- 1 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010280032025 NC: 2026:KHC:43967-DB WP No. 14581 of 2025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 17TH DAY OF AUGUST, 2026 PRESENT THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE D K SINGH AND THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE H.SHANTHI BHUSHAN WRIT PETITION NO. 14581 OF 2025 (GM-KLA) BETWEEN: 1. SRI. D. G. HEGDE AGED ABOUT 64 YEARS, ADVOCATE, EX.SPL.PP NO.941/942, SAVRUST APARTMENT, DOOR NO.8, 2ND FLOOR, 8TH CROSS, 13TH MAIN, GOKUL 1ST STAGE, HMT LAYOUT, MATTIKERE, BENGALURU-560054 …PETITIONER (BY SRI. N S BHAT., ADVOCATE) AND: 1. THE REGISTRAR KARNATKAA LOKAYUKTA, M.S. BUILDING, DR. AMBEDKAR VEEDHI, BANGALURU-560001. 2. THE UNDER SECRETARY, (PRA) STAFF AND ADMINISTRATION, REFORM DEPARTMENT, (VIGILANCE WING) VIKAS SOUDHA, DR. AMBEDKAR VEEDHI, BENGALURU-560001 …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI. VENKATESH S.ARABATTI, ADVOCATE FOR R1; SRI. N.BYRE GOWDA, AGA FOR R2) Digitally signed by VASANTHA KUMARY B K Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010280032025 NC: 2026:KHC:43967-DB WP No. 14581 of 2025 THIS W.P. IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA, PRAYING TO QUASH AN IMPUGNED ORDER DATED. 19.06.2024 PASSED BY THE REGISTRAR, KARNATAKA LOKAYUKTA, BENGALURU-R1 AND APPROVED BY HON'BLE LOKAYUKTA AS PER ANNEXURE-K TO THE EXTENT OF DENIAL OF PAYMENT OF READING FEES AND MISCELLANEOUS EXPENSES TO THE PETITIONER, ETC. THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY HEARING IN 'B' GROUP, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE D K SINGH and HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE H.SHANTHI BHUSHAN ORAL ORDER (PER: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE D K SINGH) The present writ petition has been filed seeking a direction to the Karnataka Lokayukta for payment of fees of an amount of Rs.38,10,000/- allegedly due and payable to the petitioner, who happened to represent the Lokayukta. Vide order dated 03.08.2026, we directed Mr.Venkatesh S. Arabatti, learned counsel representing the Lokayukta to place on record the affidavit of the competent person regarding the payment of fees made to the petitioner in accordance with the schedule of fees as per the Government Order dated 10.12.2018. In compliance of the said order, an affidavit of the Registrar of the - 3 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010280032025 NC: 2026:KHC:43967-DB WP No. 14581 of 2025 Karnataka Lokayukta has been filed today, which is taken on record. 2. As per the schedule provided in the Government Order dated 25.10.2019, the following fees schedule was admissible to the petitioner:- ¸ÀPÁðj DzÉñÀ ¸ÀASÉå:¹D¸ÀÄE 11 ¸ÉïÉÆÃAiÀÄÄ 2019 (E-D¦üøï) ¨ÉAUÀ¼ÀÆgÀÄ, ¢£ÁAPÀ: ¥Àæ¸ÁÛªÀ£ÉAiÀÄ°è «ªÀj¹gÀĪÀ PÁgÀtUÀ¼À »£À߯ÉAiÀÄ°è, ²æà r.f.ºÉUÉÝ, «±ÉõÀ ¸ÁªÀðd¤PÀ C©üAiÉÆÃdPÀgÀÄ, «±ÉõÀ vÀ¤SÁ vÀAqÀ, PÀ£ÁðlPÀ ¯ÉÆÃPÁAiÀÄÄPÀÛ, ¨ÉAUÀ¼ÀÆgÀÄ, EªÀjUÉ F PɼÀPÀAqÀAvÉ ¸ÀA¨sÁªÀ£ÉAiÀÄ£ÀÄß ¤UÀ¢¥Àr¹ DzÉò¹zÉ. (1) (2) (3) 1) jÃrAUï ¦üà ¥Àæw ¥ÀæPÀgÀtPÉÌ (£ÁåAiÀiÁ®AiÀÄPÉÌ CAwªÀÄ ªÀgÀ¢ ¸À°è¹zÀ £ÀAvÀgÀ) gÀÆ.1,00,000/- 2) ¥ÀjuÁªÀÄPÁjAiÀiÁzÀ «ZÁgÀuÉ (¢£ÀªÉÇAzÀPÉÌ) gÀÆ.7,000/- 3) ¥ÀjuÁªÀÄPÁjAiÀÄ®èzÀ «ZÁgÀuÉ (¢£ÀªÉÇAzÀPÉÌ) gÀÆ.1,500/- 4) EvÀgÉ ªÉZÀÑ ¥Àæw ¥ÀæPÀgÀtPÉÌ gÀÆ.5,000/- 5) ¥ÀæAiÀiÁt ¨sÀvÉå/vÀAUÀÄ«PÉ As per actuals - 4 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010280032025 NC: 2026:KHC:43967-DB WP No. 14581 of 2025 3. The petitioner had represented as many as 42 cases on behalf of the Lokayukta. The petitioner wants the reading fees to be paid for all these cases, though the trial has not been completed in none of the cases. 4. In paragraph 16 of the affidavit, it has been specifically stated that the reading fees would be admissible once the trial of the case gets completed. In none of the cases, the trial is completed, hence the petitioner could not have been paid the reading fees. 5. We are of the opinion that the view taken by the Office of the Lokayukta does not require interference. Reading fees would be admissible once the case gets completed, not otherwise. Even otherwise the claim of the petitioner is money claim, for which the public law remedy would not be available. We find no substance in this writ petition, therefore, we dismiss this petition both on the ground of non-maintainability as well as on merit. 6. Pending interlocutory applications, if any, stand disposed of. - 5 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010280032025 NC: 2026:KHC:43967-DB WP No. 14581 of 2025 7. When we passed the order, learned counsel raised his voice to the highest pitch and said that there is the highest rank of discrimination, we do not approve this kind of arguments once we have completed the order. Sd/- (D K SINGH) JUDGE Sd/- (H.SHANTHI BHUSHAN) JUDGE NG CT:SN List No.: 2 Sl No.: 8