- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:29715 WP No. 22679 of 2025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 1ST DAY OF AUGUST, 2025 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE H.T. NARENDRA PRASAD WRIT PETITION NO. 22679 OF 2025 (S-RES) BETWEEN: 1. SRI. BHIMA NAIKA S/O SEVA NAIKA AGED ABOUT 56 YEARS PRESENTLY WORKING AS FOREST WATCHER D GROUP RANGE FOREST OFFICE DODDABALLAPURA RANGE BENGALURU RURAL DIVISION BENGALURU - 560 082. 2. SRI. GOVINDARAJU S/O MUNISHAMAPPA AGED ABOUT 48 YEARS PRESENTLY WORKING AS FOREST WATCHER D GROUP RANGE FOREST OFFICE DODDABALLAPURA RANGE BENGALURU RURAL DIVISION BENGALURU - 560 082. 3. SRI. MUNIRAJ S/O VEERAPPA AGED ABOUT 52 YEARS PRESENTLY WORKING AS FOREST WATCHER D GROUP RANGE FOREST OFFICE DODDABALLAPURA RANGE Digitally signed by HEMALATHA A Location: HIGH COURTOF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:29715 WP No. 22679 of 2025 BENGALURU RURAL DIVISION BENGALURU - 560 082. 4. SRI. SIDDHAGANGAIAH S/O CHIKKATIMMAIAH AGED ABOUT 52 YEARS PRESENTLY WORKING AS FOREST WATCHER D GROUP RANGE FOREST OFFICE, DODDABALLAPURA RANGE BENGALURU RURAL DIVISION BENGALURU - 560 082. 5. SRI. RAMACHANDRA S/O RAMA NAIKA AGED ABOUT 47 YEARS PRESENTLY WORKING AS FOREST WATCHER D GROUP RANGE FOREST OFFICE, DODDABALLAPURA RANGE BENGALURU RURAL DIVISION BENGALURU 560 082. 6. SRI. SANANDAMURTHY S/O RANGAPPA AGED ABOUT 50 YEARS PRESENTLY WORKING AS FOREST WATCHER D GROUP RANGE FOREST OFFICE, DODDABALLAPURA RANGE BENGALURU RURAL DIVISION BENGALURU 560 082. 7. SRI. NAGARAJA S/O ARASAPPA AGED ABOUT 53 YEARS PRESENTLY WORKING AS FOREST WATCHER D GROUP RANGE FOREST OFFICE, DODDABALLAPURA RANGE BENGALURU RURAL DIVISION BENGALURU - 560 082 - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:29715 WP No. 22679 of 2025 8. SRI. DEVARAJA S/O POJAPPA AGED ABOUT 48 YEARS PRESENTLY WORKING AS FOREST WATCHER D GROUP RANGE FOREST OFFICE, DODDABALLAPURA RANGE BENGALURU RURAL DIVISION BENGALURU - 560 082. 9. SRI. MANJU NAIKA S/O RAMA NAIKA AGED ABOUT 43 YEARS PRESENTLY WORKING AS FOREST WATCHER D GROUP RANGE FOREST OFFICE, DODDABALLAPURA RANGE BENGALURU RURAL DIVISION BENGALURU - 560 082. 10. SRI. NARAYANASWAMY S/O CHIKKAKONDAPPA AGED ABOUT 54 YEARS PRESENTLY WORKING AS FOREST WATCHER D GROUP RANGE FOREST OFFICE, DODDABALLAPURA RANGE BENGALURU RURAL DIVISION BENGALURU - 560 082. 11. SRI. MUTTURAJU S/O SIDDAPPA AGED ABOUT 53 YEARS PRESENTLY WORKING AS FOREST WATCHER D GROUP RANGE FOREST OFFICE, DODDABALLAPURA RANGE BENGALURU RURAL DIVISION BENGALURU - 560 082 12. SRI. CHIKKAPOJAPPA S/O LATE MUNIYAPPA - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:29715 WP No. 22679 of 2025 AGED ABOUT 55 YEARS PRESENTLY WORKING AS FOREST WATCHER D GROUP RANGE FOREST OFFICE, DODDABALLAPURA RANGE BENGALURU RURAL DIVISION BENGALURU 560 082. 13. SRI. SHANKARAPPA S/O CHIKKAKONDAPPA AGED ABOUT 57 YEARS PRESENTLY WORKING AS FOREST WATCHER D GROUP RANGE FOREST OFFICE, DODDABALLAPURA RANGE BENGALURU RURAL DIVISION BENGALURU 560 082. 14. SRI. MUNIYAPPA S/O CHIKKA AJAPPA AGED ABOUT 57 YEARS PRESENTLY WORKING AS FOREST WATCHER D GROUP RANGE FOREST OFFICE DEVANAHALLI RANGE, BENGALURU RURAL DIVISION BENGALURU - 560 082. …PETITIONERS (BY SRI. VINAYAKA B VISHNU BATTA., ADVOCATE) AND: 1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA, REP. BY ADDITIONAL CHIEF SECRETARY DEPARTMENT OF FOREST, ECOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENT, M.S. BUILDING BENGALURU - 560 001. 2. THE PRINCIPAL CHIEF CONSERVATOR OF FORESTS (HEAD OF FOREST FORCE) ARANYA BHAVAN, 3RD FLOOR MALLESHWARAM, 18TH CROSS BANGALORE 560 003. - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:29715 WP No. 22679 of 2025 3. THE CHIEF CONSERVATOR OF FORESTS VANAVILASA, 4TH FLOOR, 18TH CROSS MALLESHWARAM, BANGALORE - 560 003. 4. THE DEPUTY CONSERVATOR OF FORESTS BANGALORE RURAL DIVISION DEVANAHALLI, BANGALORE RURAL - 562 110. 5. THE RANGE FOREST OFFICER DODDABALLAPURA RANGE BANGALORE RURAL DIVISION DODDABALLAPURA 561 203. 6. THE RANGE FOREST OFFICER DEVANAHALLI RANGE, BANGALORE RURAL DIVISION DEVNAHALLI - 562 110 …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI.VIKAS R, AGA.) THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO ISSUE A WRIT OF MANDAMUS DIRECTING THE RESPONDENTS TO CONSIDER TO THE REPRESENTATIONS DATED: 30.12.2024 OF THE PETITIONERS VIDE (ANNEXURE L-L7) FOR REGULARIZATION IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAW, AS EXPEDITIOUSLY AS POSSIBLE. AND ETC. THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR ORDERS, 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 - 6 - HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:29715 WP No. 22679 of 2025 on the ground that the petitioners are Civil Servants and they have 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 of L.Chandra Kumar vs. Union of India and others reported in 1997(2) SCR 1186. 3. In view of the above, the writ petition is disposed of, reserving liberty for the petitioners to approach the appropriate legal forum. Sd/- (H.T. NARENDRA PRASAD) JUDGE HA LIST NO.: 1 SL NO.: 3