- 1 - NC: 2025:KHC-D:2281 WP No. 100032 of 2024 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA, DHARWAD BENCH DATED THIS THE 6TH DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2025 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE M.NAGAPRASANNA WRIT PETITION NO. 100032 OF 2024 (S-KSRTC) BETWEEN: SMT. SAVITHA W/O. BASAVARAJ KULAGERI, AGED ABOUT: 32 YEARS, OCC: HOUSEHOLD, R/O: AT: JALAVAD, TQ: DEVARAHIPPARAGI, DIST: VIJAYAPURA- 586120. …PETITIONER (BY SRI. RAVI HEGDE, ADVOCATE) AND: THE DIVISIONAL CONTROLLER, KKRTC, BALLARI DIVISION, BALLARI, DIST: BALLARI- 583101. …RESPONDENT (BY SRI P.N. HOSAMANE, ADVOCATE) THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLE 226 AND 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA IS PRAYING TO, ISSUE A WRIT OF CERTIORARI OR ANY OTHER WRIT OR ORDER QUASHING THE ENDORSEMENT DATED 06.09.2023, IN NO.KA.KA.RA.SA/BA/VI/SIBBANDI/P-5/1131/2023, ISSUED BY THE RESPONDENT, VIDE ANNEXURE - G, AND CONSEQUENT UPON QUASHING THE AFORESAID ENDORSEMENT, ISSUE WRIT OF MANDAMUS DIRECTING THE RESPONDENT TO Digitally signed by VISHAL NINGAPPA PATTIHAL Location: High Court of Karnataka, Dharwad Bench, Dharwad - 2 - NC: 2025:KHC-D:2281 WP No. 100032 of 2024 RECONSIDER THE CLAIM OF THE PETITIONER FOR APPOINTMENT ON COMPASSIONATE GROUND, BY FIXING OUTER LIMIT, AND ISSUE ANY OTHER WRIT OR ORDER AS THIS HON’BLE COURT MAY DEEM FIT IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE CASE INCLUDING THE COST IN THE ENDS OF JUSTICE. THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY HEARING IN ‘B’ GROUP, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: ORAL ORDER (PER: THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE M.NAGAPRASANNA) 1. The petitioner is before this Court calling in question an endorsement dated 06.09.2023, by which the claim of the petitioner seeking appointment on compassionate grounds comes to be rejected. The rejection of it, has driven the petitioner to this Court in the subject petition. 