- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:9968-DB WP No. 18285 of 2025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 18TH 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. 18285 OF 2025 (S-KSAT) BETWEEN: 1. FAKEERAPPA MUDAGURI S/O YAMANAPPA, AGED ABOUT 38 YEARS, ASSISTANT TEACHER, MINORITY MORARJI DESAI RESIDENTIAL SCHOOL, SALAHALLI, RAMADURGA TALUK, BELAGAVI DISTRICT-591 130. R/O KATKOL VILLAGE, KATKOL POST-591 114, RAMADURGA TALUK, BELAGAVI DISTRICT. 2. MAILAREPPA HADIMANI S/O BHARAMAPPA, AGED ABOUT 39 YEARS, ASSISTANT TEACHER, MINORITY MORARJI DESAI RESIDENTIAL SCHOOL, BHOOVEERAPURA, HAVERI TALUK, HAVERI DISTRICT-581 110, R/O UPPUNASI VILLAGE, UPPUNASI POST-581 148, HANGAL TALUK, HAVERI DISTRICT. 3. P.G. VENKATESHA S/O G. GURUMURTHY, AGED ABOUT 36 YEARS, ASSISTANT TEACHER, Digitally signed by NANJUNDACHARI Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:9968-DB WP No. 18285 of 2025 MOULANA AZAD MODEL ENGLISH MEDIUM SCHOOL, K.R. MARKET, DAVANAGERE-577 001. R/O UJJAPPAVADEYARAHALLI VILLAGE, SIDDAYYANAKOTE POST-577 513, JAGALUR TALUK, DAVANAGERE DISTRICT. 4. RANGAPPA S/O LATE CHANDRAPPA, AGED ABOUT 42 YEARS, ASSISTANT TEACHER, A.P.J. ABDUL KALAM RESIDENTIAL SCHOOL, MELINAHANASAWADI POST, MELINAHANASAVADI-577 216, SHIMOGA TALUK, SHIMOGA DISTRICT, R/O YALODALLI VILLAGE, DAGINAKATTE POST-577 551, CHANNAGIRI TALUK, DAVANAGERE DISTRICT. 5. MADHUSUDANA N S/O NARAYANA, AGED ABOUT 35 YEARS, ASSISTANT TEACHER, MELINAHANASAWADI POST MELINAHANASAWADI-577 216, SHIMOGA TALUK, SHIMOGA DISTRICT. …PETITIONERS (BY SRI. R SHASHIDHARA, ADV.) AND: 1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT, DEPARTMENT OF MINORITIES WELFARE, HAJ AND WAKF, VIKASA SOUDHA, BANGALORE-560 001. - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:9968-DB WP No. 18285 of 2025 2. THE DIRECTOR, DIRECTORATE OF MINORITIES, NO.16C, MILLERS TANK BUND ROAD, VASANTHANAGARA, BANGALORE-560 052. 3. THE KARNATAKA PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION, UDYOG SOUDHA, BANGALORE-560 001 REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY. 4. JAYASHREE G.P, AGE MAJOR, THODARNAL, T. NULENURE POST, HOLALKERE TALUK, CHITRADURGA DISTRICT-577 557. 5. GOVINDARAJU C S/O CHIKKARANGA SHETTY, AGE MAJOR, R/O WARD NO.11, BALEPETE, YELANDUR TOWN, YELANDUR POST-571 441 YELANDUR TALUK, CHAMARAJANAGAR DISTRICT. 6. GAYATRI S W/O SIDDALINGASWAMY, AGE MAJOR, R/O BESAGARAHALLI POST, MADDUR TALUK, MANDYA DISTRICT, MANDYA-571 419. 7. NAVEENKUMAR R, AGE MAJOR, R/O NO.4, TALUK PANCHAYAT QUARTERS, SANTHEMARAHALLY, CHAMARAJANAGARA TALUK, CHAMARAJANAGARA DISTRICT-571 115. 8. NINGANAGOUDA HOSAGOUDAR, AGE MAJOR, R/O MAHANTESH NAGAR, - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:9968-DB WP No. 18285 of 2025 SALAHALLI VILLAGE, SALEHALLI POST -591 130, RAMADURG TALUK, DISTRICT BELAGAVI. 9. HUSENABHASHA MAKANDAR S/O RAFIQ AHAMMAD MAKANDAR, R/O CHADACHAN VILLAGE, CHADACHAN POST, INDI TALUK, VIJAYAPURA DISTRICT -586 205. 10. SOWMYA H.M C/O RAJASHEKHAR, AGE MAJOR, R/O SRI. SAPTHAGIRI NILAYA, NEAR RBN SCHOOL, VEDAVATHI NAGAR, HIRIYUR TALUK, CHITRADURGA DISTRICT-572 143. 11. SUNILKUMAR B.S. S/O SWAMY B.H., AGE MAJOR, R/O THUMBAKERE VILLAGE, KACCHIGERE POST-571 404, MANDYA TALUK, MANDYA DISTRICT. 12. SHARADAMMA B D/O BASAVARAJAPPA, AGE MAJOR, R/O MADHAVANAGARA, SIRA TOWN, TUMKUR DISTRICT-572 137. 13. CHANDRAPPA KAMBALI AGE MAJOR, R/O HIRELINGADAHALLI, HIRELINGADAHALLI POST, HAVERI TALUK, HAVERI DISTRICT-581 110. 14. SUDHAKARA BHOSAGE, AGE MAJOR, R/O GUNDEWADI VILLAGE, GUNDEWARI POST-591 304, ATHANI TALUK, BELAGAVI DISTRICT. 15. FARZANA AGE MAJOR, - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:9968-DB WP No. 18285 of 2025 R/O RAHIM NAGAR, NEAR SADASHIV MATH, VIJAYAPURA DISTRICT-586 102. 16. SHASHIKUMAR G S/O GAVISIDDAIAH, AGE MAJOR, R/O NO.11/256B, BAPUNAGAR, KOLLEGAL TOWN, CHAMARAJANAGAR DISTRICT-577 516. 17. SUBHASH H.G. S/O HOLEDANNDI GADIGAPPA, AGE MAJOR, R/O VASANA POST, HARIHARA TALUK, DAVANAGERE DISTRICT-577 516. 18. SIDDARAJU M AGE MAJOR, R/O NEW EXTENSION, MADDUR, YELANDUR TALUK, YELANDUR, CHAMARAJANAGAR DISTRICT-571 441. 