- 1 - NC: 2025:KHC-D:2414 WP No. 101507 of 2024 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA, DHARWAD BENCH DATED THIS THE 7TH DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2025 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE M.NAGAPRASANNA WRIT PETITION NO. 101507 OF 2024 (S-REG) BETWEEN: 1. SRI. SHRISHAILAPPA S/O. MADIVALAPPA DODAMANI AGED ABOUT 45 YEARS, OCCUPATION : FOREST WATCHER, RANGE: NESARGI-591106 BAILAHONGALA TALUK, BELAGAVI DISTRICT. 2. SRI. SHEKAPPA S/O. LAKSHMAPPA KUMBAR AGED ABOUT 44 YEARS, OCCUPATION : FOREST WATCHER, RANGE: NESARGI-591106 BAILAHONGALA TALUK, BELAGAVI DISTRICT. 3. SRI. BASAVARAJ S/O. RUDRAPPA KUMBAR AGED ABOUT 42 YEARS, OCCUPATION : FOREST WATCHER, RANGE: NESARGI-591106 BAILAHONGALA TALUK, BELAGAVI DISTRICT. 4. SRI. SANJU S/O. DUNDAPPA KOTABAGI AGED ABOUT 39 YEARS, OCCUPATION : FOREST WATCHER, RANGE: NESARGI-591106 Digitally signed by VISHAL NINGAPPA PATTIHAL Location: High Court of Karnataka, Dharwad Bench, Dharwad - 2 - NC: 2025:KHC-D:2414 WP No. 101507 of 2024 BAILAHONGALA TALUK, BELAGAVI DISTRICT. 5. SRI. AMEER S/O. MEHABOOB THAMBOLI AGED ABOUT 40 YEARS, OCCUPATION : FOREST WATCHER, RANGE: NESARGI-591106 BAILAHONGALA TALUK, BELAGAVI DISTRICT. 6. SRI. HUSSAIN SAB S/O. HAZARATH SAB NADAF AGED ABOUT 38 YEARS, OCCUPATION : FOREST WATCHER, RANGE: NESARGI-591106 BAILAHONGALA TALUK, BELAGAVI DISTRICT. 7. SRI. ABDUL S/O. DADAPHEER GHATIN AGED ABOUT 40 YEARS, OCCUPATION : FOREST WATCHER, RANGE: NESARGI-591106 BAILAHONGALA TALUK, BELAGAVI DISTRICT. 8. SRI. ALTHAF S/O. HUSSAIN SAB MALAGANNAVAR AGED ABOUT 38 YEARS, OCCUPATION : FOREST WATCHER, RANGE: NESARGI-591106 BAILAHONGALA TALUK, BELAGAVI DISTRICT. 9. SRI. AFTHAR S/O. AZMUDDIN SANGEWALI AGED ABOUT 39 YEARS, OCCUPATION : FOREST WATCHER, RANGE: NESARGI-591106 BAILAHONGALA TALUK, BELAGAVI DISTRICT. - 3 - NC: 2025:KHC-D:2414 WP No. 101507 of 2024 10. SRI. MAKTHUM HUSSAIN S/O. HUSSAIN SAB NADAF AGED ABOUT 38 YEARS, OCCUPATION : FOREST WATCHER, RANGE: NESARGI-591106 BAILAHONGALA TALUK, BELAGAVI DISTRICT. 11. SRI. DADAPHEER S/O. HUSSAIN SAB BAIRAKADAR AGED ABOUT 39 YEARS, OCCUPATION : FOREST WATCHER, RANGE: NESARGI-591106 BAILAHONGALA TALUK, BELAGAVI DISTRICT. 12. SRI. ABDUL SUBAN S/O. ABDUL HAKEEM MULLA AGED ABOUT 40 YEARS, OCCUPATION : FOREST WATCHER, RANGE: NESARGI-591106 BAILAHONGALA TALUK, BELAGAVI DISTRICT. 13. SRI. MEHABOOB SAB S/O. MADAR SAB KAROSHI AGED ABOUT 41 YEARS, OCCUPATION : FOREST WATCHER, RANGE: NESARGI-591106 BAILAHONGALA TALUK, BELAGAVI DISTRICT. 14. SRI. BASAVANTH S/O. BABU RAWOOTH AGED ABOUT 40 YEARS, OCCUPATION : FOREST WATCHER, RANGE: NESARGI-591106 BAILAHONGALA TALUK, BELAGAVI DISTRICT. 15. SRI. RAMESH S/O. GANGADHAR WADAGE - 4 - NC: 2025:KHC-D:2414 WP No. 101507 of 2024 AGED ABOUT 39 YEARS, OCCUPATION : FOREST WATCHER, RANGE: NESARGI-591106 BAILAHONGALA TALUK, BELAGAVI DISTRICT. GUJJANAL RANGE: 16. SRI. SANDEEP S/O. LAKSHMAN ANIGOLKAR AGED ABOUT 41 YEARS, OCCUPATION : FOREST WATCHER, RANGE: GUJJANAL-591101 GOKAK TALUK, BELAGAVI DISTRICT. 17. SRI. RAJARAM S/O. BALASAHEB DESAI AGED ABOUT 40 YEARS, OCCUPATION : FOREST WATCHER, RANGE: GUJJANAL-591101 GOKAK TALUK, BELAGAVI DISTRICT. 