- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:52776 CRL.P No. 11339 of 2023 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 12TH DAY OF DECEMBER, 2025 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE M.I.ARUN CRIMINAL PETITION NO.11339 OF 2023 (482 (Cr.PC)/528 (BNSS)) BETWEEN: 1. SRI. K.C. VEERANNA S/O. SRI CHANNABASAPPA, AGED ABOUT 57 YEARS, VICE CHANCELLOR, KARNATAKA VETERINARY ANIMAL AND FISHERIES SCIENCES UNIVERSITY, NANDINAGAR, BIDAR-585 401, R/O. HOUSE NO.19-6-15/2, BESIDE MILLENIUM PUBLIC SCHOOL, SHIVNAGAR NORTH, BIDAR-585 401. 2. SRI. B.V. SHIVAPRAKASH S/O. SRI. B.M. VRUSHABHENDRAPPA, AGED ABOUT 58 YEARS, DIRECTOR OF RESEARCH, KARNATAKA VETERINARY ANIMAL AND FISHERIES SCIENCES UNIVERSITY, NANDINAGAR, BIDAR-585 401, R/O. NO.3-390/210, 125, MYLUR, SIDHARAMAIAH LAYOUT, BIDAR-585 401. Digitally signed by GEETHA P G Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:52776 CRL.P No. 11339 of 2023 3. SRI. VIJAY KUMAR MATHAM S/O. SRI. SHARANAIAH MATHAM, AGED ABOUT 45 YEARS, ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR, VETERINARY COLLEGE, NANDINAGAR, BIDAR-585 401, R/O. FLAT NO.301, TULASIANGAN, GURUNAGAR COLONY, BIDAR-585 401. …PETITIONERS (BY SRI. K.N. PHANINDRA, SENIOR ADVOCATE FOR SMT. VAISHALI HEGDE, ADVOCATE) AND: 1. STATE OF KARNATAKA BY SANJAYNAGAR POLICE STATION, REPRESENTED BY STATE PUBLIC PROSECUTOR, HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA, BENGALURU-560 001. 2. DR. H.K. MUNIYELLAPPA S/O. LATE KAVERAPPA, AGED ABOUT 60 YEARS, ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR (VETERINARY PATHOLOGY), R/AT NO.96/13/14, AISHWARYA, 5TH 'A' MAIN, HEBBALA, BANGALORE-560 024. …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI. RAJAT SUBRAMANYAM, HCGP., FOR R.1; SRI. AJIT KALYAN, ADVOCATE FOR R.2.) - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:52776 CRL.P No. 11339 of 2023 THIS CRIMINAL PETITION IS FILED UNDER SECTION 482 OF CR.P.C., PRAYING TO ALLOW THE ABOVE CRIMINAL PETITION AND QUASH THE FIR DATED 01.11.2023 VIDE ANNEXURE-A REGISTERED BEFORE THE SANJAYNAGAR POLICE STATION IN CR.NO.0278/2023 AND PENDING ON THE FILE OF THE HON'BLE COURT OF CCH-71, CITY CIVIL COURT COMPLEX, BANGALORE CITY ALONG WITH THE COMPLAINT DATED 21.09.2023 VIDE ANNEXURE-B FILED BY THE 2ND RESPONDENT WITH SANJAYNAGAR POLICE STATION, FOR THE OFFENCE P/U/S 3(1)(9) OF SC AND ST ACT AND 167 OF IPC, IN SO FAR AS THE PETITIONERS ARE CONCERNED, IN THE INTEREST OF