- 1 - NC: 2025:KHC-D:3468 WP No. 101298 of 2025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA, DHARWAD BENCH DATED THIS THE 20TH DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2025 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SURAJ GOVINDARAJ WRIT PETITION NO. 101298 OF 2025 (LB-RES) BETWEEN: SRI MAHABALESHWAR PATIL S/O. PARASHARAM PATIL AGE: 46 YEARS, OCC. AGRICULTURE/ CHAIRMAN GRAM PANCHAYAT HALAGA R/O. MERADA, POST. HALAGA, TQ. KHANAPUR, DIST. BELAGAVI PIN-591120 …PETITIONER (BY SRI ANAND R. KOLLI, ADVOCATE) AND: 1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY PANCHAYAT RAJ AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT M.S.BUILDING, BENGALURU PIN-560001. 2. THE ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER BELAGAVI SUB DIVISION BELAGAVI TALUKA, TQ. BELAGAVI, DIST. BELAGAVI-591302. 3. THE GRAM PANCHAYAT HALAGA TALUK. KHANAPUR, DIST. BELAGAVI REPRESENTED BY ITS PANCHAYAT DEVELOPMENT OFFICER PIN-591120. 4. SRI RANAJIT S/O. KALLAPPA PATIL AGE: 46 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE, MEMBER OF GRAM PANCHAYAT HALAGA R/O.HALAGA, TALUK. KHANAPUR, DIST. BELAGAVI-591120. R GIRIJA A BYAHATTI Digitally signed by GIRIJA A BYAHATTI Location: High Court of Karnataka, Dharwad Bench Date: 2025.02.21 16:17:41 +0530 - 2 - NC: 2025:KHC-D:3468 WP No. 101298 of 2025 5. SRI SUNIL S/O. MARUTI PATIL, AGE: 33 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE, MEMBER OF GRAM PANCHAYAT HALAGA R/O.HALAGA, TALUK. KHANAPUR DIST. BELAGAVI-591120. 6. SMT. MANDA W/O. MAHADEV FATAN AGE: 46 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE, UP-ADYAKSHA OF GRAM PANCHAYAT HALAGA, R/O.HALAGA, TALUK. KHANAPUR, DIST. BELAGAVI-591120. 7. SRI PANDURANG S/O. KRISHNAJI PATIL, AGE: 48 YEARS, OCC: AGRICULTURE, MEMBER OF GRAM PANCHAYAT HALAGA, R/O.HALAGA, TALUK. KHANAPUR DIST. BELAGAVI-591120. 8. SMT INDIRAYATI W/O. MAHADEV MEDAR AGE: 50 YEARS, OCC: HOUSEHOLD WORK, MEMBER OF GRAM PANCHAYAT HALAGA R/O.HALAGA, TALUK. KHANAPUR, DIST. BELAGAVI-591120. 9. SMT. NAZIA W/O SAMEER AHMED SANADI AGE: 36 YEARS, OCC: HOUSEHOLD WORK, MEMBER OF GRAM PANCHAYAT HALAGA, R/O.HALAGA, TALUK. KHANAPUR, DIST. BELAGAVI-591120. 10. SMT. SWATI W/O SADANAND PATIL AGE: 36 YEARS, OCC: HOUSEHOLD WORK, MEMBER OF GRAM PANCHAYAT HALAGA R/O.KIR HALASHI, TALUK. KHANAPUR DIST. BELAGAVI-591120. …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI M.M.KHANNUR, AGA FOR R1 AND R2; SRI SADIQ N. GOODWALA, ADVOCATE FOR R3; NOTICE TO R4 TO R10 DISPENSED WITH) --- THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF CONSTITUTION OF INDIA, PRAYING TO ISSUE A WRIT OF NATURE OF CERTIORARI QUASHING THE IMPUGNED NOTICE - 3 - NC: 2025:KHC-D:3468 WP No. 101298 of 2025 BEARING NO.ZÀÄ£Áª ZÀÄ£Áª ZÀÄ£Áª ZÀÄ£ÁªÀuÉÃ/UÁæ.