- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC-D:14158 WP No. 107211 of 2025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA, AT DHARWAD DATED THIS THE 17TH DAY OF OCTOBER, 2025 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE M.NAGAPRASANNA WRIT PETITION NO. 107211 OF 2025 (S-RES) BETWEEN: 1. MANOHAR V.R. AGE 42 YEARS, OCC: GUEST LECTURER, R/O: NEAR VENKATESHWAR TEMPLE, MALAMADDI, DHARWAD-580001. 2. NAVEENKUMAR T.R. AGE 53 YEARS, OCC: GUEST LECTURER, R/O: NEAR AMBEDKAR CIRCLE, RAMANAGAR, HIREKERUR, DIST: HAVERI-581111. 3. KHANAGOUDAR VANAMALA BASANAGOUDA, AGE 58 YEARS, OCC: GUEST LECTURER, R/O: KARIYAMMANA KALLU BADAVANE, TQ: GADAG, DIST: GADAG. 4. GORAVANAKOLLA MAHANTESH BHIMAPPA, AGE 45 YEARS, OCC: GUEST LECTURER, SHAKTI COLONY, SRINAGAR, DHARWAD. 5. ANITHA GURULINGAPPA, AGE 43 YEARS, OCC: GUEST LECTURER, KARIYAMMANA KALLU BADAVANE, TQ: GADAG, DIST: GADAG. … PETITIONERS (BY SRI. B N MULIMANI, ADVOCATE) Digitally signed by RAKESH S HARIHAR Location: High Court of Karnataka, Dharwad Bench, Dharwad - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC-D:14158 WP No. 107211 of 2025 AND: 1. THE PRINCIPAL SECRETARY, DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION, M.S. BUILDING, BENGALURU-560001. 2. THE COMMISSIONER, DEPARTMENT OF COLLEGIATE EDUCATION, UNNATHA SHIKSHNA SOUDHA, SESHADRI ROAD, BENGALURU-560001. 3. THE SECRETARY, UNIVERSITY GRANTS COMMISSION, BAHADUR SSHAH ZAFAR MARG, NEW DELHI-110002. … RESPONDENTS (BY SMT. KIRTILATA R.PATIL, HCGP FOR STATE) THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA, PRAYING TO: 1. ISSUE A WRIT IN THE NATURE OF MANDAMUS DIRECTING THE RESPONDENTS TO HOLD M. PHIL QUALIFICATION ACQUIRED BY THE PETITIONER PRIOR TO 11/7/2009 AS ELIGIBLE TO HOLD THE POST OF ASSISTANT PROFESSORS/GUEST LECTURERS AS MENTIONED AT REGULATION NO. 4.0 OF UGC REGULATION, 2018 ANNEXURE-B IN FURTHERANCE OF WHICH NOTIFICATION NOTIFICATION NO. KA SHI E/NEVI-AUA/28/2025-26 ISSUED BY THE RESPONDENT NO. 2 DATED. 25/06/2025 VIDE ANNEXURE-C; 2. DIRECT THE RESPONDENTS TO CONSIDER THE M.PHIL QUALIFICATION OBTAINED BY THE PETITIONERS PRIOR TO 11.07.2009 AT ANNEUXRE-A A1-A4 AS PER UGC REGULATIONS, 2018 THE QUALIFICATION ON PAR WITH THE CANDIDATES WHO HAVE POSSESSED NET/SLET/PH.D QUALIFICATION AND EXTEND ALL THE BENEFITS WHICH THEY ARE ENTITLED TO ON PAR WITH THEM. 3. PASS SUCH ORDERS AS THIS HONBLE COURT MAY DEEM FIT IN THE FACTS AND CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE CASE AS IN DUTY BOUND THE PETITIONERS SHALL EVER PRAY AN ACT OF KINDNESS IN THE INTEREST OF JUSTICE AND EQUITY. - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC-D:14158 WP No. 107211 of 2025 THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY HEARING, THIS DAY, THE COURT MADE THE FOLLOWING: ORAL ORDER (PER: THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE M.NAGAPRASANNA) 1. Learned counsel appearing for the parties in unison would submit that, the issue in the lis stands answered by the Coordinate Bench of this Court in W.P. No.100365 of 2025 and connected matters, disposed of on 6th August 2025. The Coordinate Bench held as follows: “2. Learned High Court Government Pleader for respondents – State submits that if the petitioners were to hold M.Phil qualification even prior to 11.07.2009, they would be held eligible for the post of the Assistant Professors/Lecturers in terms of Regulations No.3.3 and 4.0 of University Grants Commission (Minimum Qualifications for Appointment of Teachers and other Academic Staff in Universities and Colleges and other Measures for the Maintenance of Standards in Higher Education) Regulations, 2018 (for short ‘UGC Regulations, 2018’) for consideration of appointment as Assistant Professors/guest lecturers infurtherance of the notification dated 02.01.2025. - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC-D:14158 WP No. 107211 of 2025 3. The said submission of learned High Court Government Pleader answers the grievance of the petitioners. 4. With the above observation, the petitions stand disposed of. 5. Needless to say, until the process of fresh recruitment is completed, the petitioners cannot be relieved from their post held as on today.” 2. In the light of the issue standing covered by the judgment passed by the Co-ordinate Bench of this Court (supra), on all its fours and on the same reasons, the subject petition also stands disposed. Sd/- (M.NAGAPRASANNA) JUDGE VNP / CT: ASC List No.: 2 Sl No.: 1