- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC-D:2415-DB WP No. 101165 of 2025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA, AT DHARWAD DATED THIS THE 17TH DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2026 PRESENT THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE M.I.ARUN AND THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE B. MURALIDHARA PAI WRIT PETITION NO. 101165 OF 2025 (S-KAT) BETWEEN: 1. THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR (ADMINISTRATION), COMMISSIONER OFFICE, PUBLIC EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, RODDA ROAD, DHARWAD-580 008. 2. THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION, SIRSI, TAL: SIRSI, SIRSI EDUCATION DISTRICT, UTTARA KANNADA DISTRICT-581 402. 3. BLOCK EDUCATION OFFICER, SIRSI, SIRSI EDUCATION DISTRICT, TAL: SIRSI, DIST: UTTARA KANNADA-581 402. - PETITIONERS (BY SRI G.K. HIREGOUDAR, P.G.A) AND: SRI KUMAR DHARSHAN GOPAL NAIK, S/O DECEASED SMT. SHARADA M. NAIK, AGED ABOUT 23 YEARS, NOW WORKING AS D-GROUP ASSISTANT, BLOCK CO-ORDINATE OFFICE (B.R.C.), SIRSI, SIRSI EDUCATION DISTRICT, TALUK: SIRSI, UTTARA KANNADA-581 402. - RESPONDENT (BY SRI LAXMESH P. MUTAGUPPE, ADVOCATE FOR SRI CHANDRASHEKHAR P. MUTAGUPPE, SRI SANGAMESH S. GHULAPPANAVAR, ADVOCATES) Digitally signed by V N BADIGER Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA DHARWAD BENCH - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC-D:2415-DB WP No. 101165 of 2025 THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA, PRAYING TO QUASH THE IMPUGNED ORDER PASSED BY THE KARNATAKA STATE ADMINISTRATIVE TRIBUNAL, BELAGAVI BENCH IN APPLICATION NO.10060/2023 DATED 08.01.2024 VIDE ANNEXURE-A & ETC. THIS PETITION IS COMING ON FOR ORDERS, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE M.I.ARUN AND THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE B. MURALIDHARA PAI ORAL ORDER (PER: THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE M.I.ARUN) Aggrieved by the order passed in Application No. 10060/2023 by the Karnataka State Administrative Tribunal, Belagavi Bench (for short, the ‘Tribunal’) dated 08.01.2024, the present writ petition is filed by the State. 