¥ÀA/«ªÀ ÀuÉÃ/UÁæ.¥ÀA/«ªÀ ÀuÉÃ/UÁæ.¥ÀA/«ªÀ ÀuÉÃ/UÁæ.¥ÀA/«ªÀ----01/2024-25 DATED 07.02.2025 ISSUED BY THE RESPONDENT NO.2 AUTHORITY, AUTHORITY MARKED AS ANNEXURE-C IN RESPECT OF ADHYAKSHA (PETITIONER). THIS PETITION COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY HEARING THIS DAY, THE COURT MADE THE FOLLOWING: ORAL ORDER (PER: THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SURAJ GOVINDARAJ) 1. Learned AGA accepts notice for respondents No.1 and 2. Sri. Sadiq N. Goodwala, learned counsel, accepts notice for respondent No.3. Notice to respondents No.4 to 10 is dispensed with in view of the proposed order to be passed. 2. The petitioner is before the Court seeking for the following reliefs: a) Issue a writ of nature of certiorari quashing the impugned notice bearing No. ZÀÄ£ÁªÀuÉÃ/UÁæ.¥ÀA/«ªÀ ZÀÄ£ÁªÀuÉÃ/UÁæ.¥ÀA/«ªÀ ZÀÄ£ÁªÀuÉÃ/UÁæ.¥ÀA/«ªÀ ZÀÄ£ÁªÀuÉÃ/UÁæ.¥ÀA/«ªÀ---- 01/2024-25 dated 07.02.2025 issued by the respondent No.2 authority, marked as Annexure-C in respect of Adhyaksha (petitioner) in the interest of justice and equity. b) Such other writ or order or direction as this Hon’ble Court deems fit on the facts and circumstances of the case in the interest of justice and equity. - 4 - NC: 2025:KHC-D:3468 WP No. 101298 of 2025 3. The petitioner is aggrieved by the notice in Form No.2 issued in furtherance of Sub-Rule (2) of Rule 3 of the Karnataka Gram Swaraj and Panchayat Raj (Motion of No-Confidence against Adhyaksha and Upadhyaksha of Gram Panchayat) Rules, 1994 (‘The Rules of 1994, for short) fixing the date of meeting for considering the no-confidence motion as 01.03.2025 at 12.00 noon in the office of the Gram Panchayat. 4. The submission of Sri.Anand R. Kolli, learned counsel for the petitioner is that, the notice in Form No.2 is not strictly in accordance with law, inasmuch as there is an endorsement made at the end of the notice directing the Panchayat Development Officer to be present during the course of the meeting and to ensure that all the actions taken during the meeting are carried out without any hindrance. His submission is that, no such endorsement or instructions could have been issued in Form No.2, by - 5 - NC: 2025:KHC-D:3468 WP No. 101298 of 2025 such instructions being issued, the very Form No.2 has been undergone an alteration, which is not permissible. There cannot be any addition or deletion in Form No.2. The addition which has been made would render the said notice under Form No.2 non-est and violative of Sub-Rule (2) of Rule 3 of the Rules of 1994. 