- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:28692 WP No. 6133 of 2021 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 12TH DAY OF JUNE, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE M.G.S. KAMAL WRIT PETITION NO. 6133 OF 2021 (GM-CC) BETWEEN: SMT. LATHA W/O GURUDUTT N, AGED ABOUT 52 YEARS, WARD NO 11, HANUMANTHANAGAR, SHRINGERI - 577 139 CHIKMAGALUR DISTRICT. …PETITIONER (BY SRI. RAJARAM T., ADVOCATE) AND: 1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY, REVENUE DEPARTMENT, VIDHANA SOUDHA, VIDHANA VEEDHI, BANGALORE - 560 001. 2. THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER CHICKMAGALUR DISTRICT, CHICKMAGALUR - 577 139. 3. THE DISTRICT CASTE VERIFICATION COMMITTEE, REP. BY SECRETARY CHICKMAGALUR DISTRICT, CHICKMAGALUR- 577 139. Digitally signed by SUMA B N Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:28692 WP No. 6133 of 2021 4. THE POLICE ADHEEKSHAKARA KARYALAYA NAGARIKA HAKKU JARI NIRDESHANALAYA, MANGALORE PRADESHIKA, 3RD FLOOR, MANGALORE CITY DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY BUILDING, OORVA STORES, MANGALORE- 575 001, REPRESENTED BY DEPUTY DIRECTOR, SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT, CHICKMAGALUR. 5. THE TAHSILDAR SHRINGERI TALUK, CHICKMAGALUR DISTRICT - 577 139. 6. NITHYANANDA S B S/O SRI BHASKAR, HANUMANTHANAGAR, SHRINGERI, CHICKMAGALUR TALUK- 577 139. …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI. C. JAGADISH, SPECIAL COUNSEL FOR R1 TO R5; SRI. VISHNU BHAT, ADVOCATE FOR R6) THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA, PRAYING TO ISSUE DIRECTION TO THE RESPONDENTS QUASHING THE COMPLAINT DATED 19.07.2019 LODGED BY THE R-6 SRI.NITHYANANDA S.B. WITH THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER VIDE ANNEXURE-J 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 M.G.S. KAMAL - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:28692 WP No. 6133 of 2021 ORAL ORDER Petitioner, who had contested in Shringeri Pattana Panchayath Elections from Ward No.11 and had got elected successfully faced with issue pertaining to validity or otherwise of her caste certificate, which is raised by respondent No.6 resulting in issuance of notice dated 25.02.2021 by the respondent No.4, is before this court. 2. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the initiation of proceedings by the respondent No.4 at the instance of respondent No.6 is untenable as there is no compliance to Rule 7 of the Karnataka Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes & Other Backward Classes (Reservation of Appointments, etc.,) Rules, 1992. Hence seeks for allowing of the petition. 3. Learned Special counsel appearing for respondent Nos.1 to 5 submits that the initiation of proceedings at the instance of respondent No.6 though cannot be found fault with at the outset, fairly submits such proceedings at the hands of respondent No.4 have to be in compliance with Rule 7(4). 4. Submission placed on record. - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:28692 WP No. 6133 of 2021 5. On this limited ground of substantive procedural irregularity in respondent No.4 initiating the proceedings without compliance of the requirement of Rule 7(4), petition is allowed, impugned notice dated 25.02.2021 issued by respondent No.4 at Annexure-F is quashed. 6. The District Caste Verification Committee is at liberty to initiate the proceedings as contemplated under law. Sd/- (M.G.S. KAMAL) JUDGE SBN List No.: 1 Sl No.: 30