2. Mother of respondent was working as an assistant teacher in a Government Primary School. She died in harness on 17.06.2019. Immediately thereafter the respondent applied for a government post on compassionate grounds on 21.05.2020. The respondent appeared in the Second P.U.C. examination conducted in the academic year 2019-2020 and has passed the same subsequently. However due to delay in conducting of examination and announcement of results due to COVID-19, the - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC-D:2415-DB WP No. 101165 of 2025 results of the respondent for second P.U.C was not yet announced as on the date of the respondent making his application for compassionate appointment. 3. The State has considered the qualification of the respondent as that of S.S.L.C. on the date of making the application and has appointed him to Group-D post on 15.02.2021. The respondent accepted the same. Thereafter on 17.09.2021 the State has issued a Circular which reads as under: PÀ£ÁðlPÀ ¸ÀPÁðgÀ ¸ÀASÉå:¹D¸ÀÄJ 76 ¸Éä© 2020 PÀ£ÁðlPÀ ¸ÀPÁðgÀzÀ ¸ÀaªÁ®AiÀÄ, «zsÁ£À¸ËzsÀ, ¨ÉAUÀ¼ÀÆgÀÄ, ¢£ÁAPÀ: 17.09.2021 ¸ÀÄvÉÆÛÃ¯É «µÀAiÀÄ: PÉÆëqï-19 ¸ÁAPÁæ«ÄPÀzÀ PÁgÀt «¢ü¹zÀ ¯ÁPïqË£ï »£É߯ÉAiÀÄ°è ¥ÀjÃPÁë ¥sÀ°vÁA±ÀUÀ¼ÀÄ «¼ÀA§ªÁzÀ ¥ÀæPÀgÀtUÀ¼À°è C£ÀÄPÀA¥ÀzÀ DzsÁgÀzÀ ªÉÄÃ¯É £ÉêÀÄPÁwUÁV CfðzÁgÀgÀ «zÁåºÀðvÉ ¥ÀjUÀt¸ÀĪÀ §UÉÎ ¸ÀÆZÀ£ÉUÀ¼ÀÄ. ******** PÀ£ÁðlPÀ ¹«¯ï ¸ÉêÁ (C£ÀÄPÀA¥ÀzÀ DzsÁgÀzÀ ªÉÄÃ¯É £ÉêÀÄPÁw) ¤AiÀĪÀÄUÀ¼ÀÄ, 1996 gÀ ¤AiÀĪÀÄ 4(3) ªÀÄvÀÄÛ 4(4) gÀ°è £ÉêÀÄPÁwUÁV CUÀvÀå «zÁåºÀðvÉ §UÉÎ w½¸À¯ÁVzÉ. CzÀgÀ C£ÀĸÁgÀ J¸ï.J¸ï.J¯ï.¹ «zÁåºÀðvÉ ºÉÆA¢zÀÝ°è CxÀªÁ ºÉÆAzÀzÉà EzÀÝ°èAiÀÄÆ ¸ÀºÀ UÀÆæ¥ï ‘r' ºÀÄzÉÝUÉ C£ÀÄPÀA¥ÀzÀ DzsÁgÀzÀ ªÉÄÃ¯É £ÉêÀÄPÁw ªÀiÁqÀ®Ä CªÀPÁ±À PÀ°à¸À¯ÁVzÉ. ¥ÀzÀ«¥ÀǪÀð (¦.AiÀÄÄ.¹.) CxÀªÁ vÀvÀìªÀiÁ£À «zÁåºÀðvÉ ºÉÆA¢zÀÝ°è UÀÆæ¥ï ‘¹' ªÀÈAzÀzÀ ¢éwÃAiÀÄ zÀeÉð ¸ÀºÁAiÀÄPÀ / QjAiÀÄ ¸ÀºÁAiÀÄPÀ ºÀÄzÉÝUÉ £ÉêÀÄPÀ ªÀiÁqÀ§ºÀÄzÁVzÉ. - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC-D:2415-DB WP No. 101165 of 2025 PÉÆëqï 19 gÀ ¸ÁAPÁæ«ÄPÀzÀ ¥ÀæAiÀÄÄPÀÛ zÉñÁzÀåAvÀ ¯ÁPïqË£ï WÉÆõÀuÉ ªÀiÁrzÀ PÁgÀt 2019-2020 £Éà ¸Á°£À°è ¥ÀzÀ«¥ÀǪÀð (¦.AiÀÄÄ.¹.) ¥ÀjÃPÁë ¥sÀ°vÁA±À ¥ÀæPÀluÉAiÀÄ°è «¼ÀA§ªÁVgÀÄvÀÛzÉ. ¸ÀPÁðj £ËPÀgÀ£ÀÄ ¸ÉêÉAiÀÄ°ègÀĪÁUÀ¯Éà ªÀÄÈvÀ¥ÀnÖzÀÄÝ, 1996 gÀ ¤AiÀĪÀÄUÀ¼À£ÀéAiÀÄ DvÀ£À CªÀ®A©vÀgÀ°è M§âgÀÄ ¤UÀ¢vÀ PÁ¯ÁªÀ¢üAiÀÄ°è Cfð ¸À°è¹zÀÝ ¥ÀPÀëzÀ°è ºÁUÀÆ CAvÀºÀ CªÀ®A©vÀ ªÀåQÛAiÀÄ ¥ÀzÀ«¥ÀǪÀð (¦.AiÀÄÄ.¹) ªÀjÃPÁë ¥sÀ°vÁA±À ¥ÀæPÀluÉAiÀÄÄ 2019-20£Éà ¸Á°£À PÁgÀt¢AzÀ «¼ÀA§ªÁVzÀÝ°è CAvÀºÀ ¥ÀæPÀgÀtUÀ¼À£ÀÄß «±ÉõÀ ¥ÀæPÀgÀtUÀ¼ÉAzÀÄ ¥ÀjUÀt¹ 2019-2020£Éà ¸Á°£À°è «¼ÀA§ªÁV ¥ÀæPÀlUÉÆAqÀ ¥ÀzÀ«¥ÀǪÀð (¦.AiÀÄÄ.¹,) ¥ÀjÃPÁë ¥sÀ°vÁA±ÀªÀ£ÀÄß UÀt£ÉUÉ vÉUÉzÀÄPÉÆAqÀÄ C£ÀÄPÀA¥ÀzÀ DzsÁgÀzÀ ªÉÄÃ¯É £ÉêÀÄPÁw ªÀiÁqÀĪÀAvÉ J¯Áè. ¸ÀPÀëªÀÄ ¥Áæ¢üPÁgÀ/£ÉêÀÄPÁw ¥Áæ¢üPÁgÀUÀ½UÉ ¸ÀÆa¸À¯ÁVzÉ. (vÉÃeÁªÀw.J¸ï.) ¸ÀPÁðgÀzÀ C¢üãÀ PÁAiÀÄðzÀ²ð, ¹§âA¢ ªÀÄvÀÄÛ DqÀ½vÀ ¸ÀÄzsÁgÀuÉ E¯ÁSÉ (¸ÉêÁ ¤AiÀĪÀÄUÀ¼ÀÄ-ªÀ±ÉõÀ PÉÆñÀ). 