- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:30438 WP No. 29325 of 2017 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 19TH DAY OF JUNE, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE M.G.S. KAMAL WRIT PETITION NO. 29325 OF 2017 (GM-RES) BETWEEN: ANKITH SHANKAR AGED 19 YEARS, SON OF SHANKARAPPA, PRESENTLY RESIDING AT DOOR NO.301, 3RD FLOOR, COMFORT II APARTMENTS, 16TH A MAIN, JAYANAGAR, 3RD BLOCK EAST, BANGALORE-560 011 …PETITIONER (BY SRI. L P E REGO, ADVOCATE) AND: 1. STATE OF KARNATAKA DEPARTMENT OF YOUTHS AND SPORTS, M.S. BUILDINGS, BANGALORE-560 009, REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY 2. KARNATAKA ROLLER SKATING ASSOCIATION # 36, ST. MARKS ROAD, Digitally signed by SHARADAVANI B Location: High Court of Karnataka - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:30438 WP No. 29325 of 2017 MADRAS BANK ROAD, BANGALORE-560 001, REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY 3. BANGALORE DISTRICT ROLLER SKATING ASSOCIATION C/O KARNATAKA ROLLER SKATING ASSOCIATION NO.36, ST.MARKS ROAD, MADRAS BANK ROAD, BANGALORE-560 001 REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETRY MR.S.INDUDHAR. …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI. MAHANTESH SHETTAR, AGA FOR R-1; R-2 AND R-3 SERVED) THIS WP IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO QUASH THE IMPUGNED LETTER / NOTICE DTD.18.11.2016 BEING THE ORIGINAL OF ANNEX-A ISSUED BY R-3 HEREIN, AS HIGHLY ILLEGAL, UNCONSTITUTIONAL AND UNENFORCEABLE AND A GROSS VIOLATION OF RIGHTS OF THE PETITIONER GUARANTEED UNDER THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA AND ETC. THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY HEARING 'B' GROUP, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:30438 WP No. 29325 of 2017 CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE M.G.S. KAMAL ORAL ORDER The petitioner is a professional skater of international repute and a permanent member of respondent No.2 is before this Court being aggrieved by the Communication dated 18.11.2016 issued by respondent No.3, holding him guilty of causing serious injury to a fellow racer and sentencing him to pay compensation of Rs.50,000/-, non-compliance of the same to result in being debarred from future practice. 2. The facts of the case is that the petitioner herein had participated in 17th Bangalore District Selection Trials held at Chennammankere Skating Ring, Bangalore held between 17.11.2016 and 20.11.2016. The petitioner had participated in 4 events and was placed third in his first event, second in the second event and was disqualified in the third event and was prevented from participating in the fourth event in the light of the aforesaid impugned Communication. The allegation in the said Communication is that, petitioner herein had pushed a fellow racer No.112 (Raghavendra G. V.), causing serious - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:30438 WP No. 29325 of 2017 injuries and upon the purported observation by technical officials, it was allegedly observed during the last lap of elimination race, the petitioner herein had committed violation of certain rules, amounting to committing violations thereof resulting in his disqualification in the race. 3. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits when serious allegation of violation of rules eventually resulting in his suspension and debarring from future practice in addition to payment of compensation is involved, least that is required on the part of respondent No.3 was to issue a notice and provide an opportunity to the petitioner to have his say in the matter. He submits, order is in the nature of punishment with stigmatic allegations, which cannot be passed without complying with the principles of natural justice. Hence, the order is liable to be quashed. He further submits that this Court vide order dated 23.11.2017, though had stayed the impugned communication and permitted the petitioner to participate in the events which he did, the impugned communication left to exist on record, would seriously prejudice the future prospects of the petitioner for he having been condemned unheard. - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:30438 WP No. 29325 of 2017 4. Learned AGA fairly submits that the petitioner deserves an opportunity of being heard before being handed over with the punishment of this nature. 5. In view of the above undisputed fact of the petitioner having been condemned unheard, which goes against the fundamental principles of natural justice, that too, in a case involving serious repercussion in the nature of debarment from the future practice and payment of fine of Rs.50,000/-, petition deserves to be allowed. Accordingly petition is allowed, the impugned Communication dated 18.11.2016 is quashed. Sd/- (M.G.S. KAMAL) JUDGE GPG List No.: 1 Sl No.: 39