- 1 - NC: 2025:KHC:5907-DB WP No. 16634 of 2024 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 10TH DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2025 PRESENT THE HON'BLE MR N. V. ANJARIA, CHIEF JUSTICE AND THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE M.I.ARUN WRIT PETITION NO. 16634 OF 2024 (GM-RES) BETWEEN: 1. SRI. V. R. RAGHUNATHAN S/O. LATE SRI. V.S. RAMABHADRAN AGED ABOUT 72 YEARS, ADVOCATE, R/AT NO.515, 15TH MAIN, 15TH CROSS, VIJAYANAGAR 3RD STAGE, B BLOCK, MYSURU 570030 …PETITIONER (BY SRI P. RUDRAPPA, ADVOCATE) AND: 1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA REPRESENTED BY ITS CHIEF SECRETARY, VIDHANA SOUDHA, BENGALURU - 560 001. 2. THE SECRETARY DEPARTMENT OF FOOD AND CIVIL SUPPLIES, GOVERNMENT OF KARNATAKA, BENGALURU - 560 001. …RESPONDENTS (BY SMT. NILOUFER AKBAR, AGA) THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF CONSTITUITION OF INDIA PRAYING TO ISSUE A WRIT OF MANDAMUS DIRECTING THE RESPONDENTS TO FILL UP ALL VACANCIES OF PRESIDENTS AND MEMBERS (INCLUDING LADY MEMBERS) OF ALL THE CONSUMER FORAS (INCLUDING THE STATE CONSUMER DISPUTES REDRESSAL COMMISSION) IN THE STATE OF KARNATAKA WITHOUT ANY FURTHER LOSS OF TIME AND ETC., Digitally signed by AMBIKA H B Location: High Court of Karnataka - 2 - NC: 2025:KHC:5907-DB WP No. 16634 of 2024 THIS PETITION COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY HEARING THIS DAY, JUDGMENT WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE THE CHIEF JUSTICE MR. JUSTICE N. V. ANJARIA and HON'BLE MR JUSTICE M.I.ARUN ORAL JUDGMENT (PER: HON'BLE THE CHIEF JUSTICE MR. JUSTICE N. V. ANJARIA) The petitioner, by filing this public interest petition, has prayed to direct the respondents to fill up all the vacancies of Presidents and Members of the Consumer Forums including the Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission in the State of Karnataka. 2. Pursuant to the notice issued in the petition, learned Additional Government Advocate Smt. Niloufer Akbar appeared for the respondents and filed the memo dated 26.08.2024. 3. In the memo, it was stated that the State Government has constituted the Selection Committee under Rule 6(1) of the - 3 - NC: 2025:KHC:5907-DB WP No. 16634 of 2024 Consumer Protection (Qualification for appointment, method of recruitment, procedure of appointment, term of office, resignation and removal of the President and Members of the State Commission and District Commission) Rules, 2020 for the purpose of filling up the vacancies. 4. Along with the memo, the Notification dated 24.07.2024 issued by the Under Secretary to the Government of Karnataka, Food, Civil Supplies, Consumer affairs and Legal Metrology Department is produced which reflects that under the Chairmanship of a Judge of this High Court, as required, a Three- Member Committee is formed. 5. Learned Additional Government Advocate submitted that not only that the Committee is constituted as above, the Committee has already started the process for making the appointments. 6. When the Committee constituted and the State Government are in the process of dealing with the subject matter, the grievance of petitioner would be attended. 7. The present petition is disposed of observing that the process shall be completed as expeditiously as possible. - 4 - NC: 2025:KHC:5907-DB WP No. 16634 of 2024 Since the Committee is constituted and is seized with the subject matter, no further orders are necessary. Sd/- (N. V. ANJARIA) CHIEF JUSTICE Sd/- (M.I.ARUN) JUDGE CR List No.: 1 Sl No.: 34