- 1 - NC: 2025:KHC:17755-DB WP No. 26016 of 2024 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 29TH DAY OF APRIL, 2025 PRESENT THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE KRISHNA S DIXIT AND THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE RAMACHANDRA D. HUDDAR WRIT PETITION NO. 26016 OF 2024 (S-KSAT) BETWEEN: SRI. LAKSHMANA S/O LATE VANARASHAPPA AGED ABOUT 55 YEARS WORKING AS FOREST WATCHER OFFICE OF DEPUTY CONSERVATOR OF FOREST SOCIAL FORESTRY DIVISION KOLAR-563 101 RESIDING AT WARD NO.1 TAMAKA POST AND VILLAGE KOLAR TALUK KOLAR DISTRICT-563 101 …PETITIONER (BY SRI. SUBRAMANYA BHAT M, ADVOCATE) AND: 1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY ENVIRONMENT AND BIOLOGY REPRESENTED BY THE SECRETARY M.S.BUILDING BANGALORE- 560 001 2. CHIEF CONSERVATOR OF FOREST BANGALORE CIRCLE, ARANYA BHAVAN MALLESHWARAM Digitally signed by SHAKAMBARI Location: High Court of Karnataka - 2 - NC: 2025:KHC:17755-DB WP No. 26016 of 2024 18TH CROSS, ARANYA BHAVANA BANGALORE- 560 003 3. CONSERVATOR OF FOREST BANGALORE CIRCLE, ARANYA BHAVAN MALLESHWARAM 18TH CROSS, ARANYA BHAVANA BANGALORE- 560 003 4. DEPUTY CONSERVATOR OF FORESTS SOCIAL FORESTRY RANGE KOLAR- 563 114 5. RANGE FOREST OFFICER SOCIAL FORESTRY KOLAR RANGE-563 114 …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI. B. RAVINDRANATH, AGA) THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO ISSUE A WRIT OF CERTIORARI OR ANY OTHER WRIT, ORDER OR DIRECTION, SETTING ASIDE THE ORDER OR DIRECTION, SETTING ASIDE THE ORDER DATED 08.11.2023 PASSED IN APPLICATION No.1114/2023 ON THE FILE OF THE HON'BLE KSAT (ANNEXURE-C) AND ALLOW THE ABOVE APPLICATION BY GRANTING ALL THE RELIEFS SOUGHT BY THE PETITIONER TO MEET THE ENDS OF JUSTICE AND ETC. THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY HEARING IN 'B' GROUP, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR JUSTICE KRISHNA S DIXIT and HON'BLE MR JUSTICE RAMACHANDRA D. HUDDAR - 3 - NC: 2025:KHC:17755-DB WP No. 26016 of 2024 ORAL ORDER (PER: HON'BLE MR JUSTICE KRISHNA S DIXIT) The subject matter of this petition is substantially similar to the one in P.JUNJAPPA V/S. THE PRINCIPAL CHIEF CONSERVATOR OF FORESTS AND OTHERS in WP.No.6238/2020 (S-KSAT) connected with WP.No.48123/2019 (S-KSAT), wherein this Bench vide order dated 17.03.2025 has accorded the following relief after dismissing State's WP.No.48123/2019. "(i) Extend pensionary benefits to the respondents in the same manner as granted to other similarly situated employees. (ii) Compute and disburse the arrears of pensionary benefits to the respondents within a period of three months from the date of receipt of a certified copy of this judgment. (iii) Ensure that no further instances of arbitrary denial of pensionary benefits arise in respect of employees who are similarly placed as that of respondents. (iv) A compliance report regarding implementation of this order shall be filed before the Registry of this Court within the stipulated time frame to ensure adherence to the directions issued herein. - 4 - NC: 2025:KHC:17755-DB WP No. 26016 of 2024 (v) Keep the original order in Writ Petition No.6238/2020 and a copy of the same in Writ Petition No.48123/2019 for reference. Despite vehement submission, learned AGA is not in a position to differentiate the fact matrix and legal parameters of the Junjappa decision. It is a fundamental principle of administration of justice that like cases should be decided alike, and if relief is granted to a litigant, the same cannot ordinarily be denied to the similarly circumstanced litigants, subject to all just exceptions. In view of the above, this petition is also allowed and the relief granted to the litigants in Junjappa supra is mutatis mutandis extended to these petitioners as well. Costs made easy. Sd/- (KRISHNA S DIXIT) JUDGE Sd/- (RAMACHANDRA D. HUDDAR) JUDGE SK/List No.: 1 Sl No.: 40