18. SRI. MALLIKARJUN S/O. BASAPPA HANABAR AGED ABOUT 39 YEARS, OCCUPATION : FOREST WATCHER, RANGE: GUJJANAL-591101 GOKAK TALUK, BELAGAVI DISTRICT. 19. SRI. NAGESH S/O. VITHAL METHRI AGED ABOUT 40 YEARS, OCCUPATION : FOREST WATCHER, RANGE: GUJJANAL-591101 GOKAK TALUK, BELAGAVI DISTRICT. 20. SRI. ERAPPA S/O. CHANNAMALLAPPA ANKALAGI AGED ABOUT 41 YEARS, OCCUPATION : FOREST WATCHER, RANGE: GUJJANAL-591101 GOKAK TALUK, BELAGAVI DISTRICT. - 5 - NC: 2025:KHC-D:2414 WP No. 101507 of 2024 21. SRI. RAJENDRA S/O. HANUMANTH SONEKAR AGED ABOUT 43 YEARS, OCCUPATION : FOREST WATCHER, RANGE: GUJJANAL-591101 GOKAK TALUK, BELAGAVI DISTRICT. 22. SRI. RAVINDRA S/O. VITHAL AGED ABOUT 43 YEARS, OCCUPATION : FOREST WATCHER, RANGE: GUJJANAL-591101 GOKAK TALUK, BELAGAVI DISTRICT. 23. SRI. DAYANAND S/O. SIDDARAMAPPA SON AGED ABOUT 45 YEARS, OCCUPATION : FOREST WATCHER, RANGE: GUJJANAL-591101 GOKAK TALUK, BELAGAVI DISTRICT. 24. SRI. VIJAY S/O. GADAGAIAH KULKARNI AGED ABOUT 43 YEARS, OCCUPATION : FOREST WATCHER, RANGE: GUJJANAL-591101 GOKAK TALUK, BELAGAVI DISTRICT. 25. SRI. PARAMESHWARA S/O. PADADAYYA TENGINAMATH AGED ABOUT 40 YEARS, OCCUPATION : FOREST WATCHER, RANGE: GUJJANAL-591101 GOKAK TALUK, BELAGAVI DISTRICT. 26. SMT. YASHODHA D/O. CHANDRAPPA ULLIGERI AGED ABOUT 40 YEARS, OCCUPATION : FOREST WATCHER, RANGE: GUJJANAL-591101 GOKAK TALUK, BELAGAVI DISTRICT. - 6 - NC: 2025:KHC-D:2414 WP No. 101507 of 2024 27. SRI. LAKSHMAPPA S/O. BHIMAPPA KASALLI AGED ABOUT 39 YEARS, OCCUPATION : FOREST WATCHER, RANGE: GUJJANAL-591101 GOKAK TALUK, BELAGAVI DISTRICT. 28. SMT. RENUKA D/O. GADIGEPPA NAIKAR AGED ABOUT 40 YEARS, OCCUPATION : FOREST WATCHER, RANGE: GUJJANAL-591101 GOKAK TALUK, BELAGAVI DISTRICT. 29. SRI. RAJENDRA S/O. DASHARATH BADIGER AGED ABOUT 45 YEARS, OCCUPATION : FOREST WATCHER, RANGE: GUJJANAL-591101 GOKAK TALUK, BELAGAVI DISTRICT. 30. SRI. MANJUNATH S/O. ASHOK ULLIGERI AGED ABOUT 40 YEARS, OCCUPATION : FOREST WATCHER, RANGE: GUJJANALA-591101 GOKAK TALUK, BELAGAVI DISTRICT. …PETITIONERS (BY SRI. N. R. NAIK, ADVOCATE) AND: 1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA BY ITS SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT, DEPARTMENT OF FOREST, ECOLOGY & ENVIRONMENT, M.S BUILDING, DR. B.R. AMBEDKAR VEEDHI, BENGALURU-560 001. 2. THE PRINCIPAL CHIEF CONSERVATOR OF FORESTS, - 7 - NC: 2025:KHC-D:2414 WP No. 101507 of 2024 GOVERNMENT OF KARNATAKA DEPARTMENT OF FOREST, ARANYA BHAWAN, 4 TH FLOOR, 18 TH CROSS, MALLESHWARAM, BENGALURU-560003. 3. THE CHIEF CONSERVATOR, FOREST DEPARTMENT, BELAGAVI CIRCLE, BELAGAVI-590001. 4. THE DEPUTY CONSERVATOR, FOREST DEPARTMENT, BELAGAVI DIVISION, CLUB ROAD, BELAGAVI-590001. …RESPONDENTS (BY SMT. KIRTHILATA R. PATIL, HCGP) THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLE 226 AND 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA IS PRAYING TO, TO ISSUE WRIT OF MANDAMUS DIRECTING THE RESPONDENT AUTHORITIES TO TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION FOR HAVING SUBMITTED THEIR REPRESENTATION DATED. 