- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC-D:14986 WP No. 104639 of 2025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA,AT DHARWAD DATED THIS THE 4TH DAY OF NOVEMBER, 2025 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE M.NAGAPRASANNA WRIT PETITION NO. 104639 OF 2025 (GM-CC) BETWEEN: SATYAVVA D/O. ARJUN CHAMBAR, AGE: 27 YERAS, OCC: NILL, R/O: #02 NIRMAL NAGAR JANTA COLONY DANDELI, TQ: HALIYAL, DIST: UTTAR KANNADA. …PETITIONER (BY SRI. A. C. CHAKALABBI, SRI. S.B. DODDAGOUDAR AND SRI. S.G. NANDOOR, ADVOCATES) AND: 1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA REPRESENTED BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE VIDHANA SOUDHA, BENGALURU-581301. 2. THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER-CUM-CHAIRMAN DISTRICT CASTE VERIFICATE COMMITTEE UTTAR KANNADA DISTRICT UTTAR KANNADA-581301. 3. THE DEPUTY SECRETARY ZILLA PANCHAYATH UTTAR KANNADA KARWAR DISTRICT UTTAR KANNADA-581301. 4. THE TAHASILDAR DANDELI DISTRICT UTTAR KANNADA-581301. Digitally signed by RAKESH S HARIHAR Location: High Court of Karnataka, Dharwad Bench, Dharwad - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC-D:14986 WP No. 104639 of 2025 5. TH DEPUTY DIRECTOR, SOCIAL WELFARE DEPRTMENT DISTRICT UTTAR KANNADA-581301. …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI. C. JAGADISH, ADVOCATE) THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO: A. A WRIT, ORDER OR DIRECTIONS IN THE NATURE OF CERTIORARI QUASHING THE ORDER DATED 23/05/2025 PASSED BY THE RESPONDENT NO.2 TO 5 IN G G G G¤¸ÀPÀ:eÁw¥Àj²Ã®£É":¹Dgï ¤¸ÀPÀ:eÁw¥Àj²Ã®£É":¹Dgï ¤¸ÀPÀ:eÁw¥Àj²Ã®£É":¹Dgï ¤¸ÀPÀ:eÁw¥Àj²Ã®£É":¹Dgï-43.2023-24/114 VIDE ANNEXURE-A. B. A WRIT, ORDER OR DIRECTIONS IN THE NATURE OF MANDAMUS DIRECTING THE RESPONDENTS TO ISSUE SINDUTHVA BY CONSIDERING THE PETITIONER CAST IS BELONGING TO THE SCHEDULE CASTE. THIS WRIT PETITION, COMING ON FOR ORDERS THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: ORAL ORDER (PER: THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE M.NAGAPRASANNA) 1. The petitioner is before this Court seeking the following prayer: A. “A writ, order or directions in the nature of certiorari quashing the order dated 23/05/2025 passed by the respondent no.2 to 5 in G¤¸ÀPÀ:eÁw¥Àj²Ã®£É":¹Dgï G¤¸ÀPÀ:eÁw¥Àj²Ã®£É":¹Dgï G¤¸ÀPÀ:eÁw¥Àj²Ã®£É":¹Dgï G¤¸ÀPÀ:eÁw¥Àj²Ã®£É":¹Dgï-43.2023- 24/114 vide Annexure-A. B. A writ, order or directions in the nature of mandamus directing the respondents to issue Sinduthva by considering the petitioner cast is belonging to the Schedule Caste.” - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC-D:14986 WP No. 104639 of 2025 2. Heard A.C.Chakalabbi, Sri.S.B.Doddagoudar and Sri.S.G.Nandoor, learned counsel for the petitioner and Sri.C.Jagadish, learned counsel for the respondents. 