- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC-D:14928 WP No. 101815 of 2025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA, DHARWAD BENCH DATED THIS THE 3RD DAY OF NOVEMBER 2025 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE M.NAGAPRASANNA WRIT PETITION NO. 101815 OF 2025 (S-RES) BETWEEN: THE PRESIDENT, CITY MUNICIPAL COUNCIL NIPANI, REPRESENTED BY SMT. SONALI W/O. RAJESH KOTHADIA, AGE: 50 YEARS, OCC: SOCIAL SERVICE, NOW PRESIDENT CMC NIPANI, DIST: BELAGAVI, PIN – 591 237. …PETITIONER (BY SRI. R. K. KULKARNI, ADVOCATE) AND: 1. THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER, FOR BELAGAVI DISTRICT, DC OFFICE COMPOUND, BELAGAVI, PIN – 590 001. 2. SHRI. SURAJ SAMBHAJI HEGADE, AGE: MAJOR, OCC: POURAKARMIK, OFFICE OF THE CMC NIPANI, DIST: BELAGAVI, PIN – 591 237. 3. SHRI. AKARAM SADASHIV YADANAIK, AGE: MAJOR, OCC: POURAKARMIK, OFFICE OF THE CMC NIPANI, DIST: BELAGAVI, PIN – 591 237. …RESPONDENTS (BY SMT. GIRIJA S. HIREMATH, HCGP FOR R1; SRI. S.S.BADAWADAGI, ADVOCATE FOR R2 & R3) THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO ISSUE A WRIT, ORDERS OR DIRECTION IN THE NATURE OF CERTIORARI VISHAL NINGAPPA PATTIHAL Digitally signed by VISHAL NINGAPPA PATTIHAL Location: High Court of Karnataka Dharwad Bench Date: 2025.11.07 11:53:42 +0530 - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC-D:14928 WP No. 101815 of 2025 QUASHING THE IMPUGNED ORDER PASSED BY THE RESPONDENT NO.1 IN NO. NO. BGM/DUDC.1.CR.293/2024-25 DATED 25.02.2025 VIDE ANNEXURE-N IN THE INTERESTS OF JUSTICE AND EQUITY. THIS WRIT PETITION, COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY HEARING THIS DAY, THE COURT MADE THE FOLLOWING: ORAL ORDER (PER: THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE M.NAGAPRASANNA) 1. The petitioner is before this Court seeking the following prayer: A. Issue a Writ, Orders or direction in the nature of certiorari quashing the impugned order passed by the Respondent No.1 in no. no. BGM/DUDC.1.CR.293/2024-25 dated 25.02.2025 vide Annexure-N in the interests of justice and equity. B. Grant any other relief to which the petitioner is entitled under the circumstances of the case. 2. Heard the learned counsel appearing for the petitioner, learned HCGP for respondent No.1 and the counsel appearing for respondent Nos.2 and 3. 