- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:32847 WP No. 19754 of 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 2ND DAY OF JULY, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SURAJ GOVINDARAJ WRIT PETITION NO. 19754 OF 2026 (GM-RES) BETWEEN: SRI. RAVI KUMAR S/O URALINGAPPA, AGED 58 YEARS, R/A RAILWAY STATION ROAD, ARSIKERE TOWN, HASSAN DISTRICT - 573 125. …PETITIONER (BY SRI. K V NARASIMHAN., ADVOCATE) AND: 1. STATE OF KARNATAKA, DEPARTMENT OF LAW AND JUSTICE, M.S. BUILDING, DR. B.R. AMBEDKAR VEEDHI, BENGALURU - 560 001, REPRESENTED BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY. 2. SRI. LOKESH R, S/O LATE C. RANGEGOWDA, MAJOR R/A MALLIEGAMMA TEMPLE ROAD, ARSIKERE TOWN, HASSAN DISTRICT - 573 125. 3. KARNATAKA STATE BAR COUNCIL, OLD ELECTION COMMISSION OFFICE, DR. B.R. AMBEDKAR VEEDHI, Digitally signed by SHWETHA RAGHAVENDRA Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:32847 WP No. 19754 of 2026 BENGALURU - 560 001, REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY. …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI. MOHAMMED JAFAR SHAH., AGA FOR R1; SRI. G. NATARAJ, ADVOCATE FOR R3) THIS W.P. IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO ISSUE A WRIT OF CERTIORARI OR ANY OTHER APPROPRIATE WRIT, ORDER OR DIRECTION QUASHING THE NOTIFICATION DATED 19.2.2026 AT ANNEXURE-G ISSUED BY THE RESPONDENT NO.1 BEARING LAW-LAD/98/2025 AND ETC., THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY HEARING, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SURAJ GOVINDARAJ ORAL ORDER Learned AGA accepts notice for respondent No.1. Sri. G. Nataraj, learned counsel accepts notice for respondent No.3. Notice to respondent No.2 is dispensed, in view of the proposed order to be passed. 1. Petitioner is before this Court seeking for the following reliefs: "A. Issue a writ of Certiorari or any other appropriate writ, order or direction quashing the notification dated 19.2.2026 at Annexure-G - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:32847 WP No. 19754 of 2026 issued by the Respondent No.1 bearing LAW- LAD/98/2025; B. Issue a writ of Mandamus or any other appropriate writ, order or direction directing the Respondent No.1 to appoint the petitioner to the office of Additional Government Pleader, Court of Senior Civil Judge, Arasikere; C. Grant such other or further reliefs as this Hon'ble Court deems fit in the facts and circumstances of the case, including costs of these proceedings, in the interest of justice and equity." 2. The petitioner and respondent No.2 had applied in pursuance of notification issued by the respondent for appointment of Additional Government Pleader. Respondent No.2 having been appointed, the petitioner is before this Court challenging the said appointment and seeking for his own appointment as Additional Government Pleader on the ground that there are certain complaints which had been filed against respondent No.2 before the Karnataka State Bar Council and as such he is not a fit person to be appointed as Additional Government Pleader by the State. - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:32847 WP No. 19754 of 2026 3. The appointment of Additional Government Pleader is not on the basis of any examination or the like. The notification having been issued and a report being furnished by the Principal District Judge, the said report is considered and appointment is made. The appointment of Additional Government Pleader is at the pleasure of the Department of Law and Justice i.e., respondent No.1. If at all there are any disciplinary issues and if there are any complaints filed against respondent No.2, that would also have to be considered by respondent No.1. 4. In the present matter, the allegations are that there are complaints pending against respondent No.2 before the Karnataka State Bar Council. Even if such complaints are pending, it is for the Karnataka State Bar Council to take necessary action in relation thereto. Merely because there are certain allegations which have been made against respondent No.2, would not be a ground to not consider respondent - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:32847 WP No. 19754 of 2026 No.2 for the post or would not provide any vested right in favour of the petitioner to be appointed on that ground. 5. No grounds being made out, the petition stands dismissed. Sd/- (SURAJ GOVINDARAJ) JUDGE MCR List No.: 1 Sl No.: 24