19. MAMATHA A.R. AGE MAJOR, R/O ANABERU VILLAGE, ANABERU POST-577 534, DAVANAGERE TALUK AND DISTRICT …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI. VIKAS ROJIPURA, AGA FOR R1 & R2 SRI MOHAMMED SHAMIL, ADV. FOR R3 SRI M NARAYANA BHAT, ADV. FOR R4, R5, R7 AND R19 V/O DATED 17.10.2025 NOTICE TO R6 R8 TO R18 IS D/W) THIS PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO A) ISSUE A WRIT OF CERTIORARI OR ANY OTHER APPROPRIATE WRIT QUASHING THE ORDER PASSED BY KARNATAKA STATE ADMINISTRATIVE TRIBUNAL IN APPLICATION NOS. 1006-1010/2024 DATED 27/02/2025 AS PER ANNEXURE-A AND ETC. THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR ORDERS, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: - 6 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:9968-DB WP No. 18285 of 2025 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) Unsuccessful applicants before the Karnataka State Administrative Tribunal at Bengaluru (for short, ‘the Tribunal’) are before this Court questioning the order dated 27.02.2025 in Application Nos.1006 to 1010/2024 passed by the Tribunal, rejecting their challenge to O.M., dated 08.11.2023 – combined seniority list of the Teachers in the Minority Welfare Department, Morarji Desai Residential School as on 01.01.2023 and the endorsement dated 08.11.2023 (Annexure-A9), rejecting petitioners’ request to revise the seniority list of Teachers. 2. Heard learned counsel Sri.R.Shashidhara for petitioners, learned Additional Government Advocate Sri.Vikas Rojipura for respondent Nos.1 and 2, learned counsel Sri.Mohammed Shamil for respondent No.3 and learned counsel Sri.M.Narayana Bhat, respondent - 7 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:9968-DB WP No. 18285 of 2025 Nos.4, 5, 7 and 19. Perused the entire writ petition papers. 3. The petitioners and respondent Nos.4 to 19 are selected and appointed as Language Teachers in the Minority Welfare Department, Morarji Desai Residential Schools in pursuance to the recruitment notification of the third respondent dated 25.09.2014. The petitioners participated in the selection process along with respondents who were working in the Morarji Desai Residential Schools on contract basis. The recruitment rules i.e., the Karnataka Minorities Welfare Service (Cadre and Recruitment) Rules, 2010 (for short, ‘Rules 2010) provided weightage to the contract Teachers who participated in the selection process. At the time of selection and appointment, the selection was based on the subject-wise select list published by the third respondent – KPSC. - 8 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:9968-DB WP No. 18285 of 2025 4. The petitioners and respondents were appointed in pursuance to the selection list published in the year 2015 as well as January 2016. In the year 2015-16, petitioners and respondents were appointed and they are working as Teachers in the Morarji Desai Residential Schools. After their appointment, the second respondent – Director of Minority Welfare Department issued O.M., dated 07.02.2023 publishing combined seniority list of Teachers of Morarji Desai Residential Schools as on 01.01.2022. In the said provisional seniority list, the respondents were shown above the petitioners. As such, it is stated that the petitioners filed their objection dated 25.07.2023 to the said provisional list contending that selection of respondents were by adding weightage to their marks obtained in the competitive examination and while adding the marks, the third respondent – KPSC wrongly added percentage instead of marks and selected the respondents. - 9 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:9968-DB WP No. 18285 of 2025 5. Further, learned counsel for the petitioners would submit that subsequently, the respondents obtained combined selection list of Teachers and based on such combined selection list, the present seniority list is finalized. Learned counsel Sri.R.Shashidhara for petitioners would contend that awarding percentage instead of marks has prejudiced the case of the petitioners and by virtue of such procedure, the respondents herein have been placed above the petitioners in the combined seniority list. 6. On the other hand, learned Additional