- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:35902 WP No. 24585 of 2025 C/W WP No. 9994 of 2025 WP No. 24510 of 2025 AND 3 OTHERS IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 10TH DAY OF SEPTEMBER, 2025 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE PRADEEP SINGH YERUR WRIT PETITION NO.24585 OF 2025 (L-RES) C/W WRIT PETITION NO. 9994 OF 2025 (L-RES) WRIT PETITION NO.24510 OF 2025 (L-RES) WRIT PETITION NO.25862 OF 2025 (L-RES) WRIT PETITION NO.26148 OF 2025 (L-RES) WRIT PETITION NO.26169 OF 2025 (L-RES) IN WP No.24585/2025: BETWEEN: P SRINIVASULU S/O P GOPAL AGED ABOUT 58 YEARS WORKING AS SFW(TS) (EMP NO.T00136) SILK WARM SEED PRODUCTION CENTRE NATIONAL SILK WARM SEED ORGANISATION, CENTRAL SILK BOARD, MADANAPALLI ANNAMAYYA DISTRICT ANDHRA PRADESH - 515 325 R/AT C/O MUDALAIAH, NO.121-A 10TH B CROSS, SHANTHI GARDEN MUDALAPALYA BENGALURU - 560 072. …PETITIONER (BY SRI. NAIK V.S., ADVOCATE (THROUGH VIDEO CONFERENCE) AND: 1. CENTRAL SILK BOARD BMT LAYOUT, MADIWALA BENGALURU - 560 068 REP.BY ITS MEMBER SECRETARY Digitally signed by B LAVANYA Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:35902 WP No. 24585 of 2025 C/W WP No. 9994 of 2025 WP No. 24510 of 2025 AND 3 OTHERS 2. THE DIRECTOR NATIONAL SILK WARM SEED ORGANISATION, CENTRAL SILK BOARD, BMT LAYOUT MADIWALA BENGALURU - 560 068. 3. THE SCIENTIST D SILK WARM SEED PRODUCTION CENTRE NATIONAL SILK WARM SEED ORGANISATION, CENTARL SILK BOARD, MADANAPALLI ANNAMAYYA DISTRICT ANDHRA PRADESH - 515 325. …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI.N.S.NARASIMHA SWAMY .,ADVOCATE (THROUGH VIDEO CONFERENCE) THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 & 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO ISSUE A WRIT OF MANDAMUS OR ANY OTHER APPROPRIATE WRIT OR ORDER OR DIRECTION, DIRECTING THE RESPONDENT TO CONSIDER THE REPRESENTATION OF THE PETITIONER DTD 25.07.2025 PRODUCED AT ANNX-C AND CONTINUE THE SERVICES OF THE PETITIONER AS SKILLED FARM WORKER (TS) TILL HE ATTAINS THE AGE OF 60 YEARS. IN WP NO. 9994/2025: BETWEEN: SRIDHAR. S, S/O. LATE SIDDEGOWDA AGED ABOUT 58 YEARS WORKING AS SFW(TS), (EMP.NO.T00487), CENTRAL SILK BOARD CENTRAL SERICULTURAL RESEARCH AND TRAINING INSTITUTE MANANDAWADI ROAD, SRIRAMPURA MYSURU-570 008 R/AT S.L.N. STREET, - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:35902 WP No. 24585 of 2025 C/W WP No. 9994 of 2025 WP No. 24510 of 2025 AND 3 OTHERS HOSAHOLALU VILLAGE, K.R.PETE, MANDYA DISTRICT-571 426 ... PETITIONER (BY SRI. NAIK V.S., ADVOCATE (THROUGH VIDEO CONFERENCE) AND: 1. CENTRAL SILK BOARD BTM LAYOUT, MADIWALA, BENGALURU - 560 068. REP.BY ITS MEMBER SECRETARY 2. THE DIRECTOR, CENTRAL SERICULTURAL RESEARCH AND TRAINING INSTITUTE CENTRAL SILK BOARD MANANDAWADI ROAD SRIRAMPURA MYSURU-570 008 3. THE SCIENTIST D, CENTRAL SERICULTURAL RESEARCH AND TRAINING INSTITUTE, CENTRAL SILK BOARD, MANANDAWADI ROAD, SRIRAMPURA MYSURU-570 008 ... RESPONDENTS (BY SRI.N.S.NARASIMHA SWAMY, ADVOCATE (THROUGH VIDEO CONFERENCE) THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 & 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO ISSUE A WRIT OF MANDAMUS OR ANY OTHER ORDER OR APPROPRIATE WRIT OR ORDER OR DIRECTION DIRECTING THE RESPONDENTS 1 TO 3 CONSIDER THE REPRESENTATION OF THE PETITIONER DATED 13.02.2025 PRODUCED AT ANNEXURE-C NO.CAB/CSRTI/REEL/SFVO/24-25/165 AND CONTINUE THE SERVICES OF THE PETITIONER AS SKILLED FARM WORKER (TS) TILL BE ATTAINS THE AGE OF 60 YEARS . - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:35902 WP No. 24585 of 2025 C/W WP No. 9994 of 2025 WP No. 24510 of 2025 AND 3 OTHERS IN WP NO. 24510/2025: BETWEEN: N SRINIVASULU S/O N GANGULAPPA AGED ABOUT 58 YEARS WORKING AS SFW(TS), (EMP. NO.500655) SILK WARM SEED PRODUCTION CENTRE NATIONAL SILK WARM SEED ORGANISATION, CENTRAL SILK BOARD, HINDUPUR ANDHRA PARDESH 517 325 R/AT NO.TYPE-1 STAFF QUARTERS CENTRAL SILK BOARD CAMPUS GUDDAM HINDUPUR ANNATHAPURAMU DISTRICT ANDHRA PRADESH - 515 201. ... PETITIONER (BY SRI. NAIK V.S., ADVOCATE (THROUGH VIDEO CONFERENCE) AND: 1. CENTRAL SILK BOARD BTM LAYOUT, MADIWALA BENGALURU 560 058 REP.BY ITS MEMBER SECRETARY 2. THE DIRECTOR, NATIONAL SILK WARM SEED ORGANISATION, CENTRAL SILK BOARD, BTM LAYOUT MAIDWALA BENGALURU 560 068. 3. THE SCIENTIST C SILK WARM SEED PRODUCTION CENTRE NATIONAL SILK WARM SEED ORGANISATION, CENTRAL SILK BOARD, HIDUPUR - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:35902 WP No. 24585 of 2025 C/W WP No. 9994 of 2025 WP No. 24510 of 2025 AND 3 OTHERS ANANTHAPURAMU DISTRICT ANDHRA PRADESH - 515 201. … RESPONDENTS (BY SRI.N.S.NARASIMHA SWAMY.,ADVOCATE (THROUGH VIDEO CONFERENCE) THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 & 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO ISSUE A WRIT OF MANDAMUS OR ANY OTHER APPROPRIATE WRIT OR ORDER OR DIRECTION DIRECTING THE RESPONDENTS TO CONSIDER THE REPRESENTATION OF THE PETITONER DATED 25.07.2025 FPRODUCED AT ANNEXURE -C AND CONTINUE THE SERVICES OF THE PETITIONER AS SKILLED FARM WORKER (TS) TILL HE ATTAINS THE AGE OF 60 YEARS. IN WP NO. 25862/2025: BETWEEN: SRI.MUSHTAQ AHMAD BHAT S/O ABDUL AZIZ BHAT, AGED ABOUT 58 YEARS WORKING EX. SFW(TS), CENTRAL SILK BOARD, CSB C.S.R. AND T.I., PAMPORE, JAMMU AND KASHMIR R/AT C/O MUDALAIAH, NO. 121-A,10TH B CROSS, SHANTHI GARDEN MUDULAPALYA, BENGALURU - 560 072 ... PETITIONER (BY SRI. NAIK V.S., ADVOCATE (THROUGH VIDEO CONFERENCE) - 6 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:35902 WP No. 24585 of 2025 C/W WP No. 9994 of 2025 WP No. 24510 of 2025 AND 3 OTHERS AND: 1. CENTRAL SILK BOARD BTM LAYOUT, MADIWALA, BENGALURU 560 068 REP BY ITS MEMBER SECRETARY 2. THE DIRECTOR CENTRAL SERICULTURE RESEARCH AND TRAINING INSTITUTE, CENTRAL SILK BOARD, GALANDER PAMPORE, JAMMU & KASHMIR - 192 121 ... RESPONDENTS (BY SRI.N.S.NARASIMHA SWAMY.,ADVOCATE (THROUGH VIDEO CONFERENCE) THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 & 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO ISSUE A WRIT OF CERTIORARI OR ANY OTHER APPROPRIATE WRIT OR ORDER OR DIRECTION QUASHING THE MEMORANDUM BEARING REFERENCE NO.CSB/C & TJ/PR/94/MAB/TSL/1996- 97/1215 DATED 07.08.2025 ISSUED BY THE 2ND RESPONDENT, THE ORIGINAL OF WHICH IS PRODUCED AMD MARKED AS ANNEXURE-B TO THIS WRIT PETTIION. IN WP NO. 26148/2025: BETWEEN: SRI ABDUL RASHID MALIK, S/O GHULAM MOHAMMAD MALIK AGED ABOUT 58 YEARS WORKING AS SFW(TS), CENTRAL SILK BOARD P4, BSF, MANASBAL JAMMU AND KASHMIR R/AT C/O MUDALAIAH, NO.121-A 10TH 'B' CROSS, SHANTHI GARDEN - 7 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:35902 WP No. 24585 of 2025 C/W WP No. 9994 of 2025 WP No. 24510 of 2025 AND 3 OTHERS MUDULAPALYA BENGALURU- 560 072. … PETITIONER (BY SRI. NAIK V.S., ADVOCATE (THROUGH VIDEO CONFERENCE) AND: 1. CENTRAL SILK BOARD BTM LAYOUT, MADIWALA BENGALURU - 560 068 REP. BY ITS MEMBER SECRETARY, 2. THE DIRECTOR, N.S.S.O. - CENTRAL SILK BOARD BTM LAYOUT, MADIWALA BENGALURU - 560 068. 3. THE DIRECTOR, CENTRAL SILK BOARD, P4, BSF MANASBAL, JAMMU AND KASHMIR-191 201 ... RESPONDENTS (BY SRI.N.S.NARASIMHA SWAMY.,ADVOCATE (THROUGH VIDEO CONFERENCE) THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 & 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO ISSUE A WRIT OF MANDAMUS OR ANY OTHER APPROPRIATE WRIT OR ORDER OR DIRECTION DIRECTING THE RESPONDENTS TO CONSIDER THE REPRESENTATION OF THE PETITONER DATED 04.08.2025 FPRODUCED AT ANNEXURE -C AND CONTINUE THE SERVICES OF THE PETITIONER AS SKILLED FARM WORKER (TS) TILL HE ATTAINS THE AGE OF 60 YEARS. IN WP NO.26169/2025: BETWEEN: SRI BISHAN