3. The petitioner is the president of the City Municipal Council, Nipani. The drill of facts would go this way. On 17.09.2024, a general body is convened in CMC-Nipani, wherein respondents 2 and 3, who are directly paid temporary - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC-D:14928 WP No. 101815 of 2025 pourakarmikas, on an allegation of misbehaving and threatening the members and officers present in the meeting, was sought to be removed from service. This removal is taken by respondents 2 and 3 before the Deputy Commissioner. The Deputy Commissioner issues the following communication. “ªÉÄïÁÌt¹zÀ «µÀAiÀÄ ºÁUÀÆ G¯ÉèÃRUÀ½UÉ ¸ÀA§A¢ü¹zÀAvÉ. G¯ÉèÃTvÀ PÀæªÀÄ ¸ÀASÉå:1 gÀr ¸À°è¹zÀ ªÀgÀ¢AiÀÄ°è ²æà ¸ÀÆgÀd ¸ÀA¨sÁf ºÉUÀqÉ ªÀÄvÀÄÛ ²æà CPÁgÁªÀÄ ¸ÀzÁ²ªÀ AiÉÄqÀ£Á¬ÄPÀ, EªÀgÀÄ 2018 jAzÀ £ÉÃgÀ ¥ÁªÀwAiÀÄr ¥ËgÀPÁ«ÄðPÀgÀÄ CAvÁ PÁAiÀÄ𠤪Àð»¸ÀÄwÛzÀÄÝ ¸ÀzÀj ¹§âA¢UÀ¼ÀÄ ¸ÀPÁðgÀ ªÀÄvÀÄÛ £ÀUÀgÀ¸À¨sÉAiÀÄ «gÀÄzÀÞ DzsÁgÀ gÀ»vÀ zÀÆgÀÄUÀ¼À£ÀÄß/CfðUÀ¼À£ÀÄß ¤ÃqÀÄwÛgÀĪÀ §UÉÎ w¼ÀĪÀ½PÉ ªÀÄvÀÄÛ C£ÉÃPÀ ¨Áj £ÉÆÃn¸ï ¤rzÀgÀÆ AiÀiÁªÀÅzÉà ¥ÀæAiÉÆÃd£À DVgÀĪÀÅ¢®è. DzÁUÀÆå ¸ÀºÀ ¸ÀzÀjAiÀĪÀgÀÄ ¢£ÁAPÀ:17.09.2024 gÀAzÀÄ ¸ÁªÀiÁ£Àå ¸À¨sÉAiÀÄ ¸À¨sÁAUÀtzÀ°è ¸À¨sÉ £ÀqÉAiÀÄÄwÛgÀĪÁUÀ M¼ÀUÉ ¥ÀæªÉò¹ C°èzÀÝ £ÀUÀgÀ¸À¨sÉ CzsÀåPÀëgÀÄ/G¥ÁzsÀåPÀëgÀÄ/¸ÀzÀ¸ÀågÀÄ ªÀÄvÀÄÛ E£ÀÆß½zÀ d£À ¥Àæw¤¢üUÀ¼ÉÆA¢UÉ C¸À¨sÀå ªÀvÀð£É ªÀiÁr CUËgÀªÀªÁV £ÀqÉzÀÄPÉÆArgÀÄvÁÛgÉ. C®èzÉà ªÀgÀ¢UÁgÀgÀ eÉÆvÉUÉ C¸À¨sÀåªÁV ªÀwð¹gÀÄvÁÛgÉ. ¢£ÁAPÀ:29.10.2024 gÀAzÀÄ ¤¥Áàt £ÀUÀgÀ¸À¨sÉAiÀÄ ªÉÄïÁ¢üPÁjUÀ¼ÉÆA¢UÉ eÁw ¤AzÀ£É PÉÃ¸ï ªÀiÁqÀĪÀÅzÁV ¨ÉzÀjPÉ ¤ÃrgÀÄvÁÛgÉ. vÀzÀ £ÀAvÀgÀ ¢£ÁAPÀ:27.11.2024 jAzÀ £ÀUÀgÀ¸À¨sÉ PÀZÉÃj JzÀÄgÀÄ E£ÀÆß½zÀ DgÉÆÃUÀå «¨sÁUÀzÀ ¹§âA¢AiÉÆqÀ£É ¸ÀzÀj «µÀAiÀÄzÀ §UÉÎ, C¥À¥ÀæZÁgÀ ªÀÄvÀÄÛ ¥ÀæZÉÆÃzÀ£É £À¤Ãr zsÀgÀt £ÀqɹgÀÄvÁÛgÉ. PÁgÀt J¯Áè CA±ÀUÀ¼À£ÀÄß ¥ÀjUÀt¹ EªÀj§âgÀ ªÉÄÃ¯É ¥ÀÅgÀ¸À¨sÉ PÁAiÉÄÝ 1964 PÀ®A 342 gÀ£ÀéAiÀÄ ºÁUÀÆ £ÀUÀgÀ¸À¨sÉ oÀgÁªÀÅ £ÀA. 201 ¢£ÁAPÀ: 31.11.2024 gÀ ¥ÀæPÁgÀ ¸ÀzÀjAiÀĪÀgÀ ªÉÄÃ¯É PÀæªÀÄ dgÀÄV¸À¯ÁVzÉ JAzÀÄ ªÀgÀ¢ ¸À°è¹gÀÄwÛÃj. CzÀgÀAvÉ G¯ÉèÃR (2) gÀr G¥À «¨sÁUÁ¢üPÁjUÀ¼ÀÄ, ¨É¼ÀUÁ« G¥À G¥À «¨sÁUÀ, ¨É¼ÀUÁ« EªÀjUÉ ¸ÀPÁðgÀ ¸ÀÄvÉÆÛïÉ/DzÉñÀ/ªÀiÁUÀð¸ÀÆaUÀ¼À£ÀéAiÀÄ ¤AiÀĪÀiÁ£ÀĸÁgÀ «ZÁgÀuÉ £Àqɹ, ¸ÀàµÀÖ C©ü¥ÁæAiÀÄ ºÁUÀÆ ¸ÀÆPÀÛ zÁR¯ÁwUÀ¼ÉÆA¢UÉ «ZÁgÀuÁ ªÀgÀ¢ ¸À°è¸ÀĪÀAvÉ ¸ÀÆa¸À¯ÁVvÀÄÛ. G¯ÉèÃR (3) gÀr G¥À «¨sÁUÁ¢üPÁjUÀ¼ÀÄ, ¨É¼ÀUÁ« G¥À «¨sÁUÀ, ¨É¼ÀUÁ« gÀªÀgÀÄ ¸À°è¹zÀ ªÀgÀ¢AiÀÄ°è £ÀUÀgÀ¸À¨sÉ ¤¥ÁàtÂAiÀÄ°è £ÉÃgÀ¥ÁªÀwAiÀÄr PÁAiÀÄð¤ªÀð»¸ÀÄwÛzÀÝ ²æà ¸ÀÆgÀd ¸ÀA¨sÁf ºÉUÀqÉ ªÀÄvÀÄÛ ²æà