- 1 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010460352026 NC: 2026:KHC:38942 WP No. 20748 of 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 27TH DAY OF JULY, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE ASHOK S.KINAGI WRIT PETITION NO. 20748 OF 2026 (S-RES) BETWEEN: DR. DINESH BILEHAL SON OF CHANNABASAPPA BILEHAL, AGED ABOUT 52 YEARS, RESIDING AT NO.17, FIRST FLOOR, RAMACHANDRA BUILDING, 3RD CROSS, 1ST MAIN, V R LAYOUT MATHIKERE, BANGALORE - 560054. MOBILE 98444522155 DRBILEHAL@GMAIL.COM …PETITIONER (BY SRI. RANGANTHA S JOIS.,ADVOCATE) AND: 1. STATE OF KARNATAKA IS REPRESENTED BY THE PRINCIPAL SECRETARY, DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION, GOVERNMENT OF KARNATAKA, MS BUILDING, BENGALURU 560 001 2. THE COMMISSIONER, DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL WELFARE, GOVERNMENT OF KARNATAKA, M.S. BUILDING, BENGALURU 560 001 Digitally signed by KIRAN KUMAR R Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010460352026 NC: 2026:KHC:38942 WP No. 20748 of 2026 3. SECRETARY TO GOVERNOR, RAJ BHAVAN, RAJ BHAVAN ROAD, BENGALURU, 560001 4. THE REGISTRAR, RAICHUR UNIVERSITY KRISHNA TUNGA CAMPUS, YERAGERA, RAICHUR – 584133 KARNATAKA 5. SMT DR. MS LATHA, ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR (CHEMISTRY) RAICHUR UNIVERSITY KRISHNA TUNGA CAMPUS, YERAGERA, RAICHUR 584133, KARNATAKA 6. DR. SUYAMINDRA S KULKARNI ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR, MICROBIOLOGY, RAICHUR UNIVERSITY KRISHNA TUNGA CAMPUS, YERAGERA, RAICHUR 584133, KARNATAKA 7. VENKATESH N, ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR, POLITICAL SCIENCE. RAICHUR UNIVERSITY KRISHNA TUNGA CAMPUS, YERAGERA, RAICHUR-584133, KARNATAKA …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI. G RAMESH NAIK, AGA FOR R1 TO R3) THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO: - 3 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010460352026 NC: 2026:KHC:38942 WP No. 20748 of 2026 (A) CALL FOR THE ORIGINAL RECORDS RELATING TO THE NOTIFICATION BEARING NO. RUR / BOA / ADVT / 2024 / 388 DATED 08.07.2024 AND NO. RUR / BOA / CORR / 2024-25 / 01 DATED 15.08.2024 PASSED BY THE RESPONDENT NO.4 VIDE ANNEXURE-B AND C PERUSE THE SAME AND QUASH ALL THREE APPOINTMENTS, AND ISSUE OF WRIT OF CERTIORARI OR ANY OTHER APPROPRIATE WRIT, ORDER, THE IMPUGNED UNIVERSITY NOTIFICATION AND SELECTION AND APPOINTMENT TO THE POSTS CONTRARY TO THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPT., APPROVED ROSTER VIDE ANNEXURE-D RTI LETTER DATED 31.07.2025 ALONG WITH LETTER DATED 29.02.2024, INCLUDING THE POST CHEMISTRY, THE CONSEQUENTIAL APPOINTMENT ORDERS OF BEING VOID AB-INITIO AND VIOLATION OF ARTICLE 14, 16(1) AND 21 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA. (B) ISSUE A WRIT OF MANDAMUS OR ANY OTHER APPROPRIATE WRIT, ORDER, OR DIRECTION, DIRECTING RESPONDENT NOS. 4 TO APPLY THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT'S APPROVED RESERVATION ROSTER AS PER ANNEXURE-D RTI LETTER DATED 31.07.2025 ALONG WITH LETTER DATED 29.02.2024 AS ITS STOOD ON THE DATE OF THE PETITIONER'S APPLICATION, AND TO CONSIDER THE CASE OF THE PETITIONER FOR SELECTION AND APPOINTMENT FOR THE POST OF ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY WITH ALL CONSEQUENTIAL BENEFITS WITH ARREARS; (C) PASS SUCH OTHER ORDERS AND FURTHER RELIEFS AS THIS HON'BLE COURT DEEMS FIT AND PROPER IN THE FACTS AND CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE CASE, IN THE INTEREST OF JUSTICE AND EQUITY. - 4 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010460352026 NC: 2026:KHC:38942 WP No. 20748 of 2026 THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR ORDERS, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE ASHOK S.KINAGI ORAL ORDER 1. The petitioner has filed this petition seeking following reliefs: (a) call for the original records relating to the notification bearing No.Rur/Boa/Advt/2024/388 dated 08.07.2024 and No.Rur/Boa/Corr/2024-25/01 dated 15.08.2024 passed by the respondent No.4 vide Annexure-B and C peruse the same and quash all three appointments, and issue of writ of certiorari or any other appropriate writ, order, the impugned university notification and selection and appointment to the posts contrary to the Social Welfare Dept., approved roster vide Annexure-D RTI letter dated 31.07.2025 along with letter dated 29.02.2024, including the post chemistry, the consequential appointment orders of being void ab-initio and violation of Article 14, 16(1) and 21 of the Constitution Of India; (b) issue a writ of mandamus or any other appropriate writ, order, or direction, directing respondent Nos. 4 to apply the social welfare department's approved reservation roster as per Annexure-D, RTI - 5 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010460352026 NC: 2026:KHC:38942 WP No. 20748 of 2026 letter dated 31.07.2025 along with letter dated 29.02.2024 as its stood on the date of the petitioner's application, and to consider the case of the petitioner for selection and appointment for the post of associate professor department of chemistry with all consequential benefits with arrears (c) pass such other orders and further reliefs as this Hon'ble Court deems fit and proper in the facts and circumstances of the case, in the interest of justice and equity.” 2. The Office has noted in the order-sheet regarding respondent Nos.4 to 8 being the residents of Raichur District and hence, this Court has no territorial jurisdiction to entertain the writ petition, as the matter pertains to Kalaburagi Bench. 3. The Division Bench of this Court in the case of Sawanth R.S. v. the State of Karnataka and others1 has held as under: “21. In the light of the above it is concluded that the petitioner should have necessarily filed this petition before the 1 W.P. No.201968 of 2023(S-KAT) disposed of on 20.02.2024, at High Court of Karnataka, Kalaburagi Bench - 6 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010460352026 NC: 2026:KHC:38942 WP No. 20748 of 2026 Division Bench of this Court at Dharwad, and the question for consideration is answered accordingly. The petitioner has the advantage of interim order of stay of the Tribunal's impugned order dated 20.04.2023 for a period of over 5 months, and because this Court is refusing to entertain the petition on the question of territorial jurisdiction, the petitioner must not only have the liberty to file a fresh petition before the Division Bench of this Court at Dharwad but must also have the benefit of the interim order as aforesaid for a period of 8[eight] weeks. Hence, the following: ORDER [a] The petition is rejected on the ground of territorial jurisdiction but with liberty to the petitioner to file a fresh petition before the Division Bench of this Court in Dharwad. [b] The Tribunal's impugned order dated 20.04.2023 shall remain stayed for a period of 8 [eight] weeks from today. [c] The registry is directed to return the certified copy of the tribunal order dated 20.04.2023 to the learned counsel and record for the petitioner.” - 7 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010460352026 NC: 2026:KHC:38942 WP No. 20748 of 2026 4. Considering the proposition laid down by the Division Bench of this Court in the case of Sawanth R.S. (supra), the office objection is upheld. 5. The Registry is directed to transmit the records to Kalaburagi Bench forthwith. 6. For statistical purposes, this writ petition stands disposed of. Sd/- (ASHOK S.KINAGI) JUDGE RK List No.: 1 Sl No.: 8