- 1 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010501412026 NC: 2026:KHC:40630 WP No. 22705 of 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 3RD DAY OF AUGUST, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SURAJ GOVINDARAJ WRIT PETITION NO. 22705 OF 2026 (GM-CC) BETWEEN: SMT. KAMALA, W/O VENKATESH, AGED ABOUT 46 YESRS, R/O 1646/25, 13TH CROSS, KYTHAMARANAHALLI, MYSORE - 570 019. …PETITIONER (BY SRI. PRAVEEN KUMAR RAIKOTE., ADVOCATE) AND: 1. THE DISTRICT CASTE VERIFICATION COMMITTEE, MYSORE, BY ITS SECRETARY DEPUTY COMMISSIONER OFFICE, MYSORE - 570 019. 2. THE DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE, CRE CELL, MYSORE - 570019. …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI.C.JAGADISH, ADVOCATE) THIS WP IS FILED UNDER ARTICLE 226 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO (A) WRIT OF CERTIORARI AND QUASH THE IMPUGNED ORDER AT ANNEXURE - E PASSED BY THE RESPONDENT NO.1 DATED 11- Digitally signed by SHWETHA RAGHAVENDRA Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010501412026 NC: 2026:KHC:40630 WP No. 22705 of 2026 03-26 VIDE NUMBER JA NI D 6 JI JA PA CR 78/2008-09 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 1. Sri C. Jagdish, learned counsel accepts notice for respondent Nos. 1 and 2 2. The petitioner is before this court seeking for the following reliefs: "a) Writ of Certiorari and Quash the impugned order at Annexure E passed by the Respondent no 1 dated 11-03-26 vide number Ja Ni D6; Ji Ja Pa CR 78/2008-09. b) Writ of Certiorari and Quash Notice issued by the Respondent no 2 dated 6-7-26 vide No. Hi Ja Ni.O1/Na/Jani/dha.va.my/2026 vide Annexure - F." 3. The petitioner had obtained a Caste Certificate for the purpose of contesting in local elections contending that she belongs to the Nayaka caste, - 3 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010501412026 NC: 2026:KHC:40630 WP No. 22705 of 2026 which is a Scheduled Tribe. The Tahsildar cancelled the Caste Certificate on the basis of a report submitted by Deputy Superintendent of Police, which was challenged before this Court in W.P.No.7390/2020. 4. When this Court reserved liberty to Deputy Commissioner to proceed in accordance with law, instead of the Deputy Commissioner taking action, the first respondent-District Caste Verification Committee (hereinafter for brevity 'DCVC') issued notice to the petitioner and thereafter passed an order canceling the Caste Certificate, which came to be challenged before this court in W.P.No.28113/2023. 5. This Court taking into consideration that DCVC had issued the notice and initiated proceedings at the instance of the CRE Cell, set aside the said order and - 4 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010501412026 NC: 2026:KHC:40630 WP No. 22705 of 2026 once again permitted the concerned authority to initiate proceedings. The DCVC on 11.03.2026 called upon the CRE Cell to submit a report. The CRE Cell vide notice dated 06.07.2026 has called upon the petitioner to appear before it. It is both these which are challenged in these proceedings. 6. A Co-ordinate Bench of this Court had dealt with the same issue earlier vide its order dated 17.06.2026 in W.P.No.28113/2023 and categorically came to a conclusion that the DCVC would not have jurisdiction. The very same reasoning of the Co-ordinate Bench would equally apply to the present fact situation also, since it is the DCVC who has called upon the CRE Cell to enquire into the matter and submit a report, which it could not have done. 7. Once a Caste Certificate has been issued, the only remedy which is available is Section 4-F of the - 5 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010501412026 NC: 2026:KHC:40630 WP No. 22705 of 2026 Karnataka Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes (Reservation of Appointments, etc.) Act, 1990, which is by way of a revision by the Deputy Commissioner. The Deputy Commissioner being the Chairperson of the DCVC, cannot through the DCVC, initiate action. The action under Section 4-F is of the Act of 1990 is an independent action by the Deputy Commissioner for revision of a Caste Certificate which has been issued. 8. In that view of the matter, this Court passes the following:- ORDER i. Writ petition is allowed. ii. A Writ of Certiorari is issued. Annexures- E and F are quashed. iii. Liberty is reserved to the Deputy Commissioner to act in terms of Section 4-F of the Karnataka - 6 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010501412026 NC: 2026:KHC:40630 WP No. 22705 of 2026 Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes (Reservation of Appointments, etc.) Act, 1990. iv. All contentions are left open. Sd/- (SURAJ GOVINDARAJ) JUDGE BSV List No.: 1 Sl No.: 30