- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:20093-DB WP No. 10676 of 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 10TH DAY OF APRIL, 2026 PRESENT THE HON'BLE MR. VIBHU BAKHRU, CHIEF JUSTICE AND THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE C.M. POONACHA WRIT PETITION NO. 10676 OF 2026 (EDN-RES) BETWEEN: 1. SMT CHANDANA H N W/O VENKATESH S AGED ABOUT 26 YEARS. RESIDING AT NO 12, SIDDAGANGA LAYOUT. NEAR MADHU WINES DODDABIDARAKALLU, BENGALURU -560073 2. VENKATESH S S/O LATE SEETHARAMAIAH AGED ABOUT 34 YEARS GUDENAHALLI KALAGHATTA POST NELAMANGALA TALUK, BENGALURU RURAL - 562132 …PETITIONERS (BY SRI. G.K. BHAT, SENIOR ADVOCATE SMT. SUMA HIREBIDARI, ADVOCATE) Digitally signed by NIRMALA DEVI Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:20093-DB WP No. 10676 of 2026 AND: 1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA REP BY ITS CHIEF EDUCATIONAL SECRETARY, VIDHANA SOUDHA, DR. B.R. AMBEDKAR VEEDHI, BENGALURU-560 001. 2. THE SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT, DEPT. OF SCHOOL EDUCATION AND LITERACY, M.S. BUILDING, DR. B.R. AMBEDKAR VEEDHI BENGALURU-560 001. 3. THE COMMISSIONER OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION, NRUPATHUNGA ROAD, K.R. CIRCLE, BENGALURU-560001. 4. SRI. MADHU BANGARAPPA MINISTER OF SCHOOL EDUCATION, GOVERNMENT OF KARNATAKA, VIDHANA SOUDHA BENGALURU-560 001. …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI. K. SHASHIKIRAN SHETTY, ADVOCATE GENERAL A/W SMT. NILOUFER AKBAR, AGA) THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 & 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA R/W RULE 14(1) OF THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA (PUBLIC INTEREST LITIGATION RULES, 2018) PRAYING TO ISSUE A WRIT, ORDER OR DIRECTION IN THE NATURE OF CERTIORARI TO QUASH/SET ASIDE THE IMPUGNED STATEMENT ISSUED BY THE RESPONDENT No. 4 WHICH IS A IMPUGNED STATEMENTS PUBLISHED IN DECCAN HERALD NEWS PAPER DATED - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:20093-DB WP No. 10676 of 2026 28.03.2026 IS PRODUCED AS MARKED ANNEXURE-A 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 MR. JUSTICE C.M. POONACHA ORAL ORDER (PER: HON'BLE MR. VIBHU BAKHRU, CHIEF JUSTICE) 1. The petitioners have filed the present petition as a Public Interest Litigation inter alia praying that a writ of certiorari be issued to quash the published news and the screenshot copies which are produced. The news item indicates that it is purportedly made by the State regarding introducing of a Grading system for the third language - Hindi in SSLC. In the opinion of the petitioners, the said statement is extremely derogatory. This Court should exercise its extraordinary jurisdiction to quash the statement published in a newspaper. 2. Apart from the fact that the relief sought is misconceived, we also find that this is clearly not a litigation in the interest of public. It is more a litigation seeking publicity. - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:20093-DB WP No. 10676 of 2026 3. It is also argued on behalf of the petitioners that a statement to the effect that Hindi language should be done away. The said statement is completely erroneous and no such statement is reflected in the newspaper. In our view, it clearly indicates that the present petition is motivated merely to seek publicity. 4. We accordingly dismiss the present petition with cost quantified at `1,00,000/- (rupees one lakh only) to be deposited with Karnataka State Legal Services Authority, Bengaluru within a period of two weeks from date. 5. In the event, the costs are not paid, the registry shall forward a copy of the order to the jurisdictional Deputy Commissioner to recover the same as arrears of land revenue. Sd/- (VIBHU BAKHRU) CHIEF JUSTICE Sd/- (C.M. POONACHA) JUDGE BS List No.: 2 Sl No.: 12