4. On the strength of the said Circular the respondent has made a representation dated 21.09.2022 requesting to be appointed to Group-C post. The same has been rejected by the State by an endorsement dated 02.02.2022. Aggrieved by the same, respondent preferred Application No. 10060/2023 wherein the Tribunal Has held that the circular dated 17.09.2021 (Annexure-A7) creates a right in favour of the respondent and has allowed the application. Aggrieved by the same the present writ petition is filed. - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC-D:2415-DB WP No. 101165 of 2025 5. The case of the State is that as per Rule 6(4) of the Karnataka Civil Services Appointment on Compassionate Rules, 1996 (for short, the ‘Rules’) appointment once made is final and no fresh appointment to a different post or higher post under the Rules are permissible. It is submitted that the impugned order passed by the Tribunal is in violation of the same. It is submitted that once the respondent accepted a Group-D post, he is not entitled to request or demand for being posted to a higher post. Rule 6 (4) reads as under: Rule - 6. Appointment by the Competent Authority :- (4) Appointment once made under these rules shall be final and no fresh appointment to a different post or higher post under these rules shall be permissible. 6. Under normal circumstances, once the respondent accepts a posting given on compassionate grounds under the Rules, by virtue of Rule 6(4), he cannot seek for fresh appointment to a different post or higher post. However what is required to be examined is, whether the circular dated 17.09.2021 created any right in favour of the respondent herein. - 6 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC-D:2415-DB WP No. 101165 of 2025 7. The circular dated 17.09.2021 pertains to candidates seeking appointment on compassionate grounds, who have passed P.U.C in the academic year 2019-2020. The said Circular has been further clarified in another Circular dated 02.12.2022 which reads as under: “PÉÆëqï 19gÀ ¸ÁAPÁæ«ÄPÀzÀ ¥ÀæAiÀÄÄPÀÛ ¯ÁPïqË£ï WÉÆõÀuÉ ªÀiÁrzÀ PÁgÀt, 2020-21 £Éà ±ÉÊPÀëtÂPÀ ¸Á°£À°è ¥ÀzÀ«¥ÀǪÀð (¦AiÀÄĹ), r¥ÉÇèªÀiÁ, ¥ÀzÀ«, EAf¤AiÀÄjAUï ºÁUÀÆ E¤ßvÀgÉ vÀvÀìªÀiÁ£À «zÁåºÀðvÉUÀ¼À ¥sÀ°vÁA±À ¥ÀæPÀluÉAiÀÄ°è «¼ÀA§ªÁVgÀÄvÀÛzÉ. ¸ÀPÁðj £ËPÀgÀgÀÄ ¸ÉêÉAiÀÄ°ègÀĪÁUÀ¯Éà ªÀÄÈvÀ¥ÀnÖzÀÄÝ, 1996gÀ ¤AiÀĪÀÄUÀ¼À£ÀéAiÀÄ DvÀ£À CªÀ®A©vÀgÀ°è M§âgÀÄ ¤UÀ¢vÀ PÁ®«ÄwAiÀÄ°è Cfð ¸À°è¹zÀÝ ¥ÀPÀëzÀ°è ºÁUÀÆ CAvÀºÀ CªÀ®A©vÀ C¨sÀåyðAiÀÄ ¸ÀzÀj «zÁåºÀðvÉUÀ¼À ¥ÀjÃPÁë ¥sÀ°vÁA±À ¥ÀæPÀluÉAiÀÄÄ 2020-21£Éà ¸Á°£À°è PÉÆëqï-19gÀ PÁgÀt¢AzÀ «¼ÀA§ªÁVzÀÝ°è CAvÀºÀ ¥ÀæPÀgÀtUÀ¼À£ÀÄß «±ÉõÀ ¥ÀæPÀgÀtUÀ¼ÉAzÀÄ ¥ÀjUÀt¹, «¼ÀA§ªÁV ¥ÀæPÀlUÉÆAqÀ ¸ÀzÀj «zÁåºÀðvÉUÀ¼À ¥sÀ°vÁA±ÀªÀ£ÀÄß UÀt£ÉUÉ vÉUÉzÀÄPÉÆAqÀÄ C£ÀÄPÀA¥ÀzÀ DzsÁgÀzÀ ªÉÄÃ¯É £ÉêÀÄPÁw ªÀiÁqÀĪÀAvÉ J¯Áè ¸ÀPÀëªÀÄ/£ÉêÀÄPÁw ¥Áæ¢üPÁgÀUÀ½UÉ ¸ÀÆa¸À¯ÁVzÉ.” 8. In the instant case also, the respondent has passed P.U.C. in the academic year 2019-2020. There has been a delay in conducting and announcement of P.U.C. result for the academic year 2019-2020 due to COVID-19 and the Circulars dated 17.09.2021 (Annexure-A7) and 02.12.2022 (Annexure-A13) pertains to compassionate appointment for persons who have passed P.U.C. in the academic year 2019-2020 and who have - 7 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC-D:2415-DB WP No. 101165 of 2025 been hampered due to delay in the result. It envisages a situation in respect of those candidates whose P.U.C. results for the academic year 2019-20 has to be considered and they have to be given compassionate appointment accordingly. 9. Under normal circumstances, the results of Second Year P.U.C. would have been announced prior to the date on which the petitioner made his application for compassionate appointment. This fact is not disputed either by the state or the respondent. The respondent was forced to claim compassionate appointment on the ground he has passed only S.S.L.C. as P.U.C. examination results were not yet announced. Based on the same, the respondent has been given a Group-D appointment. Thereafter the Government taking into consideration the cases as that of the respondent herein has come out with the Circulars at Annexure-A7 and Annexure-A13, the benefit of which has to be accorded to the respondent. The said Circulars for that particular year create an exception to Rule 6(4) of the Rules. Taking this fact into consideration the Tribunal has allowed the Application. We do not find any error in the same. For the said reason the writ petition is hereby dismissed. - 8 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC-D:2415-DB WP No. 101165 of 2025 It is hereby ordered that the order of the tribunal will be given effect to by the State within eight weeks from the date of receipt of the copy of this order. 10. All pending applications also stand disposed off. Sd/- (M.I.ARUN) JUDGE Sd/- (B. MURALIDHARA PAI) JUDGE BVV CT:BCK LIST NO.: 1 SL NO.: 20