JUSTICE AND EQUITY. THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR ADMISSION THROUGH PHYSICAL HEARING/VIDEO CONFERENCING, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE M.I.ARUN ORAL ORDER 1. Respondent No.2 is an Associate Professor of the Karnataka Veterinary Animal and Fisheries Sciences University. Petitioner No.1 is the Vice Chancellor of the University, petitioner No.2 is the Registrar and petitioner No.3 is the Deputy Registrar. 2. Respondent No.2 was transferred to Gadag. Aggrieved by the same, he preferred W.P.No.10399/2023. - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:52776 CRL.P No. 11339 of 2023 His transfer was upheld and the writ petition was dismissed. The decision has reached finality. 3. After the dismissal of the writ petition, on 01.11.2023, respondent No.2 filed a complaint with respondent No.1-police, alleging that he belongs to a Scheduled Caste community and because of the same, he has been discriminated against and he has been illegally transferred to Gadag and further, the documents pertaining to his transfer have been fabricated. Based on the said complaint, the police have registered an FIR and started investigation against the petitioners herein. Aggrieved by the same, the present criminal petition is filed. 4. Transfer is an incidence of service. If respondent No.2 is transferred in violation of any law, he is at liberty to challenge the same in the manner known to law. He has challenged it by way of W.P.No.10399/2023, which has been dismissed by this Court by order dated 16.08.2023. - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:52776 CRL.P No. 11339 of 2023 Thereafter, he has not challenged the said order and the same has reached finality. The records reveal that subsequently, he has applied for leave, which has not been sanctioned by the authorities concerned. However, he has remained unauthorizedly absent and hence, he has been suspended and disciplinary proceedings have been initiated against him. Thereafter, the petitioners have filed the complaint with the jurisdictional police, which reads as under: "ರವೆ, ¢£ÁAPÀ:21.09.2023 ೕ ಇ ೆಕ, ಸಂಜಯನಗರ ೕ ಾೆ, ೆಂಗಳರು ನಗರ. ಇಂದ, !ಾ||#ೆ$.%ೆ.ಮು'ಯಲ)ಪ+ , -ೇ.||%ಾ/ೇರಪ+ 60ವಷ1, ನಂ.96-13-14, ಐಶ4ಯ1, 55ೇ ಎ 7ೖ 9ೋ;, #ೆಾ<ಳ, ೆಂಗಳರು-560024. ªÉƨÉʯï.£ÀA.9448324121. =ಾನ>9ೆ, ?ಷಯ:- ಪ@ಷ AಾBೆ Cೇದ ನನೆ ಸ%ಾ1 'ಯ=ಾನುCಾರ ಬEFಯನುG 'ೕಡIೆ, ಈ ಕುತು ಸುಳLM =ಾNBಯನುG %ಾಯ1ದ@1ಗOೆ 'ೕE, - 6 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:52776 CRL.P No. 11339 of 2023 ನನೆ ಅ5ಾ>ಯ =ಾEರುವ ಆ9ೋRತರುಗಳ ?ರುದS ಸೂಕF ಕTಮ%ಾUV ದೂರು. ****** 7ೕಲUಂಡ ?ಷಯ%ೆU ಸಂಬಂಧಪಟಂYೆ ?ನಂBಸುವZIೇ5ೆಂದ9ೆ, 5ಾನು #ೆಾ<ಳದ ಪಶು ಆ9ೋUÀå ಮತುF Aೈ?ಕ ಸಂCೆ[ಯ ) ?\ಾ'-3/ಸಹ ಾT^ಾ>ಪಕ5ಾV ಗುಣಮಟ 'ವ1ಹೆ#ಾಗೂ ಇ-ಾ`ೆಯ ಮುಖ>ಸ[5ಾV ಸು=ಾರು 32ವಷ1bಂದ %ೆಲಸ =ಾE%ೊಂEzÉÝ. 5ಾನು ಪ@ಷ AಾBಯ 'ಆb ಕ5ಾ1ಟಕ' ಜ5ಾಂಗ%ೆU Cೇದವರ5ಾVರುYೆFೕ5ೆ. CAS-2006 (Career Advance Scheme) ನ 'ಮಗಳನ4ಯ, b5ಾಂಕ:5.10.2012 ಂದ ಅನ4ಯ/ಾಗುವಂYೆ ನನೆ Associate Professor ಹುIೆcdಂದ Professor ಹುIೆcೆ ಮುಂಬEFಯನುG ಪಗeಸುವಂYೆ %ೋ ಪ@ಷ AಾB/ಪ@ಷ ಪಂಗಡದ ಆfೕಗ%ೆU 5ಾನು b5ಾಂಕ:16.04.2021ರ ) ಅg1ಯನುG ಸ )hIೆc. ಈ ಅg1ೆ ಪiರಕ/ಾV (UGC-University Grant ommission)ನ ಸ+¶×Ãಕರಣ ಮತುF ಸುRTಂ %ೋj1ನ (verdict) Iಾಖ-ೆಗಳನುG ಲಗBFhIೆc. ಈ ಅg1ಯನುG =ಾನ> ಆfೕಗವZ ೌರ/ಾ'4ತ 9ಾಜ>¥Áಲೆ ರ/ಾ'h, ಪಶುಸಂೋಪ5ಾ ಇ-ಾ`ೆಯ ಅಂbನ %ಾಯ1ದ@1 (ಸ-ಾl.%ೆ.ಫNೕn) ರವೆ ?oಾರೆೆ #ಾಜ9ಾಗಲು ಸೂphತುF. ಅದರಂYೆ ಇ-ಾ`ೆಯ %ಾಯ1ದ@1ಗಳL b5ಾಂಕ:6.7.2022ರಂದು ಆfೕಗ%ೆU ವರbಯನುG ಸ )hರುYಾF9ೆ. ಈ ವರbಯ ) b5ಾಂಕ:03.04.2021 ರಂದು ನ!ೆhದ ?ಶ4?Iಾ>ಲಯದ 985ೇ ವ>ವCಾ[ಪಕ ಮಂಡOಯ ಸqೆಯ ) ನನG ಮುಂಬEFಯ ಮನ?ಯ ಕುತು ಪZಟ ಸಂ`ೆ>.4 ರ ) ಚp1hರುವZIಾV ನಮೂbhರುYಾF9ೆ ಮತುF ವರbಯ ) ಸtBಯ ವರb #ಾಗೂ ವ>ವCಾ[ಪಕ ಮಂಡOಯ ಅನುuೕದ5ೆಯನುG ಆಧh !ಾ|#ೆ$.%ೆ.ಮು'ಯಲ)ಪ+ ರವೆ NಂಬರಹವನುG ?ಶ4?Iಾ>ಲಯbಂದ 'ೕEರುವZIಾV ನಮೂbhರುYಾF9ೆ. - 7 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:52776 CRL.P No. 11339 of 2023 5ಾನು ?ಶ4?Iಾ>ಲಯದ 985ೇ ವ>ವCಾ[ಪಕ ಮಂಡOಯ ಸqೆಯ ವರbಯನುG, ?ಶ4?Iಾ>ಲಯದ /ೆvCೈ.'ಂದ Yೆೆದು ಪ@ೕ hIಾಗ, ವರbಯ ) ನನG ಮನ?ಯ ಕುತು wಾವZIೇ ಚoೆ1wಾVಲ). ಬದ-ಾV ಾ>9ಾ.ನಂ.5 ಮತುF 6%ೆU ಸಂಬಂಧಪಟಂYೆ ಚoೆ1wಾVರುವZದು ಕಂಡುಬಂbರುತFIೆ. ಅಲ)Iೇ ಆfೕಗ%ೆU ಸ )hರುವ ವರbಯ ) BOhದಂYೆ ನನಾಗ , ನಮl ಸಂCೆ[ಯ 'Iೇ1ಶಕಾಗ ?ಶ4?Iಾ>ಲಯbಂದ 985ೇ ವ>ವCಾ[ಪಕ ಮಂಡOಯ ಸqೆಯ ) ನನG ಮನ?ಯ ಕುತು ಚp1ಸ-ಾVರುವ ಬೆx wಾವZIೇ NಂಬರಹವನುG 'ೕEರುವZbಲ). ಆದ9ೆ ಕುಲಪB [Vice Chancellor] @Tೕ.%ೆ.h.?ೕರಣy, ಕುಲಸpವ [Registrar] ,.?.@ವಪT%ಾz #ಾಗೂ ಉಪ ಕುಲಸpವ [Deputy Registrar] !ಾ||?ಜಯ ಕು=ಾ.ಎಂ ರವರುಗಳL Cೇ ?ಶ4?Iಾ>ಲಯದ ಪರ/ಾV ನನG ಮನ?ಯ ಕುತು ಸುಳLM =ಾNBಯ5ೊGಳೊಂಡ ವರbಯನುG hದSಪEh ಪಶುಸಂೋಪ5ಾ ಇ-ಾ`ೆಯ %ಾಯ1ದ@1ಯವೆ ಸ )h %ೊಂEರುYಾF9ೆ. ಅಲ)Iೆ ಆfೕಗದ ಮುಂIೆ #ಾಜ9ಾV ವರbಯ )ನ =ಾNB ಸು|ೆMಂದು BObದcರೂ ಸಹ ಅದ5ೆGೕ ಸಮ}1h%ೊಂಡು /ಾದವನುG ಮಂEh DAiÉÆÃUÀzÀ°è ¸ÀļÀÄî ªÀiÁ»wAiÀÄ£ÀÄß ¤ÃrgÀÄvÁÛgÉ. F ?ಷಯ/ಾV 5ಾನು ?oಾರೆ ನ!ೆಸುವಂYೆ ದೂರು ಅg1ಯನುG ೕ ಇ-ಾ`ೆೆ b5ಾಂಕ:15.04.2022 ರಂದು ಸ )h%ೊಂEIೆc. ೕಸರ ?oಾರೆ /ೇ|ೆ ?ಶ4?Iಾ>ಲಯದವರು ಸ )hರುವ Iಾಖ-ೆಗಳನುG ಪ@ೕ hರುYೆFೕ5ೆ. ಅದರ ) ನನೆ ?ಶ4?Iಾ>ಲಯದವರು 'ೕEIಾc9ೆನG-ಾದ b5ಾಂಕ:05.08.2021 ರ Nಂಬರಹ ಅಂoೆ ಮು`ೇನ ಕಳLNhIಾcV £ÀªÀÄÆ¢¹zÀÄÝ, »A§gÀºÀ £À£ÀUÉ vÀ®Ä¦®è. ¸ÀA¸ÉÜAiÀÄ ¤zÉÃð±ÀPÀgÀÄ AiÀiÁªÀÅzÉà »A§gÀºÀ §A¢®èªÉAzÀÄ £À£ÀUÉ w½¹gÀÄvÁÛgÉ ºÁUÀÆ ?oಾರೆ /ೇ|ೆ ೕಸಗೂ =ಾNB 'ೕEರುYಾF9ೆ. - 8 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:52776 CRL.P No. 11339 of 2023 ನನೆ ~ರಕುಳ %ೊಡುವ ದುರುIೆcೕಶbಂದ ನನGನುG ?