- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:7065-DB WP No. 36077 of 2025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 6TH DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2026 PRESENT THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S.G.PANDIT AND THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE K. V. ARAVIND WRIT PETITION No. 36077 OF 2025 (S-KSAT) BETWEEN: 1. SRI K. N. RAVIKEERTHI, S/O K. V. NARAYANAPPA, AGE ABOUT 38 YEARS, WORKING AS RANGE FOREST OFFICER, SRINIVASAPURA TERRITORIAL RANGE, KOLAR DIVISION, KOLAR DISTRICT 563135, RESIDING AT RANGE FOREST OFFICERS OFFICEAL QUARTERS, SRINIVASAPURA TERRITORIAL RANGE, KOLAR DIVISION, KOLAR DISTIRCT 563135, (UNDER AN ORDER OF SUSPENSION) PH: 8310832516, EMAIL ID: RAVIKEERTHIN007@GMAIL .COM. …PETITIONER (BY SRI K. SATISH, ADVOCATE FOR SRI LOKESH M., ADVOCATE) AND: 1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA, DEPARTMENT OF FOREST, ECOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENT, Digitally signed by VINUTHA B S Location: High Court of Karnataka - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:7065-DB WP No. 36077 of 2025 REP. BY ITS ADDITIONAL CHIEF SECRETARY, M.S. BUILDING, BANGALORE-560001. 2. THE PRINCIPAL CHIEF CONSERVATOR OF FORESTS, HEAD OF FOREST FORCE, OFFICE OF THE PRINCIPAL CHIEF CONSERVATOR OF FOREST, ARANYA BHAVAN, 18TH CROSS, MALLESHWARAM, BANGALORE 560003. …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI VIKAS ROJIPURA, AGA) THIS WP IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO SET ASIDE THE IMPUGNED ORDER DATED 24/11/2025 PASSED BY THE HON'BLE KARNATAKA STATE ADMINISTRATIVE TRIBUNAL, BENGALURU IN APPLICATION No.1248/2025 (ANNEXURE-A). THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR ORDERS THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S.G.PANDIT and HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE K. V. ARAVIND ORAL ORDER (PER: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S.G.PANDIT) The petitioner, a suspended Range Forest Officer of the State, is before this Court aggrieved by the order dated 24.11.2025 in Application No.1248/2025 passed by the Karnataka State Administrative Tribunal, Bengaluru (for short, - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:7065-DB WP No. 36077 of 2025 'the Tribunal') rejecting the petitioner's prayer to quash the order of suspension dated 05.04.2025 (Annexure-A9). 2. Heard Sri K. Satish, learned counsel for Sri M. Lokesh, learned counsel for the petitioner and Sri Vikas Rojipura, learned Additional Government Advocate for the respondents and perused the entire writ petition papers. 3. Both learned counsel appearing for the parties would submit that as on this date, Articles of Charge dated 28.12.2025 is issued to the petitioner. 4. The petitioner was kept under suspension by order dated 05.04.2025 of the second respondent. The said order of suspension was the subject matter of application stated above and under the impugned order dated 24.11.2025, the Tribunal observing that even after passage of 6 months, no Articles of Charge have been issued to the petitioner as mandated under Rule 10(5)(b) of KCS (CCA) Rules, 1967 (for short, 'the Rules'), remitted the matter back to the respondents-authorities for taking decision for either revoking or continuing the suspension as per the Rules. That order is challenged by the petitioner. - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:7065-DB WP No. 36077 of 2025 5. Sri K. Satish, learned counsel for the petitioner would submit that as no articles of charge were issued to the petitioner within 6 months as mandated under Rule 10(5)(b) of the Rules, the petitioner is deemed to have been reinstated by revocation of suspension. In that regard, learned counsel places reliance on the decisions of the Co-ordinate Bench of this Court in the case of the Chairman and another vs. Sri S. Purushothama and another in Writ Petition No.100773/2024 dated 04.07.2024; in the case of Sri Loknath R., vs. the State of Karnataka and another in Writ Petition No.22677/2024 dated 12.12.2024, and in the case of Sri Dattappa Talwar vs. State of Karnataka and others in Writ Petition No.44050/2015 dated 09.11.2015. 6. In S.Purushothama's case (supra), a reading of Rule 10(5)(b) of Rules, Co-ordinate Bench has observed that if Departmental Enquiry is not commenced against the delinquent Government servant or charge sheet is not filed within a period of six months from the date of suspension, the Competent Authority shall decide whether to revoke or continue suspension of such Government Servant and unless decided and ordered for continuation within the said period, suspension - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:7065-DB WP No. 36077 of 2025 shall be deemed to have been revoked. However, on the facts in the said case, it was found that the Tribunal committed an error in directing reinstatement before expiry of 6 months from the date of suspension, without noticing issuance of articles of charge. 6.1 In Dattappa's case (supra), the Co-ordinate Bench examined continuation of order of suspension by successive order dated 22.07.2015. 6.2 In R.Loknath's case (supra), the Co-ordinate Bench having come to the conclusion that in terms of Rule 10(5)(b) of the Rules, suspension comes to an end on expiry of 6 months if no charge memo is issued, directed the respondents to give posting. 7. In the instant case, during pendency of the writ petition, the State by order dated 10.12.2025, revoked the suspension and posted the petitioner as Zonal Forest Officer, Social Forest Zone, Nelamangala. However, the said order of revocation was withdrawn by another Official Memorandum dated 13.01.2026. Be that as it may. - 6 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:7065-DB WP No. 36077 of 2025 8. As on this date, the suspension against the petitioner continues. At the same time, articles of charge have been issued against the petitioner on 28.12.2025. 9. In the above circumstances, keeping in mind the above decisions referred and Rule 10(5)(b) of the Rules, the Government shall take a decision in the matter of suspension of the petitioner and to pass an appropriate order within 15 days from today. 10. With the above observation, writ petition stands disposed of. Pending interlocutory applications stand disposed of. Sd/- (S.G.PANDIT) JUDGE Sd/- (K. V. ARAVIND) JUDGE DDU/List No.: 1 Sl No.: 16