- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:31473 WP No. 4664 of 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 24TH DAY OF JUNE, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE ASHOK S.KINAGI WRIT PETITION NO. 4664 OF 2026 (S-RES) BETWEEN: MR. PUTTAIAH S/O LATE DODDASIDDAIAH, AGED ABOUT 60 YEARS, R/AT NO.32, IRUDAL DODDI, PRAKASH PALYA, PALYA HOBLI, KOTHNUR POST, KOLLEGALA TALUK, CHAMARAJANAGARA DISTRICT-571 440 THE PETITIONER NOT CLAIMED THE SENIOR CITIZEN QUOTA …PETITIONER (BY SRI. B KESHAVA MURTHY, ADVOCATE) AND: 1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA DEPARTMENT OF HINDU RELIGIOUS INSTITUTOINS AND ENDOSEMENT DEPARTMENT, M.S.BUILDING, BANGALORE-560 001. 2. THE COMMISSIONER, DEPARTMENT OF HINDU RELIGIOUS INSTITIOTNS AND ENDOWMENT SRI MALAMAHADESHWARA VARTHA BHAVANA, II AND III FLOOR, A.V.ROAD, Digitally signed by KIRAN KUMAR R Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:31473 WP No. 4664 of 2026 CHAMARAJPETE, BANGALORE-560 018. 3. THE SECRETARY SRI MALAI MAHADESHWARASWAMY KSHETRA DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY, MAHADESHWARA BETTA, HANUR TALUK, CHAMARAJANAGARA DIST.-571 490. …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI. G RAMESH NAIK, AGA FOR R1 & R2 SRI. CHANDRAKANTH R GOULAY, ADVOCATE FOR R3) THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO ISSUE A WRIT IN THE NATURE OF CERTIORARI QUASHING THE OFFICIAL MEMORANDUM DTD 11.01.2026 VIDE No
ೕ
ೕ
ೕ
ೕ ಮ ಮ ಮ ಮ....ಮ ಮ ಮ ಮ....ೇ ೇ ೇ ೇ....ಅಅಅಅ.... ಾ ಾ ಾ ಾ////ಬ ಬ ಬ ಬ /7PR/5/2022 /7PR/5/2022 /7PR/5/2022 /7PR/5/2022----23 23 23 23----26 26 26 26 ISSUED BY THE R-3, SECRETARY, SRI. MALAI MAHADESHWARASWAMI KSHETHRA DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY, MAHADESHWARA BEETA, PRODUCED AT ANNX-A AND CONSEQUENTLY DIRECT HIM TO CONTINUATION OF THE SERVICES OF THE PETITIONER TILL THE AGE OF SUPERANNUATION. ISSUE A WRIT IN THE NATURE OF WRIT OF MANDAMUS DIRECTING THE R-3 TO CONSIDER THE REPRESENTATION DTD 21.01.2026 PRODUCED AT ANNX-G INCLUDING THE COST OF THE LITIGATION. THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR ORDERS, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:31473 WP No. 4664 of 2026 CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE ASHOK S.KINAGI ORAL ORDER 1. The petitioner has filed this writ petition seeking following reliefs: (i) Issue a writ in the nature of certiorari quashing the official memorandum dtd 11.01.2026 vide no
ೕ
ೕ
ೕ
ೕ ಮ ಮ ಮ ಮ....ಮ ಮ ಮ ಮ....ೇ ೇ ೇ ೇ....ಅಅಅಅ.... ಾ ಾ ಾ ಾ////ಬ ಬ ಬ ಬ /7PR/5/2022 /7PR/5/2022 /7PR/5/2022 /7PR/5/2022----23 23 23 23----26 26 26 26 issued by the r-3, secretary, Sri. Malai Mahadeshwaraswami Kshethra Development Authority, Mahadeshwara beeta, produced at Annx-A and consequently direct him to continuation of the services of the petitioner till the age of superannuation. (ii) Issue a writ in the nature of writ of mandamus directing the r-3 to consider the representation dtd 21.01.2026 produced at Annx-G. (iii) And pass such other order or orders as this Hon’ble Court deems fit to grant under the circumstances of the case including the cost of the litigation, in the interest of justice and equity. - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:31473 WP No. 4664 of 2026 2. Against the impugned order passed by respondent No.3, the petitioner has got an efficacious remedy provided under the provisions of Karnataka Hindu Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowment Act, 2002 (for short, ‘the Act’). The petitioner, without exhausting the efficacious remedy, has filed this petition. As such, the writ petition filed by the petitioner is not maintainable, in view of the proposition laid down by the Hon'ble Apex Court in case of Rikhab Chand Jain v. Union of India1 and others. 3. Hence, in view of the mandate laid down by the Hon'ble Apex Court in the aforesaid decision, the instant writ petition filed by the petitioner is not maintainable. Accordingly, the writ petition is dismissed. 1 2025 SCC Online SC 2510 : 2025 INSC 1337 - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:31473 WP No. 4664 of 2026 4. Liberty is reserved to the petitioner to avail the efficacious remedy provided under the Act, if so desired. 5. In view of the dismissal of the writ petition, pending interlocutory applications, if any, do not survive for consideration and are accordingly disposed of. Sd/- (ASHOK S.KINAGI) JUDGE RK List No.: 1 Sl No.: 29