DASS, S/O. CHARAN DASS - 8 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:35902 WP No. 24585 of 2025 C/W WP No. 9994 of 2025 WP No. 24510 of 2025 AND 3 OTHERS AGED ABOUT 58 YEARS, EX. SFW(TS), CENTRAL SILK BOARD STSC ,JAMMU R/AT C/O MUDALAIAH, NO.121-A 10TH B CROSS, SHANTHI GARDEN MUDULAPALYA BENGALURU- 560 072. … PETITIONER (BY SRI. NAIK V S.,ADVOCATE (THROUGH VIDEO CONFERENCE) AND: 1. CENTRAL SILK BOARD BTM LAYOUT, MADIWALA BENGALURU -560 068. REP. BY ITS MEMBER SECRETARY 2. THE DIRECTOR, CENTRAL SILK TECHNOLOGICAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE, CENTRAL SILK BOARD BTM LAYOUT, MADIWALA BENGALURU - 560 068. 3. THE SCIENTIST-B (R AND S), CENTRAL SILK BOARD SILK TECHNICAL SERVICE CENTRE MIRAN SAHIB JAMMU-180 001 ... RESPONDENTS (BY SRI.N.S.NARASIMHA SWAMY., ADVOCATE (THROUGH VIDEO CONFERENCE) THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 & 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO ISSUE A WRIT OF CERTIORARI OR ANY OTHER APPROPRIATE WRIT OR ORDER OR DIRECTION QUASHING THE MEMORANDUM BEARING REFERENCE NO. CSB/CSTRI-1 (1430)21- - 9 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:35902 WP No. 24585 of 2025 C/W WP No. 9994 of 2025 WP No. 24510 of 2025 AND 3 OTHERS 22/ESTT/1613 DATED 21/22.07.2025 ISSUED BY THE 2ND RESPONDENT, THE ORIGINAL OF WHICH IS PRODUCED AND MARKED AS ANNEXURE-B TO THIS WRIT PETITION. THESE PETITIONS, ARE COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY HEARING,IN 'B' GROUP THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE PRADEEP SINGH YERUR ORAL ORDER Since the question involved in all these writ petitions is common, they are taken up together for disposal. 2. Writ Petition Nos.24585/2025, 9994/2025, 24510/2025 and 26148/2025 are filed by the petitioners seeking a writ of mandamus for a direction to the respondents to consider their representations dated 25.7.2025, 13.2.2025, 25.7.2025 and 4.8.2025 respectively and to continue their services as Skilled Farm Workers till they attain the age of 60 years. 3. Writ Petition Nos.25862/2025 and 26169/2025 are filed by the petitioners praying to quash the Memorandum dated 7.8.2025 and 21/22.07.2025 respectively, whereby the - 10 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:35902 WP No. 24585 of 2025 C/W WP No. 9994 of 2025 WP No. 24510 of 2025 AND 3 OTHERS respondent - Board relieved them from duties w.e.f 9.8.2025 and 5.8.2025 respectively on attaining the age of 58 years. The petitioners also sought for a direction to the respondents to continue their services till they attain the age of 60 years. 4. Petitioners in these petitions were initially appointed as casual labourers in the respondent - Central Silk Board ('Board' for short) and thereafter they were given the status of Time Scale Farm Workers. It is contended by learned counsel for petitioners that the Management of the 1st respondent - Board enhanced the age of superannuation to 60 years in respect of the staff working in the Board, but the said benefit was not extended to the petitioners, who are Farm Workers. Accordingly, a dispute was raised by the Trade Union. The Management did not accede to the demand of the workmen and conciliation ended in failure and the report was forwarded to the Government of India, which referred the dispute to Central Government Industrial Tribunal-cum-Labour Court (CGIT), Bengaluru. 5. It is further contended that upon consideration of the dispute, CGIT passed the award on 1.4.2013 allowing the - 11 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:35902 WP No. 24585 of 2025 C/W WP No. 9994 of 2025 WP No. 24510 of 2025 AND 3 OTHERS reference and thereby the age of retirement was enhanced from 55 years to 60 years. The respondent No.1 - Board herein filed a writ petition challenging the award passed by the CGIT in Writ Petition No.18693/2014 (L-RES). The Division Bench of this Court after considering the rival contentions of both the parties, dismissed the writ petition filed by Respondent No.1 - Board. 