- 1 - NC: 2025:KHC-D:3995-DB WP No. 101415 of 2025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA, DHARWAD BENCH DATED THIS THE 28TH DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2025 PRESENT THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE B.M.SHYAM PRASAD AND THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE RAMACHANDRA D. HUDDAR WRIT PETITION NO. 101415 OF 2025 (S-KAT) BETWEEN: SHRI. KIRAN KUMAR KARATANGI, AGE: MAJOR, OCC: RANGE FOREST OFFICER (RFO), PRESENTLY WORKING AT RANGE FOREST OFFICER, SOCIAL FOREST, NAVALGUND, DIST: DHARWAD. …PETITIONER (BY SRI. SUNIL S. DESAI, ADVOCATE) AND: 1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA, DEPARTMENT OF FOREST, ECOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENT,. REP. BY THE PRINCIPAL, SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT, ROOM NO.442, 4TH FLOOR, GATE NO.2, M. S. BUILDING, BENGALURU-560001. 2. THE ADDITIONAL CHIEF SECRETARY, FOREST ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY DEPARTMENT, Digitally signed by VANAMALA N Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - NC: 2025:KHC-D:3995-DB WP No. 101415 of 2025 GOVERNMENT OF KARNATAKA, ROOM NO.448, 4TH FLOOR, GATE NO.2, M. S. BUILDING, BENGALURE-560001. 3. THE PRINCIPAL CHIEF CONSERVATOR OF FOREST (HEAD OF FOREST FORCE), ARANYA BHAVAN, 4TH FLOOR, 18TH CROSS, MALLESHWARAM, BENGALURU-560003. 4. THE DEPUTY CONSERVATOR OF FORESTS, DHARWAD DIVISION, NEAR K. C. PARK, P. B. ROAD, DHARWAD-580008. 5. SHRI. PRADEEP S/O. SHANJARAPPA PAWAR AGED ABOUT: 37 YEARS, OCC: RANGE FOREST OFFICER, R/O. FOREST QUARTERS, NO.4, NARAYANAPUR, DHARWAD-580008. …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI. G. K. HIREGOUDAR, ADVOCATE FOR R1 TO R4; SRI. SHARANABASAVARAJ C. ADVOCATE FOR R5) THIS WP IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA, PRAYING TO, ISSUE A WRIT OF CERTIORARI QUASHING THE IMPUGNED ORDER DATED 27/09/2024 PASSED BY HON’BLE KARNATAKA STATE ADMINISTRATIVE TRIBUNAL, BELAGAVI IN APPLICATION NO.10929/2024 VIDE ANNEXURE-B, AND CONSEQUENTLY DISMISS THE APPLICATION, IN THE INTEREST OF JUSTICE AND EQUITY AND ETC. THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR ORDERS, THIS DAY, JUDGMENT WAS DELIVERED THEREIN AS UNDER: - 3 - NC: 2025:KHC-D:3995-DB WP No. 101415 of 2025 CORAM: THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE B.M.SHYAM PRASAD AND THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE RAMACHANDRA D. HUDDAR ORAL ORDER (PER: THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE B.M. SHYAM PRASAD) This controversy is about the petitioner being replaced by the fifth respondent by the transfer order dated 31.07.2024. The fifth respondent, who was working as a Range Forest Officer, Dharwad Range Forest is transferred with the petitioner being brought in his place. The fifth respondent has successfully challenged this order in Application No.10929/2024. The Tribunal has directed the Authorities to give suitable posting to the petitioner within two weeks. Sri Sunil S. Desai submits that the petitioner was transferred subject to the note that the petitioner could be brought back to the same post upon the fifth respondent being promoted. Presently, vide order dated 20.02.2025, the fifth respondent is promoted - 4 - NC: 2025:KHC-D:3995-DB WP No. 101415 of 2025 as the Assistant Conservator of Forest and that in the turn of this event, this petition could be disposed of directing the second respondent to continue the petitioner as Range Forest Officer, Dharwad Forest Range, interms of transfer order dated 31.07.2024. Sri Sharanabasavaraj C, the learned counsel for the fifth respondent and Sri G.K. Hiregoudar, the learned Principal Government Advocate, are heard. This Court must observe that the circumstances now brought forth are not disputed, and in that event, the writ petition must indeed be disposed of directing the second respondent to issue orders for continuance of the petitioner as the Range Forest Officer, Dharwad Forest Range in terms of the order dated 31.07.2024. The needful shall be done within a week from today. - 5 - NC: 2025:KHC-D:3995-DB WP No. 101415 of 2025 The writ petition stands disposed of accordingly. Sd/- (B.M.SHYAM PRASAD) JUDGE Sd/- (RAMACHANDRA D. HUDDAR) JUDGE VMB/CT:VG LIST NO.: 1 SL NO.: 10