- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC-D:1820 WP No. 100453 of 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA, AT DHARWAD DATED THIS THE 9TH DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE SMT. JUSTICE LALITHA KANNEGANTI WRIT PETITION NO.100453 OF 2026 (GM-TEN) BETWEEN: SHRISHAIL S/O. MARUTI HARUGERI, AGE. 41 YEARS, OCC. CLASS II CONTRACTOR, R/O. UPPARWADI, CHINCHALI TOWN, TQ. RAIBAG, DIST. BELAGAVI. …PETITIONER (BY SRI. ROSHAN SAHEB CHABBI, ADVOCATE) AND: 1. THE GOVERNMENT OF KARNATAKA DEPARTMENT OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT AND PANCHAYAT RAJ DEPARTMENT 3RD FLOOR, M.S. BUILDING, 3RD GATE, AMBEDKAR VEEDHI, BENGALURU-560001 REPRESENTED BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY. 2. THE DIRECTORATE OF MUNICIPAL ADMINISTRATION 9TH FLOOR AND 10TH FLOOR, VISHVESHWARIAH TOWER, DR. B.R. AMBEDKAR VEEDHI, BENGALURU-560001, REPRESENTED BY ITS DIRECTOR. 3. THE TOWN PANCHAYAT, CHINCHALI, CHINCHALI, TQ. RAIBAG, DIST. BELAGAVI-591217, REPRESENTED BY ITS CHIEF OFFICER. Digitally signed by CHANDRASHEKAR LAXMAN KATTIMANI Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC-D:1820 WP No. 100453 of 2026 4. THE JUNIOR ENGINEER, TOWN PANCHAYAT, CHINCHALI, CHINCHALI, TQ. RAIBHAG, DIST. BELAGAVI-591217. …RESPONDENTS (BY SMT. GIRIJA S.HIREMATH, HCGP FOR R1 AND R2; SRI. SANTOSH B.RAWOOT, ADVOCATE FOR R3) THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF CONSTITUTION OF INDIA, PRAYING TO A) ISSUE A WRIT OF CERTIORARI THEREBY QUASHING THE IMPUGNED ENDORSEMENT DATED 18/10/2025 BEARING NO.NIL ISSUED BY RESPONDENT NO.4 VIDE ANNEXURE-A; B) ISSUE A WRIT OF MANDAMUS THEREBY DIRECTING THE RESPONDENTS TO AWARD THE TENDER DATED 08/10/2025 ISSUED BY THE RESPONDENTS IN TENDER BEARING NO.DMA/2025- 26/RD/WORK_INDENT49552/CALL-2 TO THE PETITIONER, VIDE ANNEXURE-B; C) PASS SUCH OTHER ORDERS OR DIRECTIONS AS THIS HON'BLE COURT DEEMS JUST AND PROPER TO MEET THE ENDS OF JUSTICE AND EQUITY. THIS WRIT PETITION, COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY HEARING, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: THE HON'BLE SMT. JUSTICE LALITHA KANNEGANTI - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC-D:1820 WP No. 100453 of 2026 ORAL ORDER The present writ petition is filed seeking the following prayer: “PRAYER Wherefore, in light of the above the Petitioner most humbly prays that this Hon’ble Court may be pleased to: a) Issue a Writ of Certiorari thereby quashing the Impugned endorsement dated 18/10/2025 bearing No.NIL issued by Respondent No.4 vide Annexure-A; b) Issue a Writ of Mandamus thereby directing the Respondents to award the tender dated 08/10/2025 issued by the Respondents in tender bearing No.DMA/2025-26/RD/WORK_INDENT49552/CALL-2 to the Petitioner, vide Annexure-B; c) Pass such other orders or directions as this Hon'ble Court deems just and proper to meet the ends of justice and equity.” 2. It is the case of the petitioner that the respondents had floated a tender dated 08.10.2025 for the work of Construction of Asphalt Road from Chinchali Railway Station Main Road to Solid Waste Management Site. The petitioner is a Class-II Contractor, duly registered with the Karnataka State Public Works Department and is executing various Government works. It is stated that the petitioner has previously participated in several Government tenders and has successfully completed the works entrusted to him. The petitioner participated in the tender - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC-D:1820 WP No. 100453 of 2026 floated by the respondents under the Reserved Category and deposited an earnest money of Rs.77,450/- towards Earnest Money Deposit (EMD). It is the grievance of the petitioner that despite the petitioner fulfilling all eligibility requirements and submitting the requisite Work Done Certificates, respondent No.4 while evaluating the bids, illegally and arbitrarily rejected the petitioner’s bid on the erroneous ground that the petitioner had not submitted Work Done Certificates. It is stated that the said finding is contrary to the record as the Work Done Certificates were duly uploaded and submitted along with the bid. 3. Learned counsel appearing for the petitioner submits that the petitioner has submitted the Work Done Certificates and the same is filed before this Court. He has brought the attention of this Court to the said documents filed by him. Learned counsel submits that respondent No.4 without any basis in arbitrary manner, contrary to the documents that are uploaded has rejected the case of the petitioner and the same needs to be set aside. 4. Learned counsel appearing for respondent No.3 does not deny the fact that the petitioner had uploaded the documents. - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC-D:1820 WP No. 100453 of 2026 However, it is submitted that due to oversight, the same could not be evaluated and the petitioner’s case is rejected. 5. Having heard the learned counsels on either side, perused the material on record. Considering the submissions of the learned counsel for respondent No.3 that due to oversight, the endorsement is issued, this Court deems it appropriate to pass the following: ORDER i. The impugned endorsement dated 18.10.2025 issued by respondent No.4 is set aside. The respondent No.3 shall consider the case of the petitioner in accordance with the tender conditions. ii. The petitioner is not entitled for relief sought in prayer (b). This Court cannot pass such a direction. iii. Accordingly, the writ petition is disposed of. iv. All I.As. in this petition shall stand closed. Sd/- JUSTICE LALITHA KANNEGANTI MEG List No.: 1 Sl No.: 5