- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:17550-DB WP No. 8662 of 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 27TH DAY OF MARCH, 2026 PRESENT THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S.G.PANDIT AND THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE K. V. ARAVIND WRIT PETITION No. 8662 OF 2026 (S-KSAT) BETWEEN: 1. SRI N. M. KUMAR, S/O NARAYANA RAO, AGED ABOUT 46 YEARS, WORKING AS ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, O/O TALUK PANCHAYAT, SHIKARIPURA, SHIVAMOGGA DISTRICT-577422, R/AT C/O NARAYANASWAMY, MARAMMA TEMPLE ROAD, SHIKARIPURA TOWN, SHIVAMOGGA DISTRICT-577427. …PETITIONER (BY SRI MARUTHI S., ADVOCATE) AND: 1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA, REPRESENTED BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY, DEPARTMENT OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT AND PANCHAYAT RAJ, M.S. BUILDINGS, DR. B.R. AMBEDKAR VEEDHI, BENGALURU - 560001. 2. THE DISCIPLINARY AUTHORITY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, Digitally signed by VINUTHA B S Location: High Court of Karnataka - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:17550-DB WP No. 8662 of 2026 ZILLA PANCHAYATH, UTTARA KANNADA, KARAWARA DISTRICT, KARAWARA-581301. 3. THE ENQUIRY OFFICER AND DEPUTY DIRECTOR, SOCIAL WELFARE OFFICE, UTTARA KANNADA DISTRICT, KARAWRA-581301. …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI V. SHIVAREDDY, AGA FOR R1 AND R3) THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO QUASHING THE ORDER DATED 03/02/2026 PASSED BY THE HON'BLE KARNATAKA STATE ADMINISTRATIVE TRIBUNAL, BENGALURU IN APPLICATION No.1088/2025. THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY HEARING, 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 - unsuccessful applicant in Application No.1088/2025 is before this Court impugning the order dated 03.02.2026 passed