- 1 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010276812025 NC: 2026:KHC:39473 WP No. 14796 of 2025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 29TH DAY OF JULY, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SURAJ GOVINDARAJ WRIT PETITION NO. 14796 OF 2025 (GM-RES) BETWEEN: M/S. SUDDIGIDUGA KANNADA DAILY NEWSPAPER REP. BY ITS EDITOR SRI.S.MANJUNATH OFFICE AT DOOR NO.1000, DODDAPET, NEAR RANGAIAH’S GATE, CHITRADURGA-577501. …PETITIONER (BY SRI. AISHWARYA S HANCHATE, ADVOCATE) AND: 1. 2. 3. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA REP. BY PRL. SECRETARY, BENGALURU-560001. THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR COMMERCIAL PROMOTION BRANCH INFORMATION AND PUBLIC RELATIONS DEPARTMENT, NO.17, BHAGWAN MAHAVIRA ROAD (INFANTRY ROAD) BENGALURU-560001. THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR INFORMATION AND PUBLIC RELATIONS DEPARTMENT Digitally signed by SHWETHA RAGHAVENDRA Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010276812025 NC: 2026:KHC:39473 WP No. 14796 of 2025 4. 5. 6. 7. DISTRICT COLLECTOR’S OFFICE PREMISES, CHITRADURGA-577501. THE COMMISSIONER INFORMATION AND PUBLIC RELATIONS DEPARTMENT INFANTARY ROAD, SHIVAJI NAGAR, BENGALURU-560 001. THE JOINT DIRECTOR INFORMATION AND PUBLIC RELATIONS DEPARTMENT NO.17, BHAGWAN MAHAVIRA ROAD (INFANTRY ROAD), BENGALURU-560001. THE CHIEF SECRETARY GOVERNMENT OF KARNATAKA VIDHANA SOUDHA BENGALURU. THE PRL. SECRETARY INFORMATION AND PUBLIC RELATIONS DEPARTMENT BENGALURU. 8. THE SECRETARY DEPARTMENT OF KANNADA CULTURE AND INFORMATION (NEWS BRANCH), BENGALURU-560 001 …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI. SHAMANTH NAIK., AGA) THIS WP IS FILED UNDER ARTICLE 226 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO QUASH THE GOVERNMENT ORDER BEARING NO.KCI-VPP/8/2022 (PART-1) BENGALURU DTD. 11.04.2022 AT ANNX-A ISSUED BY R-7 AND DIRECT THE RESPONDENTS TO RELEASE THE TWO PAGE ADVERTISEMENT WITH RETROSPECTIVE EFFECT STARTING FROM NOVEMBER 2022 AND ETC. - 3 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010276812025 NC: 2026:KHC:39473 WP No. 14796 of 2025 THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY HEARING, IN 'B' GROUP THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SURAJ GOVINDARAJ ORAL ORDER 1. Petitioner is before this Court seeking for the following reliefs: "a) Issue a Writ of certiorari quashing the Government order bearing No.KCI-VPP/8/2022 (Part-1), Bengaluru dated 11.04.2022 at Annexure 'A' Issued by the 7th Respondent, (deleted vide order dated 29.07.2026) b) Direct the Respondent to release the twe page advertisement with retrospective effect starting from November 2022; b)(i) Issue a writ of Mandamus or any other appropriate writ(s), order(s) or direction(s), directing Respondant No.2/ (or such other Respondent(s) as this Hon'ble court deems fit) to consider and dated 06.01.2023 submitted by the Petitioner, produced at Annexure-H, in accordance with law, in an expeditious and time bound manner as this Hon'ble Court may and fit in the facts and circumstances of the case and in the in the interest of justice and equity. c) Grants costs; d) Such other relief/s as may be deemed fit to grant by this Hon'ble Court in the facts and - 4 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010276812025 NC: 2026:KHC:39473 WP No. 14796 of 2025 circumstances of the case and in the interest of justice and equity. 2. The grievance of the petitioner is that the representation which had been submitted by the petitioner on 06.01.2023 for release of newspaper advertisement in the newspaper of the petitioner has not been considered and orders passed. 3. Whenever any representation is submitted to the statutory authority, it is required for the authorities to consider the same and pass necessary orders either accepting or rejecting the representation made. Needless to say, in either case, it would have to be accompanied by reasons. In the present case, the representation submitted on 06.01.2023 has been pending for more than three and a half years. 4. In view thereof, this Court passes the following: ORDER (i) The writ petition is partly allowed. - 5 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010276812025 NC: 2026:KHC:39473 WP No. 14796 of 2025 (ii) A mandamus is issued directing the respondents to consider the representation of the petitioner dated 06.01.2023 and pass necessary orders thereon within a period of 30 days from the date of receipt of a certified copy of this order. (iii) It is made clear that this Court has not expressed any opinion on the entitlement of the petitioner. The same would have to be considered in terms of the applicable legal framework. Sd/- (SURAJ GOVINDARAJ) JUDGE DL List No.: 1 Sl No.: 39