- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC-D:14486-DB WP No. 102501 of 2022 C/W WP No. 103742 of 2022 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA,AT DHARWAD DATED THIS THE 28TH DAY OF OCTOBER, 2025 PRESENT THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S G PANDIT AND THE HON'BLE MRS JUSTICE GEETHA K.B. WRIT PETITION NO. 102501 OF 2022 (S-KAT) C/W WRIT PETITION NO. 103742 OF 2022 IN WP NO.102501/2022 BETWEEN: THE KARNATAKA LOKAYUKTA R/BY ITS REGISTRAR, M.S. BUILDING, VIDHANA SOUDHA, BENGALURU-560001 …PETITIONER (BY SRI. ANIL KALE, ADVOCATE) AND: 1. SRI S.N. POOJARI AGE. 60 YEARS, OCC. PRESENTLY ASSIST DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE VALUATION DIVISION, KARWAR, R/O. NO.5, GURUKRUPA, 2ND CROSS, PADI, BASAVESHWAR COLONY, BARATHI NAGAR, DHARWAD-01. 2. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA R/BY ITS SECRETARY, Digitally signed by BHARATHI H M Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA DHARWAD BENCH Date: 2025.11.06 12:04:21 +0530 - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC-D:14486-DB WP No. 102501 of 2022 C/W WP No. 103742 of 2022 AGRICULTURAL DEPARTMENT, M.S.BUILDING, BENGALURU-560001. 3. THE COMMISSIONER AGRICULTURAL DEPARTMENT, SHESHADRI ROAD, BENGALURU-560001. …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI. G.K. HIREGOUDAR, PRL. GOVERNMENT ADVOCATE FOR R2 AND R3; SRI. PRAKASH PATIL, ADVOCATE FOR R1) THIS WP IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA, PRAYING TO ISSUE A WRIT IN THE NATURE OF CERTIORARI AND QUASH THE ORDER DATED 04.06.2021 PASSED BY THE KARNATAKA ADMINISTRATIVE TRIBUNAL, BELAGAVI IN APPLICATION NO. 9243/2018 PRODUCED AT ANNEXURE-A, IN THE INTEREST OF JUSTICE AND EQUITY. IN WP NO.103742/2022 BETWEEN: 1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY, AGRICULTURE DEPARTMENT, M.S. BULIDING BENGALURU-560001. 2. THE COMMISSIONER AGRICULTURE DEPARTMENT SHESHADRI ROAD BENGALURU-560001. …PETITIONERS (BY SRI. G.K. HIREGOUDAR, PRL. GOVERNMENT ADVOCATE) - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC-D:14486-DB WP No. 102501 of 2022 C/W WP No. 103742 of 2022 AND: 1. SRI. S.N. POOJARI S/O. NINGAPPA AGED ABOUT 58 YEARS, PRESENTLY ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE, VALUATION DIVISION, KARWAR, R/S. NO.5, GURUKRUPA, 2ND CROSS, PADI BASAVESHWARA COLONY, BHARATHI NAGAR, DHARWAD-01. 2. THE KARNATAKA LOKAYUKTA BY ITS REGISTRAR, M.S. BUILDING, BENGALURU-560001. …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI. PRAKASH PATIL, ADVOCATE FOR R1; SRI. ANIL KALE, ADVOCATE FOR R2) THIS WP IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA, PRAYING TO, ISSUE A WRIT, ORDER OR DIRECTION IN THE NATURE OF CERTIORARI TO QUASH THE ORDER DATED 04.06.2021 PASSED BY THE KARNATAKA STATE ADMINISTRATIVE TRIBUNAL, BELAGAVI IN APPLICATION NO.9243 OF 2018 (ANNEXURE-C TO THE WRIT PETITION). THESE PETITIONS, COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY HEARING, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S G PANDIT AND THE HON'BLE MRS JUSTICE GEETHA K.B. - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC-D:14486-DB WP No. 102501 of 2022 C/W WP No. 103742 of 2022 ORAL ORDER (PER: THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S G PANDIT) The above two writ petitions filed by Karnataka Lokayuktha represented by its Registrar as well as the State Authorities in Agricultural Department under Article 226 of the Constitution of India are directed against the order dated 04.06.2021 in Application No. 9243/2018 passed by the Karnataka State Administrative Tribunal at Belagavi (for short ‘KATB’) whereunder the Tribunal quashed the Order of Entrusment dated 19.06.2017(Annexure-A7) as well as consequent articles of charge dated 06.09.2017(Annexure-A8). 2. Heard learned counsel Sri.Anil Kale for Karnataka Lokayukta, Sri.G.K.Hiregoudar, learned Prl.GA respondent Nos.2 and 3 for State Authorities, as well as learned counsel Sri.Prakash M. Patil for respondent No.1 and perused the entire writ petition papers. 3. At the outset, learned Counsel for respondent No.1 brings to the notice of this Court, Government Order dated 27.02.2025 filed along with memo dated 15.10.2025, whereunder, subsequent to the impugned order, the State - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC-D:14486-DB WP No. 102501 of 2022 C/W WP No. 103742 of 2022 Government has taken a decision to exonerate the respondent from the alleged charge which enquiry is pending before the Karnataka Lokayukta. 4. In view of the said Government Order, both the above-said writ petitions would no more survive for consideration. Once the State takes decision to exonerate the respondent along with other DGOs of the alleged charges, enquiry of which is pending before the Karnataka Lokayuktha, cannot be proceeded further. 5. Taking note of the above development subsequent to the impugned order passed by the tribunal and during the pendency of the above two writ petitions, the writ petitions stands disposed of. Sd/- (S G PANDIT) JUDGE Sd/- (GEETHA K.B.) JUDGE HMB CT-CMU LIST NO.: 1 SL NO.: 48