2. Heard the learned counsel Sri.Ravi Hegde appearing for petitioner and learned counsel Sri.P.N.Hosmane appearing for respondent 3. The husband of the petitioner, who is appointed as a driver-cum-conductor in the respondent-Corporation - 3 - NC: 2025:KHC-D:2281 WP No. 100032 of 2024 in the year 2009. It transpires, owing to certain omissions and commissions, the Corporation imposes a penalty of dismissal from service upon the workman after holding an enquiry. The order of dismissal is called in question before the Appellate Authority-the Managing Director of the Corporation. The Managing Director set-aside the order of penalty imposed by the disciplinary authority on 09.01.2022 in terms of its order dated 19.11.2022. Pursuant to the order of the appellate authority, a notice was issued to the workman to report back to duties. The workman does not report back to duties owing to his ill-health, he dies of heart attack on 13.01.2023. The petitioner then submits a representation seeking release of terminal benefits and also an appointment on compassionate grounds. The said request is turned down on the ground that the husband of the petitioner did not report back to duties, despite calling him. Therefore, the appointment cannot be considered. 4. The learned counsel appearing for the petitioner Sri.Ravi Hegde would submit that the order of dismissal - 4 - NC: 2025:KHC-D:2281 WP No. 100032 of 2024 was set-aside by the appellate authority. Therefore, he is deemed to be in service. For the first time the notice was issued on 17.12.2022 asking the husband to appear, he was suffering from several ailments and passed away due to such ailments on 13.01.2023. Therefore, the reason that is rendered is illegal, is the submission of the learned counsel for the petitioner. 5. Learned counsel for the respondent Corporation would however seek to defend the action on the ground that the employee, who did not obey the orders of the Corporation, when he was asked to report back to duties should not be viewed lightly and a direction should not be issued to secure appointment on compassionate grounds or release of terminal benefits as the case would be. 6. I have given my anxious consideration to the submissions made by the learned counsel appearing for the parties and perused materials placed on record. - 5 - NC: 2025:KHC-D:2281 