- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:23456 WP No. 13592 of 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 27TH DAY OF APRIL, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S.R.KRISHNA KUMAR WRIT PETITION NO. 13592 OF 2026 (S-RES) BETWEEN: SRI. NANJUNDE GOWDA. B. M. S/O. MALLE GOWDA, AGED ABOUT 49 YEARS, WAS WORKING AS PRINCIPAL, VOKKALIGARA SANGHA INDUSTRIAL TRAINING INSTITUTE, SRIGANDHADA KAVAL, MAGADI MAIN ROAD, BANGALORE - 560 091. …PETITIONER (BY SRI. SATISH K., ADVOCATE) AND: 1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA REPRESENTED BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY, DEPARTMENT OF SKILL DEVELOPMENT, ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND LIVELIHOOD, M. S. BUILDING, BANGALORE - 560 001. 2. RAJYA VOKKALIGARA SANGHA, REPRESENTED BY ITS GENERAL SECRETARY, NO.148, VISHVESHWARAPURA, KRISHNARAJENDRA ROAD, BANGALORE - 560 004. …RESPONDENTS Digitally signed by CHANDANA B M Location: High Court of Karnataka - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:23456 WP No. 13592 of 2026 (BY SRI. SPOORTHY HEGDE, AGA FOR R1 SRI. SHARATH G. GOWDA, ADVOCATE FOR SRI. S. RAGHUNANDAN, ADVOCATE FOR C/R2) THIS WP IS FILED UNDER ARTICLE 226 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO-CALL FOR RECORDS FROM THE R2 IN RESPECT OF THE IMPUGNED ORDER DATED 18.04.2026 (ANNX-R).QUASHING THE IMPUGNED ORDER DATED 18.04.2026 BEARING NO. RAA. O. SA/KANOONU/98/2026-27 PASSED BY THE R2 (ANNX-R) AND CONSEQUENTLY DIRECT THE RESPONDENTS TO GRANT ALL CONSEQUENTIAL BENEFITS TO THE PETITIONER.GRANT AN INTERIM ORDER TO STAY THE OPERATION IMPLEMENTATION AND EXECUTION OF THE IMPUGNED ORDER DATED 18.04.2026 BEARING NO. RAA. O.SA/KANOONU/98/2026-27 PASSED BY THE R2 (ANNX-R) AND PERMIT THE PETITIONER TO WORKING AS PRL. VOKKALIGARA SANGHA INDUSTRIAL TRAINING INSTITUTE. THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY HEARING, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S.R.KRISHNA KUMAR - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:23456 WP No. 13592 of 2026 ORAL ORDER In this petition, the petitioner has sought for the following reliefs: “a) CALL for records from the Respondent No. 2 in respect of the impugned Order dated 18/04/2026 (ANNEXURE - R); b) ISSUE WRIT OR ORDER QUASHING the impugned Order dated 18/04/2026 bearing No. Raa. 0. Sa/Kanoonu/98/2026-27 passed by the Respondent No. 2 (ANNEXURE R) and CONSEQUENTLY DIRECT the Respondents to grant all consequential benefits to the Petitioner, in the interest of justice and equity; c) PASS any other appropriate order as this Hon'ble Court deems fit in the facts and circumstances of the case, including the cost of this Writ Petition.” 2. Heard learned counsel for the petitioner and learned AGA for respondent No.1, learned counsel for respondent No.2 and perused the material on record. 3. A perusal of the material on record will indicate that the respondent issued a show cause notice dated 27.02.2026 to the petitioner, alleging that he is guilty of moral turpitude, sexual harassment of a student under his authority, abuse of academic - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:23456 WP No. 13592 of 2026 power, violation of POSH Act, creating a hostile and unsafe academic environment and also bringing disrespect to respondent No.2 - Sangha and its educational institutions. 4. The petitioner having submitted a reply dated 28.02.2026 to the said show cause notice, the respondent came to the conclusion that a departmental disciplinary enquiry is to be conducted against the petitioner and having regard to the magnitude and gravity of the allegations made against the petitioner, it was a fit case to keep the petitioner under suspension pending enquiry by passing the impugned order, which is assailed in the present petition. In this context, the impugned order is hereby extracted. ಒಕಗರ ಸಂಘ ೈ ಾ ಾ ತರೇ ¸ÀA¸ÉÜ ೕಗಂಧದ ಾವಲು, ಾಗ ರೆ, ೆಂಗಳ!