Government Advocate Sri.Vikas Rojipura as well as learned counsel Sri.M.Narayana Bhat for certain of the respondents would submit that, initially selection list and appointment was based on the subject-wise list and subsequent to their appointment also, every year subject- wise seniority list was published, whereunder the respondents were shown above the petitioners. However, it is submitted that, the petitioners failed to question the placing of respondents above them till publication of - 10 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:9968-DB WP No. 18285 of 2025 impugned seniority list. Therefore, they submit that the present challenge in the writ petition is to be dismissed solely on the ground of delay and laches. Moreover, they submit that if the method as suggested by the petitioners is followed, entire selection list has to be revised which is not permissible at this length of time and in the absence of all the selected candidates. Thus, they would pray for dismissal of the writ petition. 7. Having heard the learned counsel appearing for the parties and on perusal of the entire writ petition papers, we are not inclined to entertain the writ petition for the following reasons: The petitioners and respondents are appointed as teachers in the Morarji Desai Residential Schools in pursuance to the subject-wise selection list published on 07.01.2016. It is contended by the learned counsel for the petitioners that initially subject-wise selection list was published and subsequently the second respondent published combined selection list of teachers of all the - 11 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:9968-DB WP No. 18285 of 2025 subjects and prepared the seniority list of the teachers as on 01.01.2023. Further, it is contended that the respondents were working in Morarji Desai Residential Schools on contract basis and they were entitled to weightage of marks in the selection process. However instead of adding marks, the respondent No.3 added percentage of weightage to the respondents. As such, they have been placed above the petitioners. 8. Learned counsel for the respondents submitted that every year from the date of appointment, seniority list of teachers in each subject was published and in the said seniority list, the respondents were shown above the petitioners and the petitioners have not questioned the same. The selection and appointment is of the year 2016. The petitioners have not challenged the selection or method of awarding weightage to the respondents till the year 2024. - 12 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:9968-DB WP No. 18285 of 2025 9. It is submitted by the learned counsel for the petitioners that the petitioners are not questioning the selection of respondents; however, they are questioning the placing of respondents above petitioners in the seniority list of teachers. 10. Admittedly, the seniority list is based initially on the subject-wise selection list and subsequently on combined selection list. At the time of selection itself, the petitioners were aware of the awarding of weightage and selection of respondents on the basis of weightage. The petitioners have not questioned the selection of respondents based on the weightage either by adding marks or by adding percentage. Having kept quiet for nearly eight years, the petitioners’ challenge to the seniority list contending that awarding of weightage at the time of selection is by wrong method, cannot be accepted. If accepted, the entire selection shall have to be revised and such revision of selection list at this length of time is impermissible that too in the absence of the selected - 13 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:9968-DB WP No. 18285 of 2025 candidates before the Court. Therefore, the petitioners’ challenge to the selection of respondents on the basis of weightage and manner of awarding weightage at this length of time is liable to be rejected. 11. For the reasons recorded above, we decline to entertain the writ petition and accordingly, writ petition stands rejected. Sd/- (S.G.PANDIT) JUDGE Sd/- (K. V. ARAVIND) JUDGE NC/Bsv CT:bms