- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:10415 WP No. 24775 of 2025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 19TH DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE H.T. NARENDRA PRASAD WRIT PETITION NO. 24775 OF 2025 (S-RES) BETWEEN: 1. SRI. SHIVANANDA MALLAPPA HADAPAD AGED ABOUT 48 YEARS PEON,K.S.C.A. & R.D. BANK LTD. BRANCH OFFICE BELGAVI 1076, OLD P.B ROAD BELGAVI-590016 2. GANAGAPPA KALLAGOWDA MODAGI AGED ABOUT 48 YEARS DRIVER, K.S.C.A.& R.D. BANK LTD. BRANCH OFFICE, BELAGAVI 1076 OLD P.B ROAD, BELGAVI-590016 …PETITIONERS (BY SRI. UDAYA KUMAR R L., ADVOCATE) AND: KARNATAKA STATE CO-OPERATIVE AGRICULTURE & RURAL DEVELOPMENT BANK LTD. TIPPU SULTAN PALACE ROAD CHAMARJPET, BENGALURU-560018 REP. BY ITS MANAGING DIRECTOR …RESPONDENT (BY SRI. N AMBRISH, ADVOCATE FOR SRI. ANAND P., ADVOCATE) THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLE 226 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO ISSUE WRIT IN THE NATURE OF MANDAMUS TO THE RESPONDENT TO FIX THE PAY OF THE PETITIONERS IN MINIMUM OF PAY SCALE OF THE REGULAR PAY SCALE OF THEIR RESPECTIVE POSTS FROM THE DATE OF 01.04.2021 AS PER THEIR REPRESENTATIONS DATED 15.04.2025 PRODUCED AT ANNEXURE- L AND M AND TO EXTEND ALL THE BENEFITS EXTENDED TO THE SIMILARLY PLACED EMPLOYEES AS Digitally signed by DHANALAKSHMI MURTHY Location: HIGH COURTOF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:10415 WP No. 24775 of 2025 PER THE MEMO OF COMPLIANCE FILED IN CONTEMPT PETITION THE CCC NO.1219 OF 2023 PRODUCED AT ANNEXURE-K AND ETC. THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY HEARING IN ‘B’ GROUP, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE H.T. NARENDRA PRASAD ORAL ORDER This writ petition is filed under Articles 226 & 227 of the Constitution of India, seeking the following relief: “Issue writ in the nature of mandamus to the respondent to fix the pay of the petitioners in minimum of pay scale of the regular pay scale of their respective posts from the date of 01.04.2021 as per their representations dated 15.04.2025 produced at Annexures L and M and to extend all the benefits extended to the similarly placed employees as per the memo of compliance filed on contempt petition C.C.C.No.1219/2023 produced at Annexure-K.” 2. The petitioners were appointed on a daily-wage basis in the respondent Bank as peon and driver. They were being paid a consolidated salary. The petitioners submitted representations dated 15.04.2025, vide Annexures L and M, seeking fixation of their pay at the minimum of the scale of pay applicable to regular - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:10415 WP No. 24775 of 2025 employees of the respondent Bank. Since the representations have not been considered, they are before this Court. 3. Learned counsel appearing for the petitioners submits that, in the case of similarly situated persons who approached this Court in W.P. No.51270/2019, this Court, by order dated 08.01.2021, disposed of the matter with a direction to the respondent to consider the representation of the petitioners therein, keeping in view the judgment of the Apex Court in STATE OF PUNJAB VS. JAGJIT SINGH AND OTHERS reported in AIR 2016 SC 5176, and the order of a Co-ordinate Bench in W.P. No.11249/2015 disposed of on 09.10.2020. He also contends that in C.C.C. No.1219/2023, disposed of on 23.04.2024, the respondent filed a memo stating that all similarly situated persons had been paid the arrears of salary. In spite of that, the benefit has not been extended to the present petitioners. - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:10415 WP No. 24775 of 2025 5. In view of the above, without expressing any opinion on the merits of the case, this writ petition stands disposed of with a direction to the respondent – Bank to consider the representations of the petitioners, keeping in view the judgment of the Apex Court in JAGJIT SINGH (supra) and the order passed by a Co-ordinate Bench of this Court in W.P. No.11249/2023 disposed of on 09.10.2020, and also C.C.C. No.1219/2023 disposed of on 23.04.2024, as expeditiously as possible, and in any event, not later than three months from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. Sd/- (H.T. NARENDRA PRASAD) JUDGE CM LIST NO.: 1 SL NO.: 64