- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:31467-DB WP No. 23223 of 2025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 24TH DAY OF JUNE, 2026 PRESENT THE HON'BLE MR. VIBHU BAKHRU, CHIEF JUSTICE AND THE HON'BLE MRS. JUSTICE K.S. HEMALEKHA WRIT PETITION NO.23223 OF 2025 (GM-RES-PIL) BETWEEN: SRI. SAIBANNA JAMADARA S/O NAGINDRAPPA AGED ABOUT 35 YEARS, PRESIDENT OF AHINDA CHINTAKARA VEDIKE [R] (REGISTERED NO.DRKB/SOR/731/2017-18) KALYANA KARNATAKA 371 [J] KALAM KAANUNU TIDDUPADI HORATA SAMITI, O/AT NO.358, RAJAPOORA, BADEPOORA, G.D.A., KALUBURGI - 585105. …PETITIONER (BY SRI. SHANKARAPPA, ADVOCATE) AND: 1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA BY ITS CHIEF SECRETARY VIDHANA SOUDHA, BANGALORE - 560 001. 2. THE JOINT SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENT OF PERSONAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE REFORMS, HYDERABAD- KARNATAKA, HYDERABAD-KARNATAKA SPECIAL CELL VIDHANA SOUDHA, BANGALORE - 560 001. Digitally signed by MAHALAKSHMI B M Location: High Court of Karnataka - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:31467-DB WP No. 23223 of 2025 3. THE DIRECTOR AND UNDER SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT ADB BRANCH DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING, PROGRAMME, MONITORING AND STATISTICS, M. S. BUILDING, BANGALORE - 560 001. 4. THE SECRETARY KALYANA KARNATAKA REGION DEVELOPMENT BOARD KALABURGI. 5. THE HOME SECRETARY DEPARTMENT OF HOME AFFAIRS VIDHANA SOUDHA, BANGALORE - 560 001. 6. DG AND IG NRUPATHUNGA ROAD BANGALORE PIN: 560 001. …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI K. SHASHI KIRAN SHETTY A.G., A/W MS. NILOUFER AKBAR, ADDITIONAL GOVERNMENT ADVOCATE) THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 & 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO ISSUE A WRIT OF MANDAMUS DIRECTING THE RESPONDENT TO CONSIDER THE REPRESENTATIONS OF THE PETITIONERS DATED 30.10.2024, 26.11.2024 AND 27.06.2025 ANNEXURES-F, G, H, J AND K RESPECTIVELY FOR APPOINTING THE INCHARGE MINISTER AS CHAIRMAN AND NOT BELOW THE RANK OF STATE SECRETARY AS SECRETARY TO THE KALYANA KARNATAKA REGION DEVELOPMENT BOARD UNDER CLAUSE (a)(3) PART-II AND CLAUSE (4) PART-II OF THE NOTIFICATION BEARING NO.DPAR/06/PLX/2012 DATED 06.11.2023 PASSED BY THE 2ND RESPONDENT AND ETC. THIS PETITION COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY HEARING, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. VIBHU BAKHRU, CHIEF JUSTICE and HON'BLE MRS. JUSTICE K.S. HEMALEKHA - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:31467-DB WP No. 23223 of 2025 ORAL ORDER (PER: HON'BLE MR. VIBHU BAKHRU, CHIEF JUSTICE) 1. The petitioner has filed the present petition, inter alia, seeking a direction to the respondents to consider his representations dated 30.10.2024, 26.11.2024 and 27.06.2025, which are annexed to the present petition, seeking appointment of the in-charge Minister as the Chairman and a person not below the rank of Secretary to the Government as the Secretary of the Kalyana Karnataka Region Development Board [Board]. 2. The petitioner also impugns the notification dated 17.06.2025 to the extent that it appoints Sri Nalini Atul, IAS, as the Secretary of the Board. The petitioner also alleges that the enquiry into the misappropriation of funds allocated for development works is being delayed. 3. Insofar as the petitioner's grievance regarding the enquiry into the misappropriation of funds is concerned, this Court is informed that the said enquiry is underway and would be completed shortly. 4. The learned Advocate General also concedes that there is an issue regarding the appointment of Sri Nalini Atul, IAS, as the - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:31467-DB WP No. 23223 of 2025 Secretary of the Board, as he was earlier serving as the Deputy Commissioner of Koppal District and does not hold the rank of a Secretary to the Government. 5. Sub-paragraph (4) of paragraph 3 of the Hyderabad- Karnataka Region Development Board Order, 2013, specifically provides that the State Government shall appoint an officer not below the rank of the Secretary to the Government to be the Secretary of the Board. 6. The learned Advocate General submits that the necessary orders to rectify this issue would be passed within a period of four weeks from date. 7. Insofar as the petitioner's grievance regarding the Chairman is concerned, the learned Advocate General referred to the notification dated 27.01.2020, whereby the Hyderabad-Karnataka Region Development Board (Amendment) Order, 2020 was notified. Sub-paragraph (3) of paragraph 3 of the Hyderabad- Karnataka Region Development Board Order, 2013 was amended, and by virtue of the said amendment, "out of the members nominated under clauses (b) and (b1), one of them is required to be nominated by the State Government as Chairman." - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:31467-DB WP No. 23223 of 2025 8. Thus, the petitioner's contention that only a Minister can be appointed as the Chairman in terms of the Kalyana-Karnataka Region Development Board is unsustainable. 9. In view of the statement made by the learned Advocate General that the Government shall take the necessary steps to appoint a person with the requisite qualifications, in terms of Sub- paragraph (4) of Paragraph 3 of the Hyderabad-Karnataka Region Development Board Order, 2013, as the Secretary of the Board within four weeks of the date, no further orders are required to be passed in the present petition, except to direct that the respondents shall remain bound by the aforesaid statement made on their behalf. 10. In view of the above, the writ petition is disposed of. Sd/- (VIBHU BAKHRU) CHIEF JUSTICE Sd/- (K.S. HEMALEKHA) JUDGE MBM List No.: 2 Sl No.: 28