ರು - 91 NO: VSIT/267/2025-26 "#ಾಂಕ: 28-02-2006 ೆ, ¥ÀæzsÁ£À PÁAiÀÄðzÀ²ðUÀ¼ÀÄ &ಾಜ( ಒಕಗರ ಸಂಘ «.«.¥ÀÄgÀA, ೆಂಗಳ!ರು-04 - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:23456 WP No. 13592 of 2026 ಾನ(&ೇ, *ಷಯ:- "#ಾಂಕ:-"#ಾಂಕ-27-02-2026 ರಂದು ನನ ೆ .ೕರುವ ಾರಣ ೇ0 #ೋ2ೕ3 ೆ ನನ4 ಸಮ6ಾ78 .ೕಡುರುವ ಬ ೆ;. ಉ=ೆ>ೕಖ;- ಸಂ@ೆ( &ಾ.ಒ.ಸ/ಆಡ0ತ/1981/2025-26 "#ಾಂಕ:27-02-2026 "#ಾಂಕ:27-02-2026 ರಂದು ನನ ೆ .ೕರುವ ಾರಣ ೇ0 #ೋ2ೕ3 ೆ ಸಂಬಂB8ದಂCೆ Dಾವನ ೆ ಎ=ೆ ಾF.GH I ಾ(.G ೋ3Jನ 2021-22 #ೇ ಾನ *Kಾ(LJ.ಯ Kಾಖ=ಾ ಸಮಯದ> .ೕದM ಎ3.ಎ3.ಎN,8 ಅಂಕಪ2Q ಮತು ಇತ&ೆ Kಾಖ=ೆಗಳನು4 Sಂ"ರುTಸುವಂCೆ ೇ0ದುM .ೕಡKೆ *Kಾ(LJ.ಯನು4 ತಡ&ಾ UೊರಗVೆ ೇ2WಾಗುವಂCೆ ಕ&ೆ78 ೊಂಡು ನಂತರ ಅವರ Xೕಷಕ&ೊಂ" ೆ Yಾದ*Yಾದ ಾದುM ಸದ *Zೕ ಾಾ[ಕ 6ಾಲCಾಣ Uಾಗೂ @ಾಸT \.2.* ಾಧ(ಮದ> ಪಾರYಾTದುM ಈ ಬ ೆ; ಸಂೆ^ಯ ಘನCೆ ೆ ದ ೆ ತಂ"ರುೕ ಎಂದು *Zೕ ಆKಾರದ Iೕ=ೆ #ೋ2ೕ3 .ೕದುM ಸದ #ೋ2ೕ3 ನ> Uೇ0ರುವ *_ಾರ Uಾಗೂ ಆ&ೋಪಗಳ` ಸಂಪaಣJ ಸುbಾcTದುM ತಪde ಗS ೆ ಮತು ತಪde ಳ`ವ0 ೆ7ಂದ ೊರುತYೆ. ಸದ *Kಾ(LJ Dಾವನ. ೆ ರವರು ನಮf ಸಂೆ^ಯ> ಐ.2.ಐ Yಾ(ಸಂಗವನು4 ಪaಣJ ೊ0ಸKೆ ಮದ(ಂತರದ> \2QರುCಾ&ೆ "#ಾಂಕ:16-02-2026 ರಂದು Dಾವನರವರು ನಮf ಾ=ೇ[ ೆ ೇ2.ೕ Kಾಖ=ಾ ಸಮಯದ> .ೕದM ಎ3.ಎ3.ಎN,8 ಮೂಲ ಅಂಕಪ2Q ಮತು ಇತ&ೆ Kಾಖ=ೆಗಳನು4 .ೕಡುವಂCೆ ೇ0ದುM ಾ=ೇ[ನ .ಯಾನುಾರ .ಗBಪ8ದM ಶುಲದ> ತಮf ಾi ಶುಲವನು4 jಾವಸದ&ೆ ಾತ ಸದ Kಾಖ=ೆಗಳನು4 .ೕಡಬಹುದು ಎಂದು Uೇ0ರುCೇ#ೆ ನಂತರವa ಸಹ ಸದ Dಾವನರವರು ಪKೇ ಪKೇ ಾ=ೇ[ ೆ ೇ2 .ೕ ಮೂಲ Kಾಖ=ಾ .ೕಡುವಂCೆ ೋದುM ಅದ ೆ #ಾನು ಒleರುವd"ಲ> "#ಾಂಕ:16-02-2026 ರಂದು ಕಲm 6ೆ&ಾGH ಪ ೇ ೆಂದು nತYಾT ಮನ* ಾದುM (ಪ ಲಗ8Kೆ)ಆಡ0ತ ಮಂಡ0ಯ ಒle ೆ ¥ÀqÉAiÀĨÉÃPÁVgÀĪÀÅzÀjAzÀ 15 ¢£ÀUÀ¼À £ÀAvÀgÀ - 6 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:23456 WP No. 13592 of 2026 ಬಂದು ಾಣುವಂCೆ 08ರುCೇ#ೆ ಆದರೂ ಸಹ Dಾವನರವರು ತುತುJ ೆಲಸ ಾT ೇ ಾTರುವdದಂದ ಪVೆದು ೊಂಡು Uೋಗಲು ಅಮfನ ಮ#ೆ ೆ ಬಂದು ತಂTದುM 2 "ವಸದ> .ೕಡುವಂCೆ ೋ UೋTರುCಾ&ೆ ಅದರಂCೆ ಾವನ. ೆ ಮತು ಅವರ ತಮf ಆದಶJ. ೆ ರವರ oೈN ಸಂ@ೆ( 8722534691 ಮತು 9740068088 .ಂದ "#ಾಂಕ:17-02-2026 ಮತು 18-02-2026 ರಂದು ಕ&ೆ ಾ PÀಲm 6ೆ&ಾGH .ೕಡುವಂCೆ ೋದುM ಆಡ0ತ ಮಂಡ0ಯ ಒle ೆ ಪVೆಯKೆ *ತಸಲು ಾದ(*ಲ>Yೆಂದು 08ರುCೇ#ೆ. 