6. It is further contention of learned counsel that the judgment passed by the Division Bench confirming the award passed by the Tribunal has attained finality for the reason that the same has not been questioned by Respondent No.1 - Board. 7. Under the circumstances, learned counsel for petitioner contends that the petitioners cannot be superannuated until they complete the age of 60 years and they should be permitted to work in the respondent - Board till they attain the age of 60 years. 8. Learned counsel representing respondents - Sri N.S. Narasimha Swamy is present through video conferencing and on a question posed to him by this Court as to whether the - 12 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:35902 WP No. 24585 of 2025 C/W WP No. 9994 of 2025 WP No. 24510 of 2025 AND 3 OTHERS challenge is made to the judgment of the Division Bench of this Court, he submits that till date, no such challenge is made. He also does not dispute the judgment passed by the Division Bench of this Court stated supra having attained finality. 9. I have heard learned counsel for petitioner and learned counsel for respondents. 10. It is not in dispute that in the similar situation, the Tribunal has passed the award enhancing the retirement age of Time Scale Farm Workers of the respondent - establishment to 60 years. It is also not in dispute that respondent/Board challenged the award passed by the Tribunal in Writ Petition No.18693/2014 and the Division Bench of this Court has dealt with the matter in detail and confirmed the award passed by the Tribunal and dismissed the writ petition by relying upon several judgments of the Hon'ble Supreme Court. The judgment passed by the Division Bench of this Court is not questioned by the respondents and it has attained finality. 11. Based on the above Division Bench judgment, in an identical matter, the Coordinate Bench of this Court in Writ - 13 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:35902 WP No. 24585 of 2025 C/W WP No. 9994 of 2025 WP No. 24510 of 2025 AND 3 OTHERS Petition No.20742/2022 has declared that the age of superannuation would be 60 years. 12. This being the position, the issue involved in these writ petitions is no more res integra. The question involved in the present petitions being squarely covered by the judgments of the Division Bench and Coordinate Bench of this Court stated supra, by following the said judgments these petitions are liable to be allowed in the same terms. Accordingly, I pass the following: O R D E R i) The petitions are allowed. ii) The Memorandum dated 7.8.2025 in Writ Petition No.25862/2025 and the Memorandum dated 21/22.07.2025 in Writ Petition No.26169/2025 are hereby quashed. iii) The petitioners are entitled to continue in employment as Timescale Farm Workers under respondent - Board till they attain the age of superannuation of 60 years subject to all the Rules and Regulations applicable to the employment of the petitioners. - 14 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:35902 WP No. 24585 of 2025 C/W WP No. 9994 of 2025 WP No. 24510 of 2025 AND 3 OTHERS iv) In the event, the respondents have relieved any of the petitioners before attaining the age of 60 years, they shall be taken back to the duties with immediate effect. The period from the date of relieving the petitioners from duties till they are taken back to duties shall be considered as on duty for all the purposes. Ordered accordingly. Sd/- (PRADEEP SINGH YERUR) JUDGE GSS List No.: 1 Sl No.: 47