ಶ4?Iಾ>ಲಯದ %ೆ.?.ಎ.ಎ•.ಎ.ಯು ಅ€'ಯಮ ಅನುಬಂಧ-1%ೆU ಒಳಪಡದ 'ಪಶು/ೈದ>~ೕಯ ಮ#ಾ?Iಾ>ಲಯ ಗದ‚' ಇ )ೆ ವಾ1ವೆ =ಾE, 5ಾನು ರAೆಾV ಅg1 ಸ )hದcರೂ ರAೆಯನುG ಮಂಜೂರು =ಾಡIೆ 'ಅನ€ೕಕೃತ ೈರು #ಾಜ' ಎಂಬ %ಾರಣ 'ೕE, ?ಶ4?Iಾ>ಲಯದ ವ>ವCಾ[ಪಕ ಮಂಡOಯ ಗಮನ%ೆU ತರIೆ, ನನGನುG Cೇ/ೆdಂದ ಅ=ಾನBFನ )ಟು, 'ಯ=ಾನುCಾರ ನನೆ 'ೕಡೇ%ಾದ /ೇತನ ಭYೆ>ಗಳನುG ಸಹ 'ೕಡIೆ, ನನG 7ೕ-ೆ Iೌಜ1ನ>/ೆಸVರುYಾF9ೆ. ಆದcಂದ ಕುಲಪB [Vice Chancellor] @Tೕ.%ೆ.h.?ೕರಣy ಮತುF ಅಂbನ ಕುಲಸpವ [Registrar] ,.?.@ವಪT%ಾz #ಾಗೂ ಅಂbನ ಉಪ ಕುಲಸpವ [Deputy Registrar] !ಾ||?ಜಯಕು=ಾ.ಎಂ, ಕ5ಾ1ಟಕ ಪಶು/ೈದ>~ೕಯ ಪಶು ಮತುF tೕನುಾ%ೆ ?\ಾನಗಳ ?ಶ4?Iಾ>ಲಯ, ನಂbನಗರ, ,ೕದ ಇವರುಗಳ ?ರುದS ಸೂಕF %ಾನೂನು ಕTಮ %ೈೊಳMೇ%ಾV %ೋರುYೆFೕ£É." vÀªÀÄä «±Áé¹ ¸À» (qÁ||ºÉZï.PÉ.ªÀÄĤAiÀÄ®è¥Àà)" 5. Though, respondent No.2 has challenged his transfer in W.P.No.10399/2023, he has not taken up the contention as to fabrication of any of the documents regarding his transfer by the petitioners in W.P.No.10399/2023. Further, no material is produced to show that respondent No.2 has been discriminated against - 9 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:52776 CRL.P No. 11339 of 2023 because he belongs to a Scheduled Caste. On the contrary, a perusal of the complaint, the order of this Court in W.P.No.10399/2023 and other materials produced goes to show that respondent No.2 having been transferred to Gadag against his wish and as a result of the petitioners herein having initiated disciplinary proceedings against him for dereliction of duty, respondent No.2 misused the fact that he belongs to Scheduled Caste community, lodged a false complaint against the petitioners herein. Permitting the continuation of further proceedings pursuant to the complaint and the FIR registered by respondent No.1-police, would result in abuse of the process of law and harassment to the petitioners without any justification. 6. The Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 is enacted to prevent atrocities on the persons belonging to Scheduled Castes /Scheduled Tribes and not to help them to misuse that position. - 10 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:52776 CRL.P No. 11339 of 2023 7. For the aforementioned reasons, I proceed to pass the following: ORDER i. The criminal petition is hereby allowed. ii. The proceedings in Crime No.278/2023 pending on the file of the City Civil Court Complex, Bangalore City (CCH-71) against the petitioners herein, stands quashed. iii. Pending interlocutory applications, if any, stand disposed of. SD/- (M.I.ARUN) JUDGE VMB List No.: 1 Sl No.: 26