3. A notification comes to be issued by the State Government for filling up the posts of Graduate Primary Teacher for Classes between 6 and 8. The petitioner is found to be successful as obtained in the provisional select list. After the name of the petitioner being cropped up in the provisional select list, it transpires that the documents submitted by the petitioner were sent for verification qua the caste status. The District Caste Verification Committee is said to have cancelled the caste certificate of the petitioner on the ground that he is not the resident of the State of Karnataka, but is a migrant of the State of Maharashtra. The benefit claimed by the petitioner to be a Scheduled Caste Candidate upon which, the name of the petitioner had figured in the provisional select list was denied to the petitioner by an order 23.05.2025. In the light of the District Caste Verification Committee passing the said order, the name of the petitioner to be found in the final select list has become - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC-D:14986 WP No. 104639 of 2025 extremely doubtful. It is therefore, the petitioner is before this Court in the subject petition. 4. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that if a notice had been issued by the District Caste Verification Committee, the petitioner would submit all necessary documents to claim that he is not a migrant and he is entitled to the benefit of scheduled caste status in the State of Karnataka. He seeks to place reliance upon the Circular, which clearly indicates that the District Caste Verification Committee should not pass any orders without issuing notice to the person against whom the proceedings are taken up. 5. The issue thus, lies in a narrow compass. It is an admitted fact that the petitioner had been issued no notice by the District Caste Verification Committee. The proceedings are concluded and the petitioner is held to be a migrant and the caste certificate of the petitioner indicating that he belonged to the Scheduled Caste is denied, on the score that he is the - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC-D:14986 WP No. 104639 of 2025 migrant, all of which happened without even issuance of notice to the petitioner. 6. As submitted by the petitioner, the State Government has issued a circular directing the District Caste Verification Committee that, while holding proceedings against any person, proceedings should not be taken without at the outset by issuance of a notice to the person against whom the proceedings are initiated. The Circular of the State Government reads as follows: “BCWD-19014/4/2022-BCWD_GB-BCWD ಾಂಕ: 13.04.2022 ಸುೋ ೆ ಷಯ : ಾ ಾ ಮತು ಆಾಯ ಪೕಲಾ ಸಂದ !ೕಡ ಾಗುರುವ &ಂಧುತ( ಪ)*ಾಣ ಪತ)ಗಳ- ಾ ಾ ಮತು ಆಾಯ ಪೕಲಾ ಸಯ ಎ ಾ ಸದಸ/ರು ಸ0 *ಾಡುವ ಕುತು. ಉ ೇಖ: 5ೌರ7ಾ!(ತ ಕಾ8ಟಕ ಉಚ;ಾ/<ಾಲಯ, =ಾರ7ಾಡ >ೕಠ ಇ- ಾಖ ಾAರುವ B >CಷD ಸಂEೆ/: 112131/2014. ***** ಕಾ8ಟಕ Fಾಜ/ ಅನುಸೂJತ ಾಗಳK, ಅನುಸೂJತ ಪಂಗಡಗಳK ಮತು ಇತFೆ 0ಂದುLದ ವಗ8ಗಳ (ೇಮMಾ ಮುಂಾದವNಗಳ ೕಸ ಾ ) (ದುOಪP - 6 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC-D:14986 WP No. 104639 of 2025 !ಯಮಗಳK 1993) !ಯಮ 5 ರPಯ- ೆಯ ಾQMಾಯವರ ಅಧ/Rೆಯ- ಾ ಪೕಲಾ ಸಯನುS ರJಸ ಾAೆ. ಸದ ಸಯು ಈ MೆಳAನಂರುತೆ. 