by the Karnataka State Administrative Tribunal, Bengaluru (for short 'Tribunal') rejecting the challenge to the order of penalty dated 11.02.2025 (Annexure A10) imposing the punishment of withholding of two annual - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:17550-DB WP No. 8662 of 2026 increments without cumulative effect in exercise of power under Rule 8(iii) of the Karnataka Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules, 1957 [for short 'KCS (CCA) Rules]. 2. Heard Sri S. Maruthi, learned counsel for the petitioner through video conferencing and Sri V. Shivareddy, learned Additional Government Advocate for respondent Nos.1 and 3 and perused the writ petition papers. 3. Learned counsel for the petitioner would submit that the petitioner was issued with articles of charge dated 30.06.2023 and thereafter the Enquiry Officer conducted enquiry without proper notice of enquiry on the petitioner. 3.1 Learned counsel for the petitioner would submit that the enquiry conducted by the petitioner is in total violation of the principles of natural justice and only one notice of enquiry was served on the petitioner. Learned counsel contended that on the said date, the enquiry was not conducted and no further date was also assigned. Therefore, he submits that a subsequent notice indicating the date was necessary and non- issuance of such notice has resulted in violation of principles of - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:17550-DB WP No. 8662 of 2026 natural justice, in that the petitioner was unable to participate in the enquiry proceedings. 3.2 Learned counsel would submit that there is no proper opportunity to the petitioner before the Enquiry Officer. The Enquiry Officer proceeded to examine witnesses on behalf of the Disciplinary Authority and without discussing any evidence, has come to the conclusion that the petitioner has misconducted himself and charges are proved. Learned counsel would submit that the material on record is not sufficient to hold the petitioner guilty of the charges. 