- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:33875 WP No. 24005 of 2025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 30TH DAY OF AUGUST, 2025 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE H.T. NARENDRA PRASAD WRIT PETITION NO. 24005 OF 2025 (S-RES) BETWEEN: MANJUNATHA KAPPALI S/O LATE BASAVARAJAPPA AGED ABOUT 65 YEARS OCC: RETIRED EXECUTIVE ENGINEER PANCHAYATH RAJ, ENGINEERING SUB-DIVISION, HONALLI TALUK, DAVANGERE RESIDING AT NO 172, SUVARNA DEVARAJ URAS LAYOUT, A BLOCK, 10TH CROSS DAVANGERE- 577 006. …PETITIONER (BY SRI. SHRIDHAR PRABHU., ADVOCATE) AND: 1. STATE OF KARNATAKA DEPARTMENT DEVELOPMENT OF RURAL AND PANCHAYAT RAJ MULTI STORIED BUILDING BENGALURU-560 001 (REP. BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY TO THE GOVERNMENT) 2. THE PRINCIPAL SECRETARY PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT KARNATAKA SECRETARIAT GOVERNMENT 3RD FLOOR, VIKASA SOUDHA, M.S. BUILDING DR. AMBEDKAR ROAD BENGALURU-560001. …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI.VIKAS ROJIPURA., AGA FOR RESPONDENTS) Digitally signed by HEMALATHA A Location: HIGH COURTOF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:33875 WP No. 24005 of 2025 THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO QUASH THE IMPUGNED ORDER BEARING NO. RDPR 60 ENQ 2018 DATED 22ND DECEMBER 2018, PASSED BY THE 1ST RESPONDENT, THE PRINCIPAL SECRETARY, DEPARTMENT OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT AND PRODUCED AT ANNEXURE-A AND ETC. THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY HEARING, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE H.T. NARENDRA PRASAD ORAL ORDER 1. At the outset, learned AGA raised a preliminary objection regarding maintainability of the writ petition on the ground that the petitioner was holding a civil post. Therefore, he has to approach the Karnataka State Administrative Tribunal. 2. The grievance in respect of the ‘service matters’ cannot be a subject matter of adjudication at the hands of a writ Court, as the court of first instance, in the light of the decision of the Apex Court in the case - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:33875 WP No. 24005 of 2025 of L.Chandra Kumar vs. Union of India and others reported in (1997) 3 SCC 261. 3. In view of the above, the writ petition is disposed of, reserving liberty for the petitioner to approach the appropriate legal forum. 4. Registry is directed to return the original or certified copies of the documents, if any, to the petitioner, after retaining the Xerox copies of the same. Sd/- (H.T. NARENDRA PRASAD) JUDGE DM LIST NO.: 1 SL NO.: 6