01 ೆಯ ಾQMಾಗಳK : ಅಧ/Rರು 02 ಾ ಪಂUಾಯಯ ಉಪ Mಾಯ8ದ8 (ಆಡLತ) : ಸದಸ/ರು 03 ಾಲೂVನ ತಹೕ ಾOX : ಸದಸ/ರು 04 ಾ 0ಂದುLದ ವಗ8ಗಳ ಮತು ಅಲYಸಂEಾ/ತರ ಕ ಾ/ZಾQMಾಗಳK :ಸದಸ/ Mಾಯ8ದ8ಗಳK ಾ &ಂಧುತ( ಪ)*ಾಣ ಪತ)ಗಳ ಬ5ೆ\ ಮುಖ/7ಾA ಾ ಾ ಮತು ಆಾಯ ಪೕಲಾ ಸಂದ ರಸ]ಸಲYಟ^ MೆಲವN ಅ8ಾರರು ಾQMಾಯವರ ಸಂದ !ೕPದ ಆೇಶಗಳನುS *ಾನ/ ಉಚ;ಾ/<ಾಲಯದ- B >CಷD ಗಳನುS ಸ-& ಪ)S&ರುಾFೆ. ಈ ಪ)ಕರಣಗಳ- *ಾನ/ ಉಚ;ಾ/<ಾಲಯ, ಾ ಾ ಮತು ಆಾಯ ಪೕಲಾ ಸಂದ !ೕPದ ಅೇಶಗಳ- ಸದ ಸಯ ಎ ಾ ಸದಸ/ರುಗಳK ಸ0 *ಾಡೇ ಇರುವ MಾರಣಗLಂದ, ಸದ ಾ ಸಯ ಆೇಶವನುS ರದುO5ೊL&, ಪ)ಕರಣಗಳನುS ಮರು UಾರZೆ5ಾA ಾQMಾಗL5ೆ 0ಂರುAಸ ಾAೆ. (=ಾರ7ಾಡ >ೕಠ B >CಷD ಸಂEೆ/: 112131/2014 (ಎ`-&&) ಆದುದಂದ, ಇನುS ಮುಂೆ ಎ ಾ ಾ ಾ ಮತು ಆಾಯ ಪೕಲಾ ಸಂದ ಆೇಶಗಳನುS !ೕಡುವ ಸಂದಭ8ದ- ಈ Mೆಳಕಂಡ ಸೂಚೆಗಳನುS ಕಟು^!cಾ^A dಾ-ಸುವಂೆ !ೇ8ಶನ !ೕಡ ಾAೆ. 1) ಾ ಾ ಮತು ಆಾಯ ಪೕಲಾ ಸಂದ ಪ)eಂದು ಪ)ಕರಣMೆ] ಸಂಬಂಧಪಟ^ಂೆ ಪ)ೆ/ೕಕ ಆೇಶವನುS ಸೂಕ Mಾರಣಗfೆgಂ5ೆ *ಾಡತಕ]ದುO ಮತು ಸಯ ಎ ಾ ಸದಸ/ರುಗಳK ತಪYೇ ಆೇಶಗಳ- ಅವರ hೆಸರು ಮತು ಪದಾಮವನುS ದಪYRರಗಳ- ಸYಷ^7ಾA ನಮೂ& ಸ0 *ಾಡತಕ]ದುO (ಸದ ಆೇಶಗಳK ಸYಷ^7ಾA ಅಂದFೆ &YೕVಂi ಆೇಶ7ಾAರತಕ]ದುO) ಾ ಾ - 7 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC-D:14986 WP No. 104639 of 2025 ಮತು ಆಾಯ ಪೕಲಾ ಸಯ ಎ ಾ ಪ)ಕರಣಗಳನುS ಒಂದುಗೂP&, ನಡವL/ಆೇಶ *ಾಡತಕ]ದಲ. 2) kೕಲ]ಂಡ ಾ ಾ ಮತು ಆಾಯ ಪೕಲಾ ಸಯ- ಇಲೇ ಇರುವ ಇ!SತFೇ <ಾವNೇ ಅQMಾಯು ಸದ ಆೇಶಗಳ- ಸ0 *ಾಡತಕ]ದಲ. 3 ) ಅ8ಾರರು ತಮl ಅಹ7ಾಲು/hೇLMೆಯನುS !ೕಡಲು ಮತು ಾಖ ೆಗಳನುS ಸ-ಸುವ ಅವಶ/ಕೆದO- ಕmಾnಯ7ಾA ಅವMಾಶವನುS !ೕಡತಕ]ದುO. 4) ಾ ಾ ಮತು ಆಾಯ ಪೕಲಾ ಸಯು ಅಭ/o85ೆ &ಂದುತ( ಪ)*ಾಣ ಪತ)ವನುS ರಸ]&ರುವ ಬ5ೆ\ ಆೇಶವನುS !ೕಡು7ಾಗ 0ಂಬರವನುS !ೕಡೆ, ಸಯ ಎ ಾ ಸದಸ/ರುಗಳ ಸ0ರುವ ಆೇಶನುS ಮುಖ ಪNಟೊಂ5ೆ !ೕಡತಕ]ದುO. ಸ0/- 21/4/22 (Mೆ.ಎ ದ<ಾನಂದ, pಾ.ಅ.qೇ.) ಆಯುಕರು 0ಂದುLದ ವಗ8ಗಳ ಕ ಾ/ಣ ಇ ಾEೆ rೆಂಗಳgರು.” (Emphasis added) The circular is unequivocal. It clearly indicates that the proceedings taken up against a person should be heard in the matter. The circular is in place since 13.04.2022. It is trite law that, whether a circular is in place or otherwise, any order that would entail a civil, economic or career consequence following the principles of natural justice in the least is imperative. - 8 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC-D:14986 WP No. 104639 of 2025 Therefore, these proceedings cannot be taken up without at the outset issuing a notice and hearing the person against whom proceedings are taken. 7. In that light, the petition deserves to succeed, by remitting the matter back to the hands of the District Caste Verification Committee, which shall now issue a notice to the petitioner seeking his reply, permit him to participate in the proceedings and then pass necessary orders in accordance with law. 8. For the aforesaid reasons, the following: ORDER i. The writ petition is allowed. ii. The order dated 23.05.2025, passed by respondent Nos.2 to 5, as per Annexure-A, stands quashed. iii. The matter is remitted back to the District Caste Verification Committee, which shall issue a notice to the petitioner, consider the reply of the petitioner - 9 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC-D:14986 WP No. 104639 of 2025 and then take the matter to its logical conclusion, in accordance with law. Ordered accordingly. Sd/- (M.NAGAPRASANNA) JUDGE AC CT:ANB List No.: 1 Sl No.: 18