5. Heard Sri. Anand R. Kolli, learned counsel for the petitioner, Sri. M. M. Khannur, learned AGA for respondents No.1 and 2 and Sri.Sadiq N. Goodwala, learned counsel for respondent No.3. Perused the papers. 6. The notice in Form No.2 at Annexure-C is reproduced hereunder for easy reference: (ಕಂzÁಯ ಇಲಾಖೆ) [REVENUE DEPARTMENT) G¥À«¨sÁUÁ¢üPÁjUÀ¼À PÁAiÀiÁð®AiÀÄ, ¨É¼ÀUÁ« G¥À «¨sÁUÀ ¨É¼ÀUÁ«-590001. OFFICE OF THE ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER, BELAGAVI SUB DIVISION BELAGAVI-590001. Email: acbelgaum@gmail.com Ph. Fax No. 0831-2407284 £ÀA.ZÀÄ£ÁªÀuÉ/UÁæ.¥ÀA/«ªÀ/01/2024-25 ¢£ÁAPÀ: 07-02-2025 £ÀªÀÄÆ£É (2) ¤AiÀĪÀÄ 3 (2) £ÀÄß £ÉÆÃr £ÉÆÃnøÀÄ - 6 - NC: 2025:KHC-D:3468 WP No. 101298 of 2025 «µÀAiÀÄ: SÁ£Á¥ÀÇgÀ vÁ®ÆQ£À ºÀ®UÁ UÁæªÀÄ ¥ÀAZÁAiÀÄw CzsÀåPÀëgÀ «gÀÄzÀÞ C«±Áé¸À ¸ÀÆZÀ£É PÀÄjvÀÄ. G¯ÉèÃR: 1) ªÀiÁ£Àå GZÀÑ £ÁåAiÀiÁ®AiÀÄ zsÁgÀªÁqÀ ¦ÃoÀ zsÁgÀªÁqÀ E°è zÁR¯ÁzÀ qÀ§Æèå¦ £ÀA.100316/2025 (LB-RES) £ÉÃzÀÝgÀ DzÉñÀ ¢£ÁAPÀ: 31-01-2025 2) SÁ£Á¥ÀÇgÀ vÁ®ÆQ£À ºÀ®UÁ UÁæªÀÄ ¥ÀAZÁAiÀÄw ¸ÀzÀ¸ÀågÀÄ £ÀªÀÄÆ£É £ÀA.1 gÀ°è UÁæªÀÄ ¥ÀAZÁAiÀÄwAiÀÄ CzsÀåPÀëgÀ «gÀÄzÀÞ C«±Áé¸À ¸ÀÆZÀ£É PÀÄjvÀÄ ¤ÃrzÀ £ÉÆÃnøÀÄ ¢£ÁAPÀ:03-02- 2025. 3) ¸ÀPÁðgÀzÀ C¢ü¸ÀÆZÀ£É ¸ÀASÉå: ¸ÀAªÀå±ÁE 32 ±Á¸À£À 2020, ¨ÉAUÀ¼ÀÆgÀÄ ¢£ÁAPÀ: 22-10-2020 ªÉÄïÁÌt¹zÀ «µÀAiÀÄ ºÁUÀÆ G¯ÉèÃR (2) £ÉÃzÀÝPÉÌ ¸ÀA§A¢ü¹zÀAvÉ SÁ£Á¥ÀÇgÀ vÁ®ÆQ£À ºÀ®UÁ UÁæªÀÄ ¥ÀAZÁAiÀÄwAiÀÄ CzsÀåPÀëgÁzÀ ²æà ªÀĺÁ§¼ÉñÀégÀ ¥ÀgÀ±ÀÄgÁªÀÄ ¥Ánî EªÀgÀ «gÀÄzÀÞ C«±Áé¸À ¸ÀÆZÀ£ÉAiÀÄ ¥ÀAiÀiÁð¯ÉÆÃZÀ£ÉUÁV ¢£ÁAPÀ: 01-03-2025 gÀAzÀÄ ªÀÄzsÁåºÀß 12.00 UÀAmÉ ¸ÀªÀÄAiÀÄPÉÌ ¸ÀzÀj UÁæªÀÄ ¥ÀAZÁAiÀÄw PÀZÉÃjAiÀÄ°è ¸À¨sÉAiÀÄ£ÀÄß £ÀqɸÀ¯ÁUÀĪÀÅzÀÄ. DzÀÄzÀjAzÀ, ¤ÃªÀÅ ªÉÄÃ¯É w½¸À¯ÁzÀ ¢£ÁAPÀzÀAzÀÄ ¸ÀzÀj ¸ÀܼÀzÀ°è ºÁUÀÆ ¸ÀªÀÄAiÀÄPÉÌ ¸ÀjAiÀiÁV ¸ÀzÀj ¸À¨sÉUÉ ºÁdgÁUÀ®Ä PÉÆÃgÀ¯ÁVzÉ. ¸À»/- G¥À«¨sÁUÁ¢üPÁj ¨É¼ÀUÁ« G¥À«¨sÁUÀ, ¨É¼ÀUÁ« EªÀjUÉ, ²æÃ. ªÀĺÁ§¼ÉñÀégÀ ¥ÀgÀ±ÀÄgÁªÀÄ ¥Ánî CzsÀåPÀëgÀÄ, UÁæªÀÄ ¥ÀAZÁAiÀÄvÀ ºÀ®UÁ vÀ: SÁ£Á¥ÀÇgÀ f: ¨É¼ÀUÁ«, ¥Àæw: ¥ÀAZÁAiÀÄvÀ C©üªÀÈ¢Þ C¢üPÁj UÁæªÀÄ ¥ÀAZÁAiÀÄw ºÀ®UÁ vÁ: SÁ£Á¥ÀÇgÀ EªÀjUÉ F ¥ÀvÀæPÉÌ ®UÀwÛlÖ £ÉÆÃnøÀUÀ¼À£ÀÄß ¸ÀA§AzsÀ¥ÀlÖªÀjUÉ vÀPÀëtªÉà eÁj ªÀiÁr gÀÄdÄ ¥ÀqÉzÀÄPÉÆAqÀÄ JgÀqÀÄ ¢£ÀUÀ¼À M¼ÀUÁV ªÀgÀ¢ ¸À°è¸ÀvÀPÀÌzÀÄÝ CAvÁ w½¹zÉ. ªÀÄvÀÄÛ ¸ÀzÀj ¸À¨sÉAiÀÄ ¢£ÀzÀAzÀÄ ªÉÊAiÀÄQÛPÀªÁV ºÁdgÀ EzÀÄÝ J®è PÁAiÀÄðPÀ¯Á¥ÀUÀ¼À£ÀÄß ¸ÀjAiÀiÁV ¤ªÀð»¸ÀvÀPÀÌzÀÄÝ. G¥À«¨sÁUÁ¢üPÁj ¨É¼ÀUÁ« G¥À«¨sÁUÀ, ¨É¼ÀUÁ« 7. A perusal of the notice indicates that, it is in Form No.2, the subject has been mentioned, so