08ದ ನಂತರದಲೂ> "#ಾಂಕ:-18-02-2026 ರಂದು ಸದಯವಂದ ಹCಾರು ಾ ಕ&ೆ ಾದುM (ಪ ಲಗ8Kೆ) ನನ4 ೆಲಸದ .pತ 8qೕಕ8ರುವd"ಲ> ಸಮಯ ಸಂ6ೆ 7-00ರ> #ಾನು ನನ4 ೆ4ೕSತರನು4 ೇ2 ಾ ಮ#ೆ ೆ Sಂ"ರುಗುವ Yೇbೆಯ> ಅKೇ ಸಂ@ೆ(7ಂದ ಕ&ೆ ಬಂ"ದುM #ಾನು ಕ&ೆ 8qೕಕ8Kಾಗ ಸದ ವ(i #ಾನು Dಾವನ ನನ4 Xೕಷಕ ೆ ೋ3Jನು4 ಅದJದ> \ಟುQ ಾi ಶುಲ jಾವ ಾಡೇ ೆಂಬ *ಷಯ ಅವ ೆ 0"ಲ> #ಾನು ೆ0 ೆ; 8-00 ೆ ಊ ೆ Uೋಗೇ ಾTರುವdದಂದ ನನ4 ಅಮf ಮತು ನನ4 ಸಂಬಂ"ಕರನು4 ಕ&ೆತಂ"ದುM ನನ4 tಕಪe.ಗೂ ಬರುವಂCೆ 08ದುM ಇವ&ೊಡ#ೆ ಾತ#ಾಡುವಂCೆ 08ರುCಾ&ೆ #ಾನು ಅKೇ ರೆಯ> UೋಗುದMಂದ ಅವರ ೋ ೆ Iೕ&ೆ ೆ ಬ3 .=ಾMಣದ ಬ0 ಅವರ ಅಮf ಮತು ಸಂಬಂBಕರು ಾಯುರುವdದನು4 ಗಮ.8ರುCೇ#ೆ ಅಷQರ=ೆ>ೕ ಅವರ tಕಪe ಪ ಾu ರವರು ಅಂಕಪ2Q .ೕಡ"ರುವ ಬ ೆ; ಪaವJಪರ ZೕtಸKೆ ಶುಲ jಾವಸೇ ೆಂಬ ಾS ಇಲ>Kೆ .ಂ"ಸಲು ಶುರುಾಡುCಾ&ೆ ನನ4 ೈನ>ದM ನನ4 Yೈಯiಕ ಪತವನು4 ಅಂಕಪ2Qvಂದು Dಾ*8 ಏ ಾಏi .ಂ"ಸಲು ಶುರುಾಡುCಾ&ೆ ಅವ ೆ Yಾಸ*ಕCೆಯನು4 ಅಥJ ಾಸಲು ಪಯ48ದುM ನನ4 ಾ ೆ i* ೊಡKೆ ನನ4ನು4 ತjಾeT Dಾ*8 ಅವರ ಕಲe#ೆಯಂCೆ ವJ8 ಅ>ಂದ Cೆರಳಲು 8ದM#ಾKಾಗ ನನ4ನು4 ತVೆದು .>8 ನನ4 "qಚಕ Yಾಹನದ iೕಯನು4 ಾವJಜ.ಕ ಸ^ಳYಾದMಂದ Yಾ ಾqದi0ಯKೆ #ಾನು ಸಭ( ೌಜನ("ಂದ Cೆ ೆದು ೊಂರುCಾ&ೆ ನಂತರದ> ಸದ ವ(i ಪ ಾuರವ ೆ ಮೂಲKಾಖ=ೆಗಳನು4 - 7 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:23456 WP No. 13592 of 2026 SಂದುTಸುವ *_ಾರYಾT ಸಂಪaಣJ ಮನವ ೆ ಾ ೊ2QದುM ಅವರು ಒle ನಂತರ ಪರಸeರರು ಮ#ೆ ೆ Cೆರ0ರುCೇYೆ. SೕTರೇ ಾದ&ೆ Wಾ&ೋi ೇಗಳ` ಅ> ನVೆದ }ುಲಕ ಘಟ#ೆಯನು4 ನನ4 ಗಮನ ೆ ಬರದಂCೆ tೕಕ8 ೊಂಡು ಾಾ[ಕ 6ಾಲCಾಣದ> UಾiದುM @ಾಸT \.2.* ಾಧ(ಮದ> ಪಾರಾರುರುವ *ಷಯ #ಾನು ಗಮ.8ರುವd"ಲ>. ಾಾ[ಕ 6ಾಲCಾಣ ಇ~ ಾQ ಾಂನ> ಹKಾಡುವ *ಷಯ 0ದು #ಾನು ತ}ಣ "#ಾಂಕ:25-02-2026 ರಂದು ಸದ Dಾವನ ಮತು ಅವರ tಕಪe ಪ ಾuರವರ *ರುದ• Xೕೕ3 €ಾ•ೆಯ> ದೂರು .ೕದುM ದೂನ ಸಂ@ೆ(:462/2123/2026 ಆTರುತKೆ ನನ4 ದೂನ ಆ‚ಾರದ Iೕ=ೆ ಸದ Dಾವನ Uಾಗು ಅವರ tಕಪe ಪ ಾಶ ರವರನು4 *_ಾರ•ೆ ೆ ಕ&ೆ"ದುM *_ಾರ•ೆ ಸಂದಭJದ> ಅವರು ತಮf ತle ೆ }I ೋದುM Uಾಗೂ ಆ_ಾತುಯJ Uಾಗೂ ೊಂದಲಗ0ಂದ ಪaವJ ಾSಯ ೊರCೆ7ಂದ ಈ }ುಲಕ ಘಟ#ೆ ನVೆದು UೋTKೆ ಎಂದು *ƒಾದ ವ(ಕ ಪಸುCೇ#ೆ ನಮf *ರುದ• WಾವdKೇ ಾನೂನು ಕಮ ಜರುTಸೇ ಎಂದು ೇ0 ೊಂದುM Uಾಗೂ ಅKೇ ೕ Xೕೕ3 €ಾ•ೆಯ> Uೇ0 ೆ .ೕದMಂದ ಸದ ಪಕರಣವನು4 Xೕೕ3 €ಾ•ೆಯ> ಮು ಾಯ ೊ08ರುCಾ&ೆ. Uಾಗೂ ಇ#ೊ4If ನನ4 *ಷಯ ೆ UೋಗದಂCೆ ಳ`ವ0 ೆ Uೇ0ಕಳ`S8ರುCಾ&ೆ ಸದ ದೂನ ಪತ Uಾಗೂ ಅವರು .