- 1 - NC: 2025:KHC:13571 WP No. 4972 of 2024 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 1ST DAY OF APRIL, 2025 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE R. NATARAJ WRIT PETITION NO. 4972 OF 2024 (S-RES) BETWEEN: 1. DR. LATHA M W/O M.P. DHARMESH, AGED ABOUT 49 YEARS, R/AT LIG-67, NEW KANTHARAJA URS ROAD, KUVEMPU NAGAR, MYSORE - 570 023. 2. DR. RAVIKUMAR N S/O N.C. NINGEGOWDA, AGED ABOUT 42 YEARS, R/AT NO.125, 4TH CROSS, 9TH MAIN, T.K. LAYOUT, 4TH STAGE, SARASWATHIPURAM, MYSORE - 570 009. …PETITIONERS (BY SMT. ANINDITA CHAKRABORTHY, ADVOCATE) AND: 1. STATE OF KARNATAKA DEPARTMENT OF PERSONAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE REFORMS, DR. AMBEDKAR VEEDHI, VIDHANA SOUDHA, BANGALORE - 560 001. REP. BY ITS ADDITIONAL CHIEF SECRETARY. 2. DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION M.S. BUILDING, DR. AMBEDKAR VEEDHI, BANGALORE - 560 001. REP. BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY. Digitally signed by SUMA Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - NC: 2025:KHC:13571 WP No. 4972 of 2024 3. KARNATAKA STATE OPEN UNIVERSITY MUKTHAGANGOTHRI, MYSORE - 570006 REP BY ITS REGISTRAR. 4. DR. ANITHA RAJKUMAR GHANDHE AGED ABOUT 47 YEARS, W/O RAJKUMAR GHANDHE, PERMANENT RESIDENT AT, NO.M. WADA, ALAND, ALAND TALUKA, KALABURAGI-585302. 5. DR. SHARANAPPA MUSTIGERI (S.R.MUSRIGERI) S/O RANGAPPA MUSTIGERI AGED ABOUT 40 YEARS, R/AT NO.06, SHARADA ENCLAVE, PAVAN PARK, NEAR MARUTI SUJUKI SHOWROOM, KELAGERI ROAD, DHARWAD-580007 6. DR. PRAKASH S. BILEBAL S/O LATE SHIVAPPA AGED ABOUT 37 YEARS, R/AT C/O R.V.NAIDU, NO.2222, KUMBAR ONI, HUBBLI-580020. 7. DR. K. SHANMUKHAPPA S/O K. NAVALAPPA AGED ABOUT 48 YEARS, R/O SHRIDHARAFADDE (POST) BELLAI TQ. AND DT.-583103. …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI. H.K.KENCHEGOWDA, ADDITIONAL GOVERNMENT ADVOCATE FOR RESPONDENT NOS.1 AND 2; SRI. PRABHU.L, ADVOCATE FOR RESPONDENT NO.3; SRI. SUDHIR KUMAR, ADVOCATE FOR RESPONDENT NO.4; SRI. JAGADHEESHGOUD PATIL, ADVOCATE FOR RESPONDENT NOS.5 TO 7) THIS WP IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO CALL FOR RELEVANT RECORDS FROM THE 3RD RESPONDENT AND QUASH THE - 3 - NC: 2025:KHC:13571 WP No. 4972 of 2024 NOTIFICATION BEARING NO. KSOU/AB/EST-1/620/2023-24 DATED 16.08.2023 ISSUED BY THE 3RD RESPONDENT VIDE ANNEXURE-D AS ARBITRARY, ILLEGAL AND NOT SUSTAINABLE IN THE EYE OF LAW ETC. THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY HEARING IN 'B' GROUP, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR JUSTICE R. NATARAJ ORAL ORDER The petitioners have sought for a writ in the nature of certiorari to quash the notification bearing No.KSOU/AB/Est- 1/620/2023-24 dated 16.08.2023 issued by the respondent No.3. They have also sought for a writ in the nature of mandamus to direct the respondent No.3 to issue a fresh notification by following the procedure prescribed under the UGC Regulations of 2018 and the concerned government orders with respect to reservation of posts and while making selections by publishing the list of eligible/ineligible candidates on its official website. 2. A memo is filed by the learned counsel for respondent No.3 stating that the respondent No.3 could not conclude the recruitment process pursuant to the notification dated 16.08.2023, in view of clause S 3 of the Statute governing the conduct of interview under Section 12 of the - 4 - NC: 2025:KHC:13571 WP No. 4972 of 2024 second schedule of the Karnataka State Open University Act, 1992. Therefore, it is contended that the relief sought for the petitioner to quash the notification dated 16.08.2023 has become infructuous. It has also sought for permission to issue a fresh notification within a time frame. 3. In view of the memo, the relief No.1 sought for by the petitioners has become infructuous as respondent No.3 has stated that the notification dated 16.08.2023 has spent in itself. In view of the permission sought for by the respondent No.3 to conclude the recruitment process, respondent No.3 is granted three months from today to issue a fresh recruitment notification and conclude the recruitment process. 4. It is open for the petitioners to participate in the recruitment process if they are eligible and qualified. 5. The writ petition is disposed off on the above terms. Sd/- (R. NATARAJ) JUDGE BKN/List No.: 1 Sl No.: 10