19.04.2024 THROUGH ASSOCIATION FOR REGULARIZATION OF THEIR SERVICES RENDERED BY THEM AS PER ANNEXURE-E ONLY PETITIONERS CONCERNED. TO CALL FOR RECORDS AND GRANT SUCH OTHER RELIEF/S DEEMS FIT BY THIS HON BLE COURT. THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR ORDERS, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: - 8 - NC: 2025:KHC-D:2414 WP No. 101507 of 2024 ORAL ORDER (PER: THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE M.NAGAPRASANNA) The counsel for the petitioners submits that the prayer that is sought is identical to the prayer that was sought in Writ Petition No.102652/2024, which this Court has disposed on 08.01.2025. 2. This Court has held as follows : 3. Learned counsel appearing for the petitioners submits that, identically placed employees had approached this Court in Writ Petition No.10075/2024 and this Court had directed consideration of the cases of those petitioners for regularization in terms of law. The order of the Co-ordinate Bench reads as follows: “1. The prayer in this petition is for a direction to the respondents to consider the representation dated 19.04.2023 by which the petitioners are seeking for regularization of their services. 2. Since the petitioners are seeking for regularization of their services, it would be appropriate to direct the second respondent to consider the said representations and pass appropriate orders in accordance with law within a period of two months from the date of receipt of a certified copy of this order. - 9 - NC: 2025:KHC-D:2414 WP No. 101507 of 2024 4. Learned counsel appearing for the petitioners submits that these petitioners are similarly placed and therefore the association has submitted a representation to the State to consider their cases in the light of the earlier order passed by the Court. 5. Learned HCGP would submit that the association has submitted a representation and if the petitioners are wanting regularization of their services, individual representations ought to have been submitted. 6. The submissions of the learned HCGP merits acceptance. The petitioners are thus reserved liberty to submit individual representations claiming regularization of their services as is claimed by the association of which the petitioners are all members. In the event the petitioners whould submit representation individually claiming regularization of their services as is projected in the petition, the State shall consider the same and pass necessary orders in accordance with law within three months after submission of the representation, if any. 7. It is made clear that this Court has not assessed the merit of the claim of the petitioners. Ordered accordingly. - 10 - NC: 2025:KHC-D:2414 WP No. 101507 of 2024 3. Learned HCGP though would admit that the issue stands answered, she would however emphasize that individual representation should be submitted for its consideration. This is exactly what this Court has held in the aforequoted order. 4. In that light, the petitioners shall be entitled to the same relief that is granted in W.P.No.102652/2024. Ordered accordingly. Sd/- (M.NAGAPRASANNA) JUDGE NAA List No.: 1 Sl No.: 11