- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:22218 WP No. 10071 of 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 22ND DAY OF APRIL, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SACHIN SHANKAR MAGADUM WRIT PETITION NO. 10071 OF 2026 (GM-RES) BETWEEN: SRI MANJUNATHA E AGED ABOUT 59 YEARS, PRESENTLY WORKING AS JOINT CONTROLLER, LEGAL METROLOGY DEPARTMENT, BENGALURU AND MYSURU DIVISION, RESIDING AT NO.92, SIDDARTHA, INDIRANAGAR, GANGANAHALLI MAIN ROAD, NAGASANDRA POST, BENGALURU 560 073. PRESENTLY RESIDING AT NO.92, SIDDARTHA, INDIRANAGAR, GANGANAHALLI MAIN ROAD, NAGASANDRA POST, BENGALURU-560 073. …PETITIONER (BY SRI. BHADRAVADI SIDDESWARA., ADVOCATE) AND: 1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY, FOOD, CIVIL SUPPLY, CONSUMER AFFAIRS AND LEGAL METROLOGY DEPARTMENT, VIKASA SOUDHA, BANGALORE-560 001. Digitally signed by CHAITHRA A Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:22218 WP No. 10071 of 2026 2. THE CONTROLLER LEGAL METROLOGY, 4TH FLOOR, MAPANASOUDA, NO.1 ALI ASKAR ROAD, BENGALURU-560 052. …RESPONDENTS (BY SMT. NAVYA SHEKAR., AGA) THIS WP IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 & 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO GOVERNMENT DATED THE DIRECTION QUASHING THE WRIT/ORDER/ COMMUNICATION BEARING NO.E-C£Á¸À 34 PÁªÀiÁ¸Éà 2024 DATED 11.03.2026 ISSUED BY THE 1ST RESPONDENT, DIRECTING THE RECONSTITUTION OF THE INTERNAL COMPLAINTS COMMITTEE IN RELATION TO THE ALLEGED COMPLAINT DATED 25.11.2017 AGAINST THE PETITIONER, WHICH IS PRODUCED HEREWITH AS ANNEXURE-A. THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY HEARING, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SACHIN SHANKAR MAGADUM ORAL ORDER The petitioner, who was initially appointed as an Assistant Controller of Legal Metrology, came to be promoted as Deputy Controller of Legal Metrology and was posted to Mysuru Division. It is further borne out from the records that the petitioner was subsequently transferred to the post of Deputy Controller of Legal Metrology - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:22218 WP No. 10071 of 2026 (Administration). While so serving, a complaint came to be lodged in the year 2017 alleging acts of sexual harassment against the petitioner by certain colleagues. Pursuant to the said allegations, departmental action was contemplated and the matter, though originating in 2017, was eventually referred to the Internal Complaints Committee only in the year 2024 for enquiry in accordance with law. 2. When the matter was taken up on the previous date of hearing, learned counsel appearing for the petitioner brought to the notice of this Court that the very complainants, at whose instance the proceedings were set in motion, have since withdrawn their complaints. It was thus contended that continuation of proceedings before the Internal Complaints Committee would be an exercise in futility and an abuse of process, in the absence of a surviving grievance. In response, the learned Additional Government Advocate sought time to obtain instructions in this regard. - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:22218 WP No. 10071 of 2026 3. Today, on instructions, learned Additional Government Advocate fairly submits that the complainants have, in fact, withdrawn their respective complaints and that in view of such withdrawal, the direction issued by respondent No.1 for reconstitution of the Internal Complaints Committee no longer survives for consideration and has been rendered infructuous. 4. Recording the said submission and taking note of the undisputed position that the foundational complaints themselves are no longer in existence, this Court is of the considered view that continuation of the impugned proceedings would serve no useful purpose. Accordingly, this Court proceeds to pass the following: ORDER (i) The writ petition is allowed; (ii) The order dated 11.03.2026 issued by respondent No.1 directing reconstitution of the Internal - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:22218 WP No. 10071 of 2026 Complaints Committee in relation to the complaint dated 25.11.2017, as produced at Annexure–A, stands quashed. Sd/- (SACHIN SHANKAR MAGADUM) JUDGE ALB List No.: 1 Sl No.: 90