WP No. 100032 of 2024 7. The afore-narrated facts are not in dispute. The employee joining the Corporation as driver-cum-conductor in the year 2009 is a matter of record. Him being dismissed from service pursuant to the order of the disciplinary authority on 09.01.2022 is again a matter of record. The appellate authority sets aside the order of dismissal on a challenge to the order of the disciplinary authority. Therefore, on and from 19.11.2022, there was no dismissal order operating against the husband of the petitioner. 8. A notice is issued by the Corporation calling the husband of the petitioner to report back to duties on the order of the Appellate Authority which had set aside the order of dismissal, he does not. The reason for not reporting to duties is his ill-health, is the submission of the learned counsel for the petitioner. The said submission stands on the score that the husband of the petitioner dies on 13.01.2023 barely thirty days after the notice was issued to the husband of the petitioner to report back to - 6 - NC: 2025:KHC-D:2281 WP No. 100032 of 2024 duties. Then comes the application for release of terminal benefits and claim for compassionate appointment. This is turned down by the impugned order. The order dated 06.09.2023 reads as follows: “²æêÀÄw ¸À«vÀ PÀļÀUÉÃj, ¢||§¸ÀªÀgÁd PÀļÀUÉÃj, ªÀiÁf ZÁ®PÀ-PÀA-¤ªÁðºÀPÀ gÀªÀgÀ ¥ÀwßgÀªÀjUÉ F ªÀÄÆ®PÀ w½¸ÀĪÀÅzÉãÉAzÀgÉ, ¤ªÀÄä ¥ÀwAiÀiÁzÀ ²æà §¸ÀªÀgÁd PÀļÀUÉÃj, ZÁ®PÀ-PÀA-¤ªÁðºÀPÀ, J¯ï.¹.¸ÀA.:4802 gÀªÀgÀ£ÀÄß UÉÊgÀĺÁdj ¥ÀæPÀgÀtzÀ°è G¯ÉèÃR(2)gÀ£ÀéAiÀÄ ¸ÀA¸ÉÜAiÀÄ ¸ÉêɬÄAzÀ ªÀeÁUÉƽ¸À¯ÁVzÀÄÝ, F DzÉñÀzÀ «gÀÄzÀÞ ¤ªÀÄä ¥ÀwAiÀĪÀgÀÄ ªÉÄîä£À« ¥Áæ¢üPÁgÀ¸ÀÜgÀ°è ªÉÄîä£À« ¸À°è¹zÀÄÝ, ªÀiÁ£Àå ªÀåªÀ¸ÉÜ¥ÀPÀ ¤zÉÃð±ÀPÀgÀÄ/ªÉÄîä£À« ¥Áæ¢üPÁgÀ¸ÀÜgÀÄ G¯ÉèÃR(3)gÀAvÉ ¸ÀzÀj ¥ÀæPÀgÀtªÀ£ÀÄß EvÀåxÀð¥Àr¹ F PɼÀV£ÀAvÉ DzÉò¹gÀÄvÁÛgÉ: ²æà §¸ÀªÀgÁd PÀļÀUÉÃj, ZÁ®PÀ-PÀA-¤ªÁðºÀPÀ, ¸ÀA.: 4802, PÀ. PÀ. gÀ. ¸Á.¤UÀªÀÄ, §¼Áîj-2£Éà WÀlPÀ, §¼Áîj «¨sÁUÀ gÀªÀgÀ ¥ÀæPÀgÀtzÀ°è «¨sÁVÃAiÀÄ ¤AiÀÄAvÀæuÁ¢üPÁj/²¸ÀÄÛ¥Á®£Á¢üPÁj, PÀ.PÀ.gÀ.¸Á.¤UÀªÀÄ, §¼Áîj «¨sÁUÀ gÀªÀgÀÄ ¸ÀA.PÀPÀgÀ¸Á/ §«/¹§âA¢/ UÉʺÁ/06/19/2431/21-22,¢:29-01-2022gÀr ºÉÆgÀr¹gÀĪÀ ªÀeÁ DzÉñÀªÀ£ÀÄß §¢UÉÆwÛgÀÄvÉãÉ. 1) ²æà §¸ÀªÀgÁd PÀļÀUÉÃj, ZÁ®PÀ-PÀA-¤ªÁðºÀPÀ, ©.