CPÁgÁªÀÄ ¸ÀzÁ²ªÀ AiÉÄqÀ£Á¬ÄPÀ EªÀgÀÄ ¥ËgÁqÀ½vÀ PÀ«ÄnAiÀÄ ¢£ÁAPÀ: 17-09-2024 gÀAzÀÄ £ÀqÉzÀ ¸ÁªÀiÁ£Àå ¸À¨sÉAiÀÄ ¸À¨sÁUÀȺÀzÀ°è £ÀqÉzÀ ¸À¨sÉAiÀÄ°è C¸À¨sÀå jÃwAiÀÄ°è ªÀwð¹zÀ §UÉÎ, AiÀiÁªÀÅzÉà ¥ÀÅgÁªÉUÀ¼À£ÀÄß «ZÁgÀuÉ ¸ÀªÀÄAiÀÄzÀ°è ºÁdgÀ¥Àr¹gÀĪÀÅ¢®è CAvÁ ªÀgÀ¢ ¸À°è¹gÀÄvÁÛgÉ. G¥À «¨sÁUÁ¢üPÁjUÀ¼ÀÄ, ¨É¼ÀUÁ« G¥À «¨sÁUÀ, ¨É¼ÀUÁ« gÀªÀgÀÄ ¸À°è¹zÀ vÀ¤SÁ ªÀgÀ¢AiÀÄ£ÀÄß ¥Àj²Ã®¸À¯ÁV, ¥ËgÁAiÀÄÄPÀÛgÀÄ £ÀUÀgÀ¸À¨sÉ ¤¥Áàt EªÀgÀÄ ¸ÀzÀj C¥Á¢vÀ £ËPÀgÀgÀ ªÉÄÃ¯É ºÉÆj¸À¯ÁzÀ DgÉÆÃ¥ÀUÀ¼À£ÀÄß gÀÄdĪÁvÀÄ ¥Àr¸ÀĪÀ°è AiÀiÁªÀÅzÉà ¥ÀÅgÁªÉUÀ¼À£ÀÄß - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC-D:14928 WP No. 101815 of 2025 ºÁdgÀÄ¥Àr¸ÀzÉà EgÀĪÀÅzÀÄ PÀAqÀÄ §A¢gÀÄvÀÛzÉ. CzÀgÀAvÉ G¥À «¨sÁUÁ¢üPÁjUÀ¼ÀÄ, ¨É¼ÀUÁ« gÀªÀgÀÄ ¸À°è¹zÀ vÀ¤SÁ ªÀgÀ¢AiÀÄ DzsÁgÀzÀ ªÉÄÃ¯É ¸ÀzÀj £ÉÃgÀ ¥ÁªÀw ¹§âA¢UÀ¼À£ÀÄß PÉ®¸À¢AzÀ vÉUÉzÀÄ ºÁPÀĪÁUÀ £ÉʸÀVðPÀ £ÁåAiÀÄ vÀvÀéUÀ¼À£ÀÄß ¥Á°¸ÀzÉà EgÀĪÀÅzÀÄ PÀAqÀÄ §A¢gÀÄvÀÛzÉ. PÁgÀt ¸ÀzÀj ¹§âA¢UÀ¼À£ÀÄß ¥ÀÅ£ÀB £ÉÃgÀ¥ÁªÀwAiÀÄr PÉ®¸ÀPÉÌ vÉUÉzÀÄPÉÆAqÀÄ F PÁAiÀiÁð®AiÀÄPÉÌ ªÀgÀ¢ ¸À°è¸ÀĪÀAvÉ ¸ÀÆa¹zÉ.” 4. The Deputy Commissioner on perusal at the records communicate that the removal of two pourakarmikas by the petitioner is contrary to principles of natural justice, as they were not afforded adequate opportunity to submit their defence. Therefore, the impugned order is passed. 5. The petitioner-CMC is before the Court calling in question the said order of the Deputy Commissioner on the score that respondent Nos.2 and 3 had indeed grossly misbehaved on the date on which the meeting was convened, which led to the passage of the resolution. If that be so, immediately, the petitioner ought to have registered some kind of protest or crime against respondents 2 and 3. The petitioner not having done so, cannot now contend that there is gross misbehaviour and intimidation towards the members of the Council on 17.09.2024. The order of the Deputy Commissioner is only setting aside those orders and directing adequate opportunity being given to respondents 2 and 3 to defend their case. The order does not - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC-D:14928 WP No. 101815 of 2025 warrant any interference, as no prejudice is caused to the petitioner by the order passed of the Deputy Commissioner. 6. Finding no merit in the petition, the petition stands rejected. Ordered accordingly. Sd/- (M.NAGAPRASANNA) JUDGE Kmv CT-ASC