- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:31968-DB WP No. 9360 of 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 29TH DAY OF JUNE, 2026 PRESENT THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S.G.PANDIT AND THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE RAJESH RAI K WRIT PETITION NO. 9360 OF 2026 (S-KSAT) BETWEEN: SRI. GANGARAJA.M, S/O. LATE MUNISWAMY AGED ABOUT 51 YEARS, PRESENTLY WORKING AS ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF ECONOMICS, GOVERNMENT FIRST GRADE COLLEGE, UDAYAPURA, CHANNARAYAPATNA TALUK, HASSAN DISTRICT- 573 225 R/AT. WARD NO.28, NETHAJINAGAR MULBAGAL TOWN, KOLAR DISTRICT – 563 131 …PETITIONER (BY SRI. BASAVARAJA PATEL G.K.,ADVOCATE) AND: 1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA REPRESENTED BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY, DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION, M.S. BUILDING, DR. AMBEDKAR VEEDHI, BENGALURU - 560 001. 2. THE COMMISSIONER, DEPARTMENT OF COLLEGIATE AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION, UNNATH SHIKSHANA SOUDHA, SHESHADRI ROAD, BENGALURU – 560 009. Digitally signed by NANJUNDACHARI Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:31968-DB WP No. 9360 of 2026 3. THE PRINCIPAL SC/ST RESIDENTIAL GOVERNMENT FIRST GRADE COLLEGE, DEVARAYASAMUDRA, MULABAGILU TALUK, KOLAR DISTRICT – 563 131 …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI.K.R.RAJENDRA, AGA) THIS WP IS FILED UNDER ARTICLE 226 AND 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO CALL FOR THE RECORDS RELATING TO THE IMPUGNED ORDER PASSED BY THE KSAT AT BENGALURU DATED 17/09/2025 MADE IN APPLICATION NO.6230/2024 VIDE ANNEXURE-A PERUSE AND QUASH THE SAID ORDER AS ERRONEOUS AND CONTRARY TO LAW, AND ALLOW THE APPLICATION NO.6230/2024, THEREIN.2.ISSUE A WRIT OF MANDAMUS OR DIRECTION, DIRECTING THE RESPONDENTS TO RETAIN THE PETITIONER TO HIS EARLIER PLACE AT SC/ST RESIDENTIAL GOVERNMENT FIRST GRADE COLLEGE, DEVARAYASAMUDRA, MULABAGILU TALUK, KOLAR DISTRICT AS ASSISTANT PROFESSOR IN ECONOMICS SUBJECT AND ETC., THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR ORDERS, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S.G.PANDIT AND HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE RAJESH RAI K - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:31968-DB WP No. 9360 of 2026 ORAL ORDER (PER: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE RAJESH RAI K) In this writ petition, the petitioner has assailed the order dated 17.09.2025 passed by the Karnataka State Administrative Tribunal at Bengaluru (for short “Tribunal”) in Application No.6230/2024, whereby the Tribunal dismissed the application filed by the petitioner. 2. The brief facts which are necessary for disposal of the writ petition are that, the petitioner is working as Assistant Professor of Economics in Government First Grade College, Udayapura, Channarayapatna Taluk, Hassan District. He was shifted out of his previous place of work at SC/ST Residential Government First Grade College, Mulbaglu Taluk, Kolar District vide order dated 30.09.2024 passed by respondent No.2. The said order has been challenged by the petitioner before the Tribunal in Application No.6230/2024. 3. It is the contention of the learned counsel for the petitioner that the petitioner while working at SC/ST Government First Grade College from 17.08.2023 due to wrong - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:31968-DB WP No. 9360 of 2026 workload statement of Economics as only 6 hours, the petitioner was shifted along with post to Government First Grade College, Udayapura, Channarayapatna Taluk, Hassan District. The said shifting was based on the letter dated 29.10.2024 issued by respondent No.3 i.e., the Principal, SC/ST Residential Government First Grade College. According to the said letter, it is communicated that totally 14 hours of workload is available in respect of Economics subject. As such, the petitioner is entitled to be retained in his earlier post at SC/ST Residential First Grade College, Mulbagal, Kolar District. Hence, he prays that these aspects are not properly dealt with by the respondents. Accordingly, he prays for allowing the writ petition. 4. Per contra, learned Additional Government Advocate by supporting the impugned order submitted that shifting of posts and surplus staff is based on the workload assessment as per Rule 3 of Karnataka State Civil Services (Regulation of Transfer of Teaching Staff of Department of Collegiate Education) Rules, 2021 (for short “2021 Rules”). According to the learned AGA, shifting of posts within the zone - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:31968-DB WP No. 9360 of 2026 is only on account of insufficient workload. By emphasizing the communication issued by respondent No.3 dated 29.10.2024, he submits that there is no workload in the Department of Economics in the present college of the petitioner. Based on the above said information, vide Circular dated 10.09.2024, an online counseling was held and petitioner was transferred. In such circumstance, he submits that the petitioner is not entitled for the relief as claimed. Accordingly, he prays for dismissal of the writ petition. 5. We have given our anxious consideration to the submissions of the learned counsel for the parties and perused the entire evidence available on record. 6. As could be gathered from the records, shifting of the petitioner vide order dated 30.09.2024 is based on the workload statement given by respondent No.3. It is revealed in the letter dated 29.10.2024 by respondent No.3 that there is no sufficient workload in the Department of Economics for the petitioner and recommended for his transfer. Based on such details, the petitioner’s name was included in the list prepared - 6 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:31968-DB WP No. 9360 of 2026 under Rule 3 of 2021 Rules. Thereafter, the petitioner was relieved and reported to duty on 15.10.2024 at the transferred place. After joining the transferred place, he claims that 14 hours workload was available at his earlier posting and respondent No.3 had also written a letter to that extent. 7. On careful perusal of letter issued by the Principal, Government First Grade College, Udayapura Taluk, Hassan District, the same does not support the claim of the petitioner. The letter also depicts that there is workload of 26 hours/week in UG level and 5 hours/week in PG level in the Department of Economics, totally 31 hours/week workload is available and out of 31 hours/week, 6 hours/week is assigned to in-charge Principal who belongs to teaching faculty of Economics Department and remaining hours is allotted/distributed to the petitioner. As such, the claim of the petitioner that there is no sufficient workload does not holds good. This aspect of the matter was dealt in detail by the Tribunal. 8. We find no infirmity in the order passed by the Tribunal. Accordingly, there is no good ground to interfere with - 7 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:31968-DB WP No. 9360 of 2026 the order passed by the Tribunal, as such, the petition lacks merits and the same is dismissed. SD/- (S.G.PANDIT) JUDGE SD/- (RAJESH RAI K) JUDGE MPK CT:RK List No.: 1 Sl No.: 9