¸ÀA.:4802gÀªÀgÀ£ÀÄß ¸ÀvÀvÀ ¸ÉêÉAiÉÆA¢UÉ ªÀÄvÀÄÛ £ÉêÀÄPÀUÉƽ¹gÀÄvÉÛÃ£É ºÁUÀÆ ¥ÀAiÀiÁðAiÀÄ ²PÁëzÉñÀªÁV ¥Àæ¸ÀÄÛvÀ ªÀÄÆ®ªÉÃvÀ£ÀzÀ JgÀqÀÄ (2) ªÁ¶ðPÀ ªÉÃvÀ£À §rÛ ºÀAvÀUÀ¼À£ÀÄß ±Á±ÀévÀªÁV (with cumulative) PɼÀPÉÌ E½¸À®Ä DzÉò¸ÀÄvÉÛÃ£É ºÁUÀÆ F ¥ÀæPÀgÀtzÀ°è ¸ÀzÀjAiÀĪÀgÀ UÉÊgÀĺÁdj ¢£ÁAPÀ 25/09/2019 jAzÀ 03/01/2020gÀ ªÀgÉV£À CªÀ¢üAiÀÄ£ÀÄß UÉÊgÀĺÁdj CªÀ¢üAiÉÄAzÀÄ ªÀÄvÀÄÛ F CªÀ¢üAiÀÄ£ÀÄß ¸ÉêÁ¨sÀAUÀ JAzÀÄ ¥ÀjUÀt¸À¯ÁVzÀÄÝ, ¸ÀzÀjAiÀĪÀgÀÄ F CªÀ¢üUÉ G¥ÀzÁ£À PÁAiÉÄÝ 1972gÀ PÀ®A 2(J)gÀ£ÀéAiÀÄ AiÀiÁªÀÅzÉà G¥ÀzÁ£À ¸Ë®¨sÀåPÉÌ CºÀðjgÀĪÀÅ¢®è. 2) ¸ÀzÀj ªÀiÁf ZÁ®PÀ-PÀA-¤ªÁðºÀPÀgÀÄ ¸ÀA¸ÉÜAiÀÄ ¸ÉêɬÄAzÀ ªÀeÁ ºÉÆA¢zÉ ¢£ÁAPÀ¢AzÀ ¸ÀA¸ÉÜAiÀÄ ¸ÉêÉUÉ ¥ÀÅ£Àgï £ÉêÀÄPÀUÉƼÀÄîªÀ ¢£ÁAPÀzÀªÀgÉUÉ PÉ®¸ÀzÀ ªÉÄð®èzÀ CªÀ¢ü ¥ÀjUÀt¸À¯ÁVzÉ ºÁUÀÆ ¸ÀzÀj CªÀ¢üUÉ AiÀiÁªÀÅzÉà DyðPÀ, vÀvÀá°vÀ ¸Ë®¨sÀåUÀ½UÉ (consequenmtial benefits) ºÁUÀÆ ¤gÀAvÀgÀ ¸ÉêÁ ¸Ë®¨sÀåUÀ½UÉ CºÀðjgÀĪÀÅ¢®è. 3) ¸ÀzÀj ZÁ®PÀ-PÀA-¤ªÁðºÀPÀgÀÄ ªÀÄgÀÄ£ÉêÀÄPÀ ºÉÆA¢ PÀvÀðªÀåPÉÌ ºÁdgÁzÀ ¢£ÁAPÀ¢AzÀ MAzÀÄ (1) ªÀµÀðzÀªÀgÉUÉ AiÀiÁªÀÅzÉà UÀA©üÃgÀ/PÉA¥ÀÅ UÀÄgÀÄw£À ¥ÀæPÀgÀtUÀ¼À°è ºÁUÀÆ ¢ÃWÁðªÀ¢ü C£À¢üPÀÈvÀ UÉÊgÀÄ ºÁdj ¥ÀæPÀgÀtzÀ°è ¨sÁVAiÀiÁzÀ°è KPÀ¥ÀQëÃAiÀĪÁV UÀA©üÃgÀ ²¹Û£À PÀæªÀÄ dgÀÄV¸À¯ÁUÀĪÀÅzÀÄ. - 7 - NC: 2025:KHC-D:2281 WP No. 100032 of 2024 ªÉÄîä£À« ¥Áæ¢üPÁgÀ¸ÀÜgÀ DzÉñÀzÀAvÉ PÀvÀðªÀåPÉÌ ¥ÀÅ£Àgï £ÉêÀÄPÀªÀiÁrPÉƼÀî®Ä ¤ªÀÄä ¥ÀwgÀªÀjUÉ G¯ÉèÃR(4)gÀAvÉ F PÀbÉÃjUÉ ºÁdgÁUÀ®Ä »A§gÀªÀ£ÀÄß PÀ¼ÀÄ»¸À¯ÁVzÀÄÝ, ²æÃAiÀÄÄvÀgÀÄ ¸ÀzÀj »A§gÀªÀ£ÀÄß ¹éÃPÀj¹AiÀÄÄ ¸ÀºÀ F PÀbÉÃjAiÀÄ°è PÀvÀðªÀåPÉÌ ºÁdgÁUÀzÉ EzÀÝ ¥ÀæAiÀÄÄPÀÛ ªÀÄvÉÆÛAzÀÄ CªÀPÁ±À ¤ÃqÀÄvÀÛ G¯ÉèÃR (5)gÀAvÉ ªÀÄvÉÆÛAzÀÄ »A§gÀªÀ£ÀÄß PÀ¼ÀÄ»¸À¯ÁVgÀÄvÀÛzÉ. CAZÉ PÀbÉÃjAiÀĪÀgÀÄ ¸ÀzÀj »A§gÀºÀ ®PÉÆÃmÉAiÀÄ£ÀÄß "ªÀÄÈvÀgÁVgÀÄvÁÛgÉ" JAzÀÄ µÀgÁ §gÉzÀÄ ªÁ¥À¸ÀÄ PÀ¼ÀÄ»¹gÀÄvÁÛgÉ. £ÀAvÀgÀ ¤ÃªÀÅ G¯ÉèÃR(1)gÀAvÉ ªÀÄ£À« ¸À°è¹ ªÉÄÃ¯É £À£Àß ¥Àw AiÀĪÀgÀÄ ¢£ÁAPÀ:13/01/2023 gÀAzÀÄ ¤zsÀ£ÀgÁVzÀÄÝ ºÁUÀÄ £À£Àß ¥ÀwAiÀÄ ªÀeÁ DzÉñÀªÀ£ÀÄß ªÉÄîä£À« ¥Áæ¢üPÁgÀ¸ÀÜgÀÄ gÀªÀgÀÄ gÀzÀÄÝ¥Àr¹gÀĪÀÅzÀjAzÀ CªÀgÀÄ ªÀÄgÀt ºÉÆA¢zÀ ¢£ÁAPÀzÀAzÀÄ ¸ÀA¸ÉÜAiÀÄ ¸ÉêÉAiÀÄ°èzÀÝgÀÄ JAzÀÄ ¥ÀjUÀt¹, ¸ÀA¸ÉÜAiÀÄ ¤AiÀĪÀiÁ£ÀĸÁgÀ £À£ÀUÉ §gÀ¨ÉÃPÁzÀ J¯Áè DyðPÀ ¸ËªÀ®vÀÄÛUÀ¼À£ÀÄß ºÁUÀÆ C£ÀÄPÀA¥ÀzÀ DzsÁgÀzÀ £ËPÀjAiÀÄ£ÀÄß ¤ÃqÀ¨ÉÃPÉAzÀÄ ¸À°è¹gÀĪÀ ¤ªÀÄä ªÀÄ£À«AiÀÄ£ÀÄß F PÀbÉÃjAiÀÄ°è ¥Àj²Ã°¸À¯Á¬ÄvÀÄ. DzÀgÉ ªÉÄîä£À« ¥Áæ¢üPÁgÀ¸ÀÜgÀÄ ¤ªÀÄä ¥ÀwAiÀĪÀgÀ ªÀeÁ DzÉñÀªÀ£ÀÄß §¢UÉÆwÛ, ¸ÉêɬÄAzÀ ªÀeÁºÉÆA¢zÀ ¢£ÁAPÀ¢AzÀ ¸ÀA¸ÉÜAiÀÄ ¸ÉêÉUÉ ¥ÀÅ£Àgï £ÉêÀÄPÀUÉƼÀÄîªÀ ¢£ÁAPÀzÀªÀgÉUÉ PÉ®¸ÀzÀ ªÉÄð®èzÀ CªÀ¢üAiÉÄAzÀÄ ¥ÀjUÀt¸À¯ÁVzÉ ºÁUÀÆ ¸ÀzÀj CªÀ¢üUÉ AiÀiÁªÀÅzÉà DyðPÀ, vÀvÀá°vÀ ¸Ë®¨sÀåUÀ½UÉ ºÁUÀÆ ¤gÀAvÀgÀ ¸ÉêÁ ¸Ë®¨sÀåUÀ½UÉ CºÀðj®èzÉ ºÁUÀÆ EªÀgÀ ¥Àæ¸ÀÄÛvÀ ªÉÃvÀ£À §rÛAiÀÄ JgÀqÀÄ ªÁ¶ðPÀ ªÉÃvÀ£À §rÛUÀ¼À£ÀÄß ±Á±ÀévÀªÁV PɼÀºÀAvÀPÉÌ E½¹ PÀvÀðªÀåPÉÌ ¥ÀÅ£Àgï £ÉêÀÄPÀªÀiÁrPÉƼÀî®Ä DzÉò¸À¯ÁVgÀĪÀÅzÀjAzÀ ºÁUÀÆ PÀvÀðªÀåPÉÌ ¥ÀÅ£À£ï £ÉêÀÄPÀ ªÀiÁrPÉƼÀÄîªÀ ¸ÀA§AzsÀ ¤ªÀÄä ¥Àw gÀªÀjUÉ PÀ¼ÀÄ»¹zÀ »A§gÀºÀzÀ£ÀÄUÀÄtªÁV CªÀgÀÄ PÀvÀðªÀåPÉÌ ºÁdgÁUÀzÉà EzÀÝ ¥ÀæAiÀÄÄPÀÛ G¯ÉèÃR(1)gÀAvÉ ¸À°è¹gÀĪÀ ¤ªÀÄä ªÀÄ£À«AiÀÄ£ÀÄß ¥ÀjUÀt¸À®Ä ¸ÁzsÀå«gÀĪÀÅ¢®è JAzÀÄ F ªÀÄÆ®PÀ vÀªÀÄUÉ w½¸À¯ÁVzÉ.” 9. The order notices the fact that the husband of the petitioner did not report back to duties. Therefore, inter alia the claim for the petitioner for release of terminal benefits and compassionate appointment is rejected. A perusal at the endorsement would clearly indicate it being illegal, as the husband of the petitioner before the expiry - 8 - NC: 2025:KHC-D:2281 WP No. 100032 of 2024 of thirty days even pursuant to the direction that he was asked to report to duties, dies. Therefore, the Corporation ought to have considered the claim of the petitioner for release of terminal benefits in accordance with law, and also the claim for appointment on compassionate grounds, as there was no stigma attached to the petitioner in the light of the order of the appellate authority setting aside the order of dismissal. Therefore, the petition deserves to succeed with a direction to reconsider the claim of the petitioner. 10. For the aforesaid reasons the following: ORDER (i) The petition is allowed. (ii) The impugned order of quashing the endorsement No. PÀPÀgÀ¸Á/ §«/ ¹§âA¢/ ¦5/ 1131/2023 dated 06.09.2023 stands quahed. (iii) The Corporation is directed to reconsider the representation of the petitioner seeking release of terminal benefits, as - 9 - NC: 2025:KHC-D:2281 WP No. 100032 of 2024 also appointment on compassionate grounds in consonance with law, within outer limit of three months from the date of receipt of copy of this order. Ordered accordingly. Sd/- (M.NAGAPRASANNA) JUDGE RHR/- List No.: 1 Sl No.: 13