- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:13412 WP NO.9241 OF 2024 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 05TH DAY OF MARCH, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE E.S. INDIRESH WRIT PETITION NO.9241 OF 2024 (EDN-RES) BETWEEN: SRI. GURURAJ EDUCATIONAL TRUST (REGISTERED UNDER THE INDIAN TRUST ACT) RAILWAY STATION ROAD, GOWRIBIDANUR, CHIKKABALLAPUR DISTRICT - 561 208. REP. BY ITS SECRETARY, SRI. HANUMANTHA NAIK A. S/O LATE A. LAKSHMAIAH, AGED ABOUT 65 YEARS. …PETITIONER (BY SRI. V.B. SIDDARAMAIAH, ADVOCATE) AND: 1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA REP. BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY, SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT, VIKASA SOUDHA, BENGALURU - 560 001. 2. THE COMMISSIONER DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL WELFARE, M.S. BUILDING, DR. AMBEDKAR VEEDHI, BENGALURU - 560 001. 3. THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR GRADE-1, TALUK SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT, GOWRIBIDANUR TALUK, GOWRIBIDANUR, CHIKKABALLAPURA DISTRICT - 561 208. THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR Digitally signed by CHAYA S A Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:13412 WP NO.9241 OF 2024 4. DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL WELFARE, ROOM NO.B-11, JILLADALITHA BHAVANA, SIDDLAGHATTA ROAD, CHIKKABALLAPURA DISTRICT - 562 105. 5. THE UNDER SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT, GOWRIBIDANUR TALUK, GOWRIBIDANUR, CHIKKABALLAPURA DISTRICT - 561 208. 6. THE TALUK SOCIAL WELFARE OFFICER GOWRIBIDANUR TALUK, GOWRIBIDANUR, CHIKKABALLAPURA DISTRICT - 561 208. …RESPONDENTS (BY SMT. SUKANYA BALIGA, AGA) THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA, PRAYING TO QUASH THE GOVERNMENT ORDER DATED 29TH AUGUST, 2020 ISSUED BY THE RESPONDENT NO.5-UNDER SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT, SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT VIDE ANNEXURE-G; QUASH THE ENDORSEMENT DATED 28TH DECEMBER, 2023 ISSUED BY THE RESPONDENT NO.4-DEPUTY DIRECTOR, DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL WELFARE VIDE ANNEXURE-H; DIRECT THE RESPONDENT NO.4-DEPUTY DIRECTOR, DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL WELFARE TO CONSIDER THE REPRESENTATION OF THE PETITIONER DATED 02ND FEBRUARY, 2024 VIDE ANNEXURE-J WHICH IS GIVEN FOR RELEASE OF THE SCHOLARSHIPS TO THE SC/ST STUDENTS OF THE PETITIONER'S INSTITUTION FROM THE ACADEMIC YEAR 2007-08 TO 2020-21; AND ETC. THIS PETITION COMING ON FOR ORDERS, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE E.S. INDIRESH - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:13412 WP NO.9241 OF 2024 ORAL ORDER In this writ petition, the petitioner-Trust is challenging the Government Order dated 29th August, 2020 (Annexure-G) issued by the respondent No.5-Under Secretary to Government, Department of Social Welfare and Endorsement dated 28th December, 2023 (Annexure-H) issued by the respondent No.4-Deputy Director, Department of Social Welfare; inter alia sought for direction to the respondent No.4 to consider the representation of the petitioner-Trust dated 02nd February, 2024 (Annexure-J) for release of scholarships to the Schedule Caste/Schedule Tribe students of the Petitioner's institution from the Academic year 2007-08 to 2020-21. 2. Heard Sri. V.B. Siddaramaiah, learned counsel appearing for the petitioner and Smt. Sukanya Baliga, learned Additional Government Advocate appearing for respondents. 3. Learned counsel appearing for the petitioner submits that the petitioner-Trust is not pressing Prayer (i) in respect of issuance of Government order dated 29th August, 2020 (Annexure-G) by the respondent No.5. - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:13412 WP NO.9241 OF 2024 4. Insofar as the Prayer (ii) is concerned, learned counsel appearing for the petitioner referring to the Government Order dated 29th March, 2021 (Annexure-D) argued that the respondent-Authorities have not considered the tenets of the said Government Order dated 29th March, 2021 and accordingly, he sought for interference of this Court. 5. Per contra, Smt. Sukanya Baliga, learned Additional Government Advocate appearing for respondents sought to support the impugned endorsement dated 28th December, 2023 (Annexure-H) issued by the respondent No.4. 6. In the light of submission made by learned counsel appearing for the parties, on careful examination of Government Order dated 29th March, 2021 (Annexure-D), the same would indicate that, scholarship benefit has been given for the Academic year 2018-19 and 2019-20 in respect of students belonging to Schedule Caste/Schedule Tribe admitted for Post Metric Course in private aided/private unaided institutions under the Management quota. In that view of the matter, taking into consideration the representation dated 02nd February, 2024 (Annexure-J), impugned endorsement dated - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:13412 WP NO.9241 OF 2024 28th December, 2023 (Annexure-H) issued by the respondent No.4 is hereby set-aside and matter is remitted to the respondent No.4 with a direction to re-consider the case of the petitioner-Trust in the light of Government Order dated 29th March, 2021 (Annexure-D) and pass appropriate orders in accordance with law, within an outer limit of three months from the date of receipt of this order. Accordingly, writ petition is disposed of. SD/- (E.S. INDIRESH) JUDGE ARK List No.: 1 Sl No.: 24