4. Per contra, learned additional Government Advocate would point out that for the proved misconduct, the petitioner has been imposed with minor punishment of withholding of two annual increments without cumulative effect. Further, learned Additional Government Advocate would submit that the proved charge warranted major penalty however, taking a lenient view, the petitioner was imposed with minor punishment. Thus, he would pray for dismissal of the writ petition. - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:17550-DB WP No. 8662 of 2026 5. Considering the submissions of learned counsel for the parties and on perusal of the entire material on record, we are not inclined to interfere with the impugned order passed by the Tribunal. A perusal of the material on record would indicate that for the proved misconduct, the petitioner is imposed with minor punishment of withholding of 2 annual increments without cumulative effect under the impugned order dated 11.02.2025. The charges against the petitioner read as follows; "²æà J£ï.JA.PÀĪÀiÁgÀ, ¸ÀºÁAiÀÄPÀ ¤zÉÃð±ÀPÀgÀÄ(UÁæ.G.), vÁ®ÆPÀÄ ¥ÀAZÁAiÀÄvÀ ºÀ½AiÀiÁ¼À EªÀgÀ «gÀÄzÀÞ ºÉÆj¸À¯ÁzÀ ¸ÀĸÀàµÀÖ ºÁUÀÆ ¤¢ðµÀÖ zÉÆõÁgÉÆÃ¥ÀuÉUÀ¼À ¥ÀnÖ. DgÉÆÃ¥À-1 ²æà J£ï.JA.PÀĪÀiÁgÀ, ¸ÀºÁAiÀÄPÀ ¤zÉÃð±ÀPÀgÀÄ(UÁæ.G.). vÁ®ÆPÀÄ ¥ÀAZÁAiÀÄvÀ, ºÀ½AiÀiÁ¼À DzÀ ¤ÃªÀÅ £ÀgÉÃUÁ AiÉÆÃd£ÉAiÀÄrAiÀÄ°è ºÀ½AiÀiÁ¼À vÁ®ÆQ£À 11 PÁªÀÄUÁjUÀ¼À bÁAiÀiÁavÀæUÀ¼À/NMRUÀ¼À ¥ÉÊQ PÉêÀ® 6 NMR UÀ¼À£ÀÄß NMMS App £À°è C¼ÀªÀr¹zÀÄÝ EgÀÄvÀÛzÉ. ¸À¢æ «µÀAiÀĪÁV ¸ÀA¥ÀÆtðUÉÆAqÀ PÁªÀÄUÁjUÀ¼À£ÀÄß vÀAvÁæA±ÀzÀ°è C¼ÀªÀr¸À®Ä CªÀPÁ±À«zÀÝgÀÆ ¸ÀºÀ C¢üPÁj/¹§âA¢UÀ½UÉ ¸ÀºÀPÁgÀ ¤ÃqÀĪÀ°è «¥sÀ®gÁVgÀÄwÛÃj. ¸ÀPÁðgÀzÀ ªÀĺÀvÁéPÁAPÉëAiÀÄ MGNREGA AiÉÆÃd£ÉAiÀÄ C£ÀĵÁ×£ÀzÀ dªÁ¨ÁÝjAiÀÄÄvÀ ºÀÄzÉÝAiÀÄ°è PÀvÀðªÀå ¤ªÀð»¸ÀÄwÛgÀĪÀ ¤ÃªÀÅ UÁæªÀÄ ¥ÀAZÁAiÀÄwUÉ ¨sÉÃn ¤ÃqÀzÉà ¤UÀ¢¥Àr¹zÀ UÀÄjAiÀÄ£ÀÄß ¸Á¢ü¸ÀzÉà ¸ÀPÁðgÀzÀ AiÉÆÃd£ÉAiÀÄ°è ¥ÀæUÀw ¸Á¢ü¸À®Ä «¥sÀ®gÁV. ¸ÀPÁðj £ËPÀgÀjUÉ vÀgÀªÀ®èzÀ jÃw, PÀvÀðªÀå¯ÉÆÃ¥ÀªÉ¸ÀV PÀ£ÁðlPÀ £ÁUÀjÃPÀ ¸ÉêÁ (£ÀqÀvÉ) ¤AiÀĪÀÄUÀ¼ÀÄ 3(1)(ii), 3(5)(x) C£ÀÄß - 6 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:17550-DB WP No. 8662 of 2026 G®èAX¹, PÀ£ÁðlPÀ ¹«¯ï ¸ÉêÁ (ªÀVÃðPÀgÀt, ¤AiÀÄAvÀæt ªÀÄvÀÄÛ C¦Ã®Ä) ¤AiÀĪÀÄUÀ¼ÀÄ, 1957 gÀ ¤AiÀĪÀÄ 8 gÀ£ÀéAiÀÄ ¤ÃªÀÅ ²¸ÀÄÛ PÀæªÀÄPÉÌ §zÀÞgÁVgÀÄwÛÃj. DgÉÆÃ¥À-2 ²æà J£ï.JA.PÀĪÀiÁgÀ, ¸ÀºÁAiÀÄPÀ ¤zÉÃð±ÀPÀgÀÄ(UÁæ.G.), vÁ®ÆPÀÄ ¥ÀAZÁAiÀÄvÀ. ºÀ½AiÀiÁ¼À DzÀ ¤ÃªÀÅ G¥ÀPÁAiÀÄðzÀ²ð (C©üªÀÈ¢Þ), f¯Áè ¥ÀAZÁAiÀÄvÀ GvÀÛgÀ PÀ£ÀßqÀ, PÁgÀªÁgÀ gÀªÀgÀÄ ¢£ÁAPÀ 9-5-2022 gÀAzÀÄ ºÀ½AiÀiÁ¼À vÁ®ÆPÀÄ ¥ÀAZÁAiÀÄvÀ ªÁå¦ÛAiÀÄ UÁæªÀÄ ¥ÀAZÁAiÀÄvÀUÀ½UÉ ¨sÉÃn ¤ÃqÀÄwÛgÀĪÀÅzÁV ªÀÄÄAavÀªÁV w½¹zÀgÀÆ ¸ÀºÀ ¸À¢æ «µÀAiÀĪÀ£ÀÄß UÀA©üÃgÀªÁV ¥ÀjUÀt¸ÀzÉà ªÉÄïÁ¢üPÁjUÀ¼À ¨sÉÃnAiÀÄ ¸ÀAzÀ¨sÀðzÀ°è ¤ÃªÀÅ ºÁdgÀÄ EgÀĪÀÅ¢®è. ªÉÄïÁ¢üPÁjUÀ¼À ¤zÉÃð±À£ÀªÀ£ÀÄß ¥Á°¸ÀzÉÃ, ¸ÀPÁðj £ËPÀgÀjUÉ vÀgÀªÀ®èzÀ jÃwAiÀÄ°è ªÀwð¹ PÀvÀðªÀå ¯ÉÆÃ¥ÀªÉ¸ÀV PÀ£ÁðlPÀ £ÁUÀjÃPÀ ¸ÉêÁ (£ÀqÀvÉ) ¤AiÀĪÀÄUÀ¼ÀÄ 3(1)(ii)(iii) C£ÀÄß G®èAX¹ PÀ£ÁðlPÀ ¹«¯ï ¸ÉêÁ (ªÀVÃðPÀgÀt, ¤AiÀÄAvÀæt ªÀÄvÀÄÛ C¦Ã®Ä) ¤AiÀĪÀÄUÀ¼ÀÄ, 1957 gÀ ¤AiÀĪÀÄ 8 gÀ£ÀéAiÀÄ ¤ÃªÀÅ ²¸ÀÄÛ PÀæªÀÄPÉÌ §zÀÞgÁVgÀÄwÛÃj, DgÉÆÃ¥À-3 ²æà J£ï.JA.PÀĪÀiÁgÀ, ¸ÀºÁAiÀÄPÀ ¤zÉÃð±ÀPÀgÀÄ(UÁæ.G.). vÁ®ÆPÀÄ ¥ÀAZÁAiÀÄvÀ. ºÀ½AiÀiÁ¼À DzÀ ¤ÃªÀÅ 2022-23 ¸Á°£À DyðPÀ ªÀµÁAðvÀå EgÀĪÀÅzÀjAzÀ. J®è AiÉÆÃd£ÉUÀ¼À ¤UÀ¢vÀ ¥ÀæUÀw ¸Á¢ü¸À¨ÉÃPÁVgÀĪÀÅzÀjAzÀ ªÀÄvÀÄÛ ZÀÄ£ÁªÀuÉUÉ ¸ÀA§A¢ü¹zÀAvÉ ªÀiÁ»w ¤ÃqÀ¨ÉÃPÁVgÀĪÀÅzÀjAzÀ vÁ®ÆQ£À J¯Áè UÁæªÀÄ ¥ÀAZÁAiÀÄw ºÁUÀÆ vÁ®ÆPÀÄ ¥ÀAZÁAiÀÄvÀ C¢üPÁj/¹§âA¢AiÀĪÀgÀÄ PÉÃAzÀæ ¸ÁÜ£ÀzÀ°èzÀÄÝ, gÀeÁ ¢£ÀUÀ¼ÀAzÀÄ PÀvÀðªÀå ¤ªÀð»¸ÀĪÀAvÉ DzÉñÀ ºÉÆgÀr¹zÀÝgÀÆ ¤ÃªÀÅ ªÉÄïÁ¢üPÁjUÀ¼À DzÉñÀªÀ£ÀÄß ¥Á°¸ÀzÉà ¢£ÁAPÀ:11-2-2023 gÀAzÀÄ PÉÃAzÀæ¸ÁÜ£ÀzÀ°è EgÀzÉà PÀbÉÃjUÀÆ ¸ÀºÀ §A¢gÀĪÀÅ¢®è. ªÉÄïÁ¢üPÁjUÀ¼À DzÉñÀªÀ£ÀÄß ¥Á°¸ÀzÉÃ, PÀbÉÃjAiÀÄ°è ºÁdj®èzÉà ¸ÀPÁðj £ËPÀgÀjUÉ vÀgÀªÀ®èzÀ jÃw PÀvÀðªÀå ¯ÉÆÃ¥ÀªÉ¸ÀV PÀ£ÁðlPÀ £ÁUÀjÃPÀ ¸ÉêÁ (£ÀqÀvÉ) ¤AiÀĪÀÄUÀ¼ÀÄ 3(1)(i)(ii) C£ÀÄß G®èAX¹ PÀ£ÁðlPÀ ¹«¯ï ¸ÉêÁ (ªÀVÃðPÀgÀt, ¤AiÀÄAvÀæt ªÀÄvÀÄÛ C¦Ã®Ä) - 7 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:17550-DB WP No. 8662 of 2026 ¤AiÀĪÀÄUÀ¼ÀÄ, 1957 gÀ ¤AiÀĪÀÄ 8 gÀ£ÀéAiÀÄ ¤ÃªÀÅ ²µÀÖ PÀæªÀÄPÉÌ §zÀÞgÁVgÀÄwÛÃj. DgÉÆÃ¥À-4 ²æà J£ï.JA.PÀĪÀiÁgÀ, ¸ÀºÁAiÀÄPÀ ¤zÉÃð±ÀPÀgÀÄ(UÁæ.G.) vÁ®ÆPÀÄ ¥ÀAZÁAiÀÄvÀ, ºÀ½AiÀiÁ¼À DzÀ ¤ÃªÀÅ ¢£ÁAPÀ:23-5-2023 gÀAzÀÄ GvÀÛgÀPÀ£ÀßqÀ f¯Áè ¥ÀAZÁAiÀÄvÀ AiÉÆÃd£Á ¤zÉÃð±ÀPÀgÀÄ (r.Dgï.r.J) gÀªÀgÀ CzsÀåPÀëvÉAiÀÄ°è £ÀqÉzÀ ¥ÀæUÀw ¥Àj²Ã®£Á «rAiÉÆà ¸ÀAªÁzÀ ¸À¨sÉUÉ AiÀiÁªÀÅzÉà ¥ÀƪÁð£ÀĪÀÄw ¥ÀqÉAiÀÄzÉà ¤®ðPÀëvÀ£À¢AzÀ UÉÊgÀÄ ºÁdgÁVgÀÄwÛÃj. C®èzÉà ªÉÆzÀ®£Éà PÁgÀt PÉüÀĪÀ £ÉÆÃn¸ïUÉ GvÀÛgÀ ¸À°è¹gÀĪÀÅ¢®è. F §UÉÎ ¤ªÀÄUÉ 2 £Éà PÁgÀt PÉüÀĪÀ £ÉÆÃn£ï eÁj ªÀiÁrzÁÝUÀÆå ¸À¨sÉAiÀÄ ¢£ÁAPÀ ¤¢ðµÀÖªÁV w½¸ÀzÀ PÁgÀt ¸À¨sÉUÉ ºÁdgÁV®è JAzÀÄ ºÁjPÉ GvÀÛgÀ ¤ÃrzÀÄÝ ºÁUÀÆ ¸À¢æ ¸À¨sÉAiÀÄ ¥ÀvÀæ vÀ£ÀUÉ vÀ®Ä¦gÀĪÀÅ¢®è JAzÀÄ C¸ÀªÀÄ¥ÀðPÀ GvÀÛgÀ ¤ÃrgÀÄwÛÃj. F ªÀÄÆ®PÀ ªÉÄïÁ¢üPÁjUÀ½UÉ CUËgÀªÀ vÉÆÃj¹ C«zsÉÃAiÀÄvɬÄAzÀ £ÀqÉzÀÄPÉÆAqÀÄ zÀÄ£ÀðqÀvÉ J¸ÀV, PÀ£ÁðlPÀ £ÁUÀjPÀ ¸ÉêÁ (£ÀqÀvÉ) ¤AiÀĪÀÄUÀ¼ÀÄ 1966 gÀ ¤AiÀĪÀÄ 3(1)(i)(ii) ªÀÄvÀÄÛ 3(5)(x), 3(7) UÀ¼À£ÀÄß G®èAX¹, PÀ£ÁðlPÀ ¹«¯ï ¸ÉêÁ (ªÀVÃðPÀgÀt, ¤AiÀÄAvÀæt ªÀÄvÀÄÛ C¦Ã®Ä) ¤AiÀĪÀÄUÀ¼ÀÄ 1957 gÀ ¤AiÀĪÀÄ 8 gÀ£ÀéAiÀÄ ²¸ÀÄÛ PÀæªÀÄPÉÌ §zÀÞgÁVgÀÄwÛÃj; DgÉÆÃ¥À-5 ²æà J£ï.JA.PÀĪÀiÁgÀ, ¸ÀºÁAiÀÄPÀ ¤zÉÃð±ÀPÀgÀÄ (UÁæ.G.), vÁ®ÆPÀÄ ¥ÀAZÁAiÀÄvÀ, ºÀ½AiÀiÁ¼À DzÀ ¤ÃªÀÅ ºÀªÀV UÁæªÀÄ ¥ÀAZÁAiÀÄvÀ£À CzsÀåPÀëgÀÄ ºÁUÀÆ ¸ÀzÀ¸ÀågÉÆA¢UÉ PÁªÀÄUÁjUÀ¼À C£ÀĵÁ×£ÀzÀ «µÀAiÀÄUÀ¼À §UÉÎ ZÀað¸À®Ä ¢£ÁAPÀ:12-6-2023 gÀAzÀÄ ¤UÀ¢AiÀiÁzÀ ¸À¨sÉUÉ ºÁdjgÀ®Ä ªÀÄÄAavÀªÁV ¸ÀÆa¹zÀÝgÀÆ ¸À¨sÉUÉ UÉÊgÀÄ ºÁdgÁVgÀÄwÛÃj. C®èzÉà ªÉÄðAzÀ ªÉÄÃ¯É ¸À¨sÉ ¸ÀªÀiÁgÀA¨sÀUÀ½UÀÆ UÉÊgÀÄ ºÁdgÁVgÀÄwÛÃj. ¸ÀPÁðgÀzÀ ªÀĺÀvÁéPÁAPÉëAiÀÄ MGNREGA AiÉÆÃd£ÉAiÀÄ C£ÀĵÁ×£ÀzÀ dªÁ¨ÁÝjAiÀÄÄvÀ ºÀÄzÉÝAiÀÄ°è PÀvÀðªÀå ¤ÃªÀð»¸ÀÄwÛgÀĪÀ ¤ÃªÀÅ ªÉÄïÁ¢üPÁjUÀ¼À DzÉñÀªÀ£ÀÄß ¥Á°¸ÀzÉà - 8 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:17550-DB WP No. 8662 of 2026 C«zsÉÃAiÀÄvÉ vÉÆÃj¸ÀĪÀ ªÀÄÆ®PÀ ¸ÀPÁðj £ËPÀgÀjUÉ vÀgÀªÀ®èzÀ ªÀvÀð£É vÉÆÃj¹, PÀvÀðªÀå¯ÉÆÃ¥ÀªÉ¸ÀV PÀ£ÁðlPÀ £ÁUÀjÃPÀ ¸ÉêÁ (£ÀqÀvÉ) ¤AiÀĪÀÄUÀ¼ÀÄ 3(1)(ii), 3(5)(x) C£ÀÄß G®èAX¹ PÀ£ÁðlPÀ ¹«¯ï ¸ÉêÁ (ªÀVÃðPÀgÀt, ¤AiÀÄAvÀæt ªÀÄvÀÄÛ C¦Ã®Ä) ¤AiÀĪÀÄUÀ¼ÀÄ, 1957 gÀ ¤AiÀĪÀÄ 8 gÀ£ÀéAiÀÄ ¤ÃªÀÅ ²¸ÀÄÛ PÀæªÀÄPÉÌ §zÀÞgÁVgÀÄwÛÃj." 6. The charge against the petitioner is improper implementation of MGNREGA scheme and also remaining absent on 23.05.2023 to the Progress Review Meeting for verification of the progress or development. The records would show that the petitioner was issued with notices to attend the enquiry, which are placed on record as Annexure A4-dated 31.07.2023, Annexure A5 - dated 11.08.2023 and Annexure A6 series dated 09.08.2023 and 26.09.2023. Though notices have been issued through the Drawing Officer, the petitioner has failed to appear before the Enquiry Officer. Before the Enquiry Officer, the Disciplinary Authority examined five witnesses and the Enquiry Officer on going through the evidence has held that the petitioner has acted in an unbecoming of a government servant and disobeyed the orders of the higher officers, thus misconducted himself. The petitioner was issued the second show cause notice along with the enquiry report, to which, he submitted his reply Annexure-A9 dated 18.04.2024. The - 9 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:17550-DB WP No. 8662 of 2026 Disciplinary Authority by a detailed order has imposed minor punishment of withholding of 2 annual increments without cumulative effect. 7. In our view, there is no irregularity in the conduct of the enquiry and the charges are proved. Based on the proved charge, the Disciplinary Authority has imposed minor punishment, which needs no interference. There is no merit in the writ petition and accordingly stands rejected. Sd/- (S.G.PANDIT) JUDGE Sd/- (K. V. ARAVIND) JUDGE MV List No.: 1 Sl No.: 24