- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:32537-DB WP No. 19119 of 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 1ST DAY OF JULY, 2026 PRESENT THE HON'BLE MR. VIBHU BAKHRU, CHIEF JUSTICE AND THE HON'BLE MRS. JUSTICE K.S. HEMALEKHA WRIT PETITION NO. 19119 OF 2026 (GM-RES-PIL) BETWEEN: 1. R SRIKANTHA SHET S/O LATE V RAMAKRISHNA SHET AGED ABOUT 54 YEARS R/AT NO. 485 1ST FLOOR,1ST BLOCK 2ND CROSS,3RD STAGE BASAWESHWARANAGARA, BANGALORE-560079 ALSO AT RESIDING AT CHURCH STREET, VIRAJPET KODAGDU DISTRICT-571218 …PETITIONER (BY SRI. HANUMANTHAPPA HARAVI, ADVOCATE) AND: 1. THE PRINCIPAL OF SECRETARY DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS (COMMUNICATION) GOVERNMENT OF KARNATAKA OFFICE SECRETARIAT, DR B R AMBEDKAR VEEDHI VIKASA SOUDHA, BENGALURU-560001. 2. THE DIRECTOR GENERAL OF POLICE AND INSPECTOR GENERAL OF POLICE NRUPATHUNGA ROAD GOVERNMENT OF KARNATAKA, BANGALORE-560001 …RESPONDENTS (BY SMT. NILOUFER AKBAR, AGA) Digitally signed by K P SWETHA Location: High Court of Karnataka - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:32537-DB WP No. 19119 of 2026 THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO ISSUE A WRIT IN THE NATURE OF MANDAMUS DIRECTING THE 2ND RESPONDENT SHALL PROVIDE NECESSARY POLICE PROTECTION INSTRUCTING EACH DISTRICT POLICE SUPERINTENDENT TO PROVIDE NECESSARY POLICE PROTECTION WHENEVER THE OFFICIAL OF BHARATH NET LAYING OFC CABLE ON PWD ROADS UNDER AMENDED BHARAT NET PROGRAM OF BHARAT NET PHASE-III AS PER ANNEXURE-A DATED 15-06-2026 WITH IMMEDIATE EFFECT 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 ORAL ORDER (PER: HON'BLE MR. VIBHU BAKHRU, CHIEF JUSTICE) 1. The petitioner has filed the present petition as a public interest litigation, inter alia, praying that direction be issued to the concerned police authorities to provide police protection to the officials of Bharath Net for laying OFC cable on PWD roads under the amended Bharath Net Program of Bharath Net Phase-III. 2. The petitioner states that officials engaged in implementing the Bharath Net Program are facing protests and hindrances from villagers in the Gadag district. He also alleges that the officials are being prevented from executing the work entrusted to them. - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:32537-DB WP No. 19119 of 2026 3. We do not consider it apposite to entertain the present petition as a public interest litigation. If any officials engaged in the implementation of Bharath Net Program are facing any hindrance/obstruction or any security issues while discharging their duties, they are not precluded from escalating the same to the concerned authorities. No intervention is called for at this stage. The petition is accordingly dismissed. Sd/- (VIBHU BAKHRU) CHIEF JUSTICE Sd/- (K.S. HEMALEKHA) JUDGE KPS List No.: 2 Sl No.: 16