ೕರುವ }ಾಪ•ೆ ಪತದ ಪಯನು4 ಇದ&ೊಂ" ೆ ಲಗಸ=ಾTKೆ Uಾಗೂ ಈ ಸಂದಭJದ> ಅವರು ಬSರಂಗ }ಾಪ•ೆ ೋದ ಬ ೆ; *Zೕ tೕಕರಣ ಇರುವ jೆ~ Vೆ„ವನನು ಇದ&ೊ" ೆ ಲಗಸ=ಾTKೆ. SೕTರುYಾಗ ತಮf #ೋ2ೕ3ನ> 08ರುವಂCೆ 1. Moral Turpittude 2. Sexual Harassment of student under your authority 3. Abuse of academic power 4. Violation of posh act obligations 5. Creating a Hastile unsafe Academic environment 6. Bringing disrespect of the sangha and its education Institution - 8 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:23456 WP No. 13592 of 2026 ಆ&ೋಪಗಳ` ಸಂಪaಣJ ಸುbಾcTದುM ಸತ(ಯ ೆ ದೂರYಾTರುತKೆ ಆದುದಮದ IೕನಂCೆ #ಾನು .ೕರುವ ಸಾ6ಾ78ಯನು4 ಪಗಣ#ೆ ೆ Cೆ ೆದು ೊಂಡು ಸದ #ೋ2ೕ3ನು4 YಾಪಸುH ಪVೆಯುವಂCೆ ೋರುCೇ#ೆ. ವಂದ#ೆಗbೆ!ಂ" ೆ, ಇಂ ತಮf *…ಾq8 jಾಂಶುjಾಲರು *ಎ3 ಐ2ಐ 5. As can be seen from the aforesaid facts and circumstances and the impugned order, in the discretion of the respondent and after providing sufficient and reasonable opportunity to the petitioner, respondent No.2 - Sangha came to the conclusion that it was necessary to conduct a disciplinary enquiry against the petitioner pending which it was necessary to keep him under suspension by exercising its discretion in this regard. 6. Under these circumstances, the question of interfering with the impugned suspension order in the given facts and circumstances of the instant case would not arise except directing respondent No.2 to complete the pending disciplinary enquiry as against the petitioner and pass appropriate order/take appropriate decision within a period of three months from today. - 9 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:23456 WP No. 13592 of 2026 7. Subject to the aforesaid directions and without expressing any opinion on the merits/demerits of the allegations made by the respondent against the petitioner and leaving open all contentions, petition stands disposed of. 8. It is further directed that in the event the respondents cannot complete the pending enquiry within a period of three months from today as stated supra, the respondents are hereby directed to review the impugned suspension order by taking appropriate decision. Sd/- (S.R.KRISHNA KUMAR) JUDGE BH List No.: 1 Sl No.: 28