- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:9199 WP No. 2639 of 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 16TH DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE H.T. NARENDRA PRASAD WRIT PETITION NO. 2639 OF 2026 (S-RES) BETWEEN: MANJULA DEVI W/O SHANTH KUMAR AGED ABOUT 47 YEARS OCC: SENIOR HEALTH INSPECTOR GUBBI PATTANA PANCHAYATH GUBBI,TUMKURU DISTRICT-572216. …PETITIONER (BY SRI. NATARAJ G., ADVOCATE) AND: 1. THE UNDER SECRETARY TO THE GOVERNMENT URBAN DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT (MUNICIPAL ADMINISTRATION-2 AND BOARD) VIKASA SOUDHA, BENGALURU-560001. 2. THE DIRECTOR MUNICIPAL ADMINISTRATION 9TH FLOOR, VISHVESHWARAIAH TOWERS BENGALURU-560001. 3. S.D.KODI BHEEMARAIAH S/O -THIMMARAYAPPA.N AGED ABOUT 43 YEARS OCC: KMAS CHIEF OFFICER GRADE-2 PRESENTLY WORKING AT CHIEF OFFICER HIREKERURU PATTANA PANCHAYATH HAVERI DISTRICT-581111. Digitally signed by MALATHI CHALUVA IYENGAR Location: HIGH COURTOF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:9199 WP No. 2639 of 2026 4. RAVIPRAKASH.M.B S/O BASAVARAJAPPA.M.S AGED ABOUT 44 YEARS OCC: KMAS CHIEF OFFICER GRADE-2 PRESENTLY WORKING AT MALEBENNUR TOWN MUNICIPAL COUNCIL HAVERI DISTRICT-577530. 5. RAJKUMAR M H S/O ALLAPPA AGED ABOUT 45 YEARS OCC:KMAS CHIEF OFFICER GRADE-2 PRESENTLY WORKING AT MANAGER SHIKARIPURA TOWN MUNICIPAL COUNCIL SHIVAMOGGA DISTRICT-577427. 6. ARATHI N A AGED ABOUT 44 YEARS OCC:KMAS CHIEF OFFICER GRADE-2 PRESENTLY WORKING AT MOLKALMURU TOWN PANCHAYATH CHITRADURGA DISTRICT-577535. 7. SMT. Y.M. ROOPA AGED ABOUT 45 YEARS OCC: KMAS CHIEF OFFICER GRADE-2 PRESENTLY WORKING AT COMMUNITY AFFAIR OFFICER BASHEHATTIHALLI TOWN PANCHAYATH BANGALORE RURAL DISTRICT-561203. 8. SMT. MANJULA.K.K W/O PRAKASH AGED ABOUT 46 YEARS OCC : KMAS CHIEF OFFICER GRADE-2 PRESENTLY WORKING AT COMMUNITY AFFAIR OFFICER DODDATHOGOORU TOWN PANCHAYATH KONAPPANA AGRAHARA - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:9199 WP No. 2639 of 2026 ELECTRONIC CITY BANGALORE URBAN DISTRICT-560068. 9. BANDANAWAZ DANGE AGED ABOUT 47 YEARS OCC: KMAS CHIEF OFFICER GRADE-2 PRESENTLY WORKING AT BADAMI TOWN MUNICIPAL COUNCIL BAGALKOT DISTRICT-587201. 10. MAHANTESH.S S/O SIDDAMADAIAH AGED ABOUT 45 YEARS OCC: KMAS CHIEF OFFICER GRADE-2 PRESENTLY WORKING AT INAPURA TOWN PANCHAYATH BELAGAVI DISTRICT-572014. 11. MAHESH NIDASHESHI AGED ABOUT 43 YEARS OCC: REVENUE OFFICER (CADRE OF KMAS CHIEF OFFICER GRADE-2) PRESENTLY WORKING AT KUSTAGI TOWN MUNICIPAL COUNCIL KOPPAL DISTRICT-583277. 12. DILEEP.G.NADAF AGED ABOUT 50 YEARS OCC: ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER (CADRE OF KMAS CHIEF OFFICER GRADE-2) PRESENTLY WORKING AT KANAKAPURA CITY MUNICIPAL COUNCIL RAMANAGARA DISTRICT-562117. 13. SANTOSH KUMAR.A S/O NOT KNOWN AGED ABOUT 47 YEARS OCC -COUNCIL SECRETARY (CADRE OF KMAS CHIEF OFFICER GRADE-2) PRESENTLY WORKING AT - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:9199 WP No. 2639 of 2026 DAVANAGERE MAHANAGARA PALIKE DAVANAGERE DISTRICT-577002. 14. JAYESH.C. TAMBOLI AGED ABOUT 44 YEARS OCC: ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER (CADRE OF KMAS CHIEF OFFICER GRADE-2) PRESENTLY WORKING AT MANAGER GOKAK CITY MUNICIPAL COUNCIL BELAGAVI DISTRICT-591307. 15. RAJASHEKAR.R AGED ABOUT 44 YEARS OCC: REVENUE OFFICER (CADRE OF KMAS CHIEF OFFICER GRADE-2) PRESENTLY WORKING AT ATTIBELE MUNICIPAL COUNCIL BENGALURU URBAN DISTRICT-562107. …RESPONDENTS (BY SMT. ANITHA N, AGA FOR R1) THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INIDA PRAYING TO ISSUE WRIT IN THE NATURE OF CERTIORARI TO QUASH THE SELECTION OF RESPONDENT NO.3 TO 15 TO THE POST OF KMAS CHIEF OFFICER GRADE-2 BEING ACCORDED VIDE GOVERNMENT ORDER DATED.05-12-2025, VIDE ANNEXURE-G, VIDE ORDER NO: ¸ÀPÁðgÀzÀ DzÉñÀ ¸ÀASÉå: £ÀCE 155 nJAJ¸ï 2025(E) IN THE INTEREST OF JUSTICE AND EQUITY 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 - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:9199 WP No. 2639 of 2026 ORAL ORDER 1. Learned AGA is directed to accept notice for respondents-State. 2. At the outset, learned AGA raised a preliminary objection regarding maintainability of the writ petition on the ground that the petitioner has sought promotion to the post of the Chief Officer, Grade-2, which is a civil post. Therefore, the petitioner has to approach the Karnataka State Administrative Tribunal. 3. 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) 3 SCC 261. 4. In view of the above, the writ petition is disposed of, reserving liberty to the petitioner to approach the appropriate legal forum, if law permits. - 6 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:9199 WP No. 2639 of 2026 5. Registry is directed to return the original or certified copies of the documents, if any, to the petitioner, after retaining the photocopies of the same for record purpose. 6. All pending I.As., if any, are disposed of. Sd/- (H.T. NARENDRA PRASAD) JUDGE DM List No.: 1 Sl No.: 7