learned counsel appearing for the parties, posted the main matter for hearing and the matter stands listed on 15.04.2026 for final arguments.

Learned Additional Advocate General

Sri.Reuben Jacob submits that in view of the interim order passed by the Tribunal, the finalization of options as well as finalization of seniority list of the cadre of Tahasildar Grade-I and Tahasildar Grade-II has come to a standstill. He submits that unless the seniority list is finalized, no promotions could take place and it has hampered the State Administration. Therefore, he prays for either to consider the I.A for vacating stay or to hear the matter early by the Tribunal.

Learned senior counsel Sri.M.S.Bhagwath as

well as learned senior counsel Sri.Udaya Holla for applicants before the Tribunal, would submit that they are ready and would go on with the final arguments on 15.04.2026.

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6. Learned Additional Advocate General

Sri.Reuben Jacob would also submit that the State is also ready to address final arguments, as the pleadings are complete.

Submissions of the learned counsel appearing for the parties are placed on record.

Writ petition stands disposed of with a request to the Tribunal to commence hearing on 15.04.2026. We

also request the Tribunal to hear the applications on priority and to complete the hearing early and pass orders soon thereafter.

Sd/(S.G.PANDIT) JUDGE

Sd/(K. V. ARAVIND) JUDGE

NC CT:bms List No.: 2 Sl No.: 6