also the - 7 - NC: 2025:KHC-D:3468 WP No. 101298 of 2025 references have been made in relation to the earlier litigation and the notices which had been issued. The body of the notice details out the date and time at which the meeting is to be held and the location thereof. The same being signed by the Assistant Commissioner, the addressee’s name is at the bottom of the page. Till this stage, the entire notice is in accordance with Form No.2. 8. The grievance of the petitioner is as regards the instructions which have been issued at the end after the signature of the AC. 9. A rough translation of the same is as under: “To: Panchayat Development Officer, Gram Panchayat Halaga, Ta: Khanapur, it is hereby informed that the notices attached to this letter should be immediately issued to the concerned persons and a report should be submitted within two days after obtaining the receipt. And that he should be personally present on the day of the said meeting and all the proceedings should be properly conducted.” 10. The instructions are to the PDO who is in- charge of the panchayat to get the notice served, a report of service to be furnished within 2 days and that the - 8 - NC: 2025:KHC-D:3468 WP No. 101298 of 2025 PDO is to be personally present on the date of the meeting to facilitate a proper meeting to be held and that the meeting is conducted without any hindrance. 11. These instructions being issued in the administrative capacity of the Assistant Commissioner, directing the PDO to facilitate the conduct of the meeting in a proper manner, in my consider opinion, does not in any manner alter the notice in Form No.2, where all the details which are required to be conveyed to the addressee, have been so conveyed. 12. The administrative instructions by the Assistant Commissioner though could have been issued separately, the fact that they are included in the notice in Form No.2 would not in any manner take away the meaning and purport of Form No.2, whose intention is to convey the details of the time, date and location of the meeting to be held to consider the motion of no-confidence moved by the elected representatives. The petitioner being provided with - 9 - NC: 2025:KHC-D:3468 WP No. 101298 of 2025 all the requisite details cannot have any complaint as regards the administrative direction issued by the Assistant Commissioner to the Panchayat to facilitate the meeting. 13. No grounds being made out the petition stands dismissed. Sd/- (SURAJ GOVINDARAJ) JUDGE gab CT:GSM List No.: 1 Sl No.: 17