- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:38887-DB WP No. 29312 of 2025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 25TH DAY OF SEPTEMBER, 2025 PRESENT THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE D K SINGH AND THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE VENKATESH NAIK T WRIT PETITION NO.29312 OF 2025 (EDN-RES) BETWEEN: MR. SARVAJITH BHAT S/O. CHANDRASHEKAR BHAT, AGED ABOUT 18 YEARS, RESIDING AT ESI HOSPITAL ROAD, SHIVBAGH VTC-MANGALORE, P.O. KANKANADY, MANGALORE, MANGALORE (DAKSHINA KANNADA-575 002. …PETITIONER (BY SRI NITIN A.M., ADVOCATE) AND: 1. STATE OF KARNATAKA, REPRESENTED BY PRINCIPAL SECRETARY, DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, VIKASA SOUDHA BENGALURU-560 001. 2. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, KARNATAKA EXAMINATION AUTHORITY, SAMPIGE ROAD, 18TH CROSS, MALLESHWARAM, BENGALURU-560 012. (AS PER ORDER DATED 25-9-2025 CAUSE TITLE IS AMENDED) …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI. MANJUNATH B., AGA FOR R1; SMT. PRAMODINI KISHAN., ADVOCATE FOR R2; ) Digitally signed by MOUNESHWARAPPA NAGARATHNA Location: High Court of Karnataka - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:38887-DB WP No. 29312 of 2025 THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA, PRAYING TO ISSUE A WRIT OF MANDAMUS DIRECTING THE RESPONDENTS TO CONSIDER THE APPLICATION VIDE NO.3920230254598, i.e., ANNEXURE-A AND ETC. THIS WRIT PETITION, COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY HEARING, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE D K SINGH and HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE VENKATESH NAIK T ORAL ORDER (PER: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE D K SINGH) The present Writ Petition has been filed by the petitioner, who wrote UG-NEET of 2025 for admissions in the Engineering course as well as the MBBS course. The petitioner was not allotted any MBBS seat in the first round of counseling conducted by Karnataka Examination Authority (KEA) as per his merit. In the second round of counseling also, the petitioner was neither allotted a seat in MBBS nor in the Engineering course. However, the petitioner was allotted an Engineering seat in the third round of counseling in a Government Institution. The petitioner did not take admission on the seat allotted to him in the Engineering course. The petitioner wanted that he should be allowed to participate in the second round of counseling for MBBS courses. - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:38887-DB WP No. 29312 of 2025 However, since the petitioner did not deposit Rs.1,00,000/- towards further caution amount, he was not allowed to participate in the second round of counseling for the MBBS course. 2. The present Writ Petition has been filed alleging that candidates who are below to the petitioner in the merit list have been allotted MBBS seats as per the choice given by them. The petitioner, being higher in merit, has been denied MBBS seat arbitrarily and illegally. 3. The Writ Petition has been filed seeking a Writ of Mandamus directing the KEA to allot him a MBBS seat as per his merit in the second round of counseling itself. 4. Smt. Pramodini Kishan, learned counsel for KEA, with the instructions of Executive Director of KEA, submits that the petitioner was not allowed to participate in the second round of counseling for MBBS seats inasmuch as he did not deposit a further sum of Rs.1,00,000/- as caution money to participate in the second round of counseling after the third round of counseling was over for the Engineering course. However, it is submitted on behalf of KEA that if the petitioner is willing to deposit the caution amount of Rs.1,00,000/- to participate in the third round of - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:38887-DB WP No. 29312 of 2025 counseling for the MBBS course, for which the dates are yet to be announced, the petitioner shall be permitted to participate in the third round of counseling for the MBBS course and he shall be allotted a seat if he is eligible according to his merit and the preference given by him. 5. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that he will deposit the caution amount for the MBBS course within two days from today. If the petitioner deposits the caution amount for participating in the third round of counseling for the MBBS course, the petitioner shall be permitted to participate in the counseling and he shall be allotted a seat in the MBBS course according to his merit and choice, if he is otherwise eligible. With the aforesaid direction, we dispose of this Writ Petition. Sd/- (D K SINGH) JUDGE Sd/- (VENKATESH NAIK T) JUDGE AM/List No.: 1 Sl No.: 24