- 1 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010519352026 NC: 2026:KHC:43766-DB WP No. 23258 of 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 17TH DAY OF AUGUST, 2026 PRESENT THE HON'BLE MR. VIBHU BAKHRU, CHIEF JUSTICE AND THE HON'BLE MRS. JUSTICE K.S. HEMALEKHA WRIT PETITION NO. 23258 OF 2026 (GM-RES-PIL) BETWEEN: 1. SRI SIDDARAMA V. SHIVANAIKAR S/O SRI VIJANAIK SAKKARNAIK SHIVANAIKAR AGED ABOUT 54 YEARS RESIDING AT NO.103 3RD MAIN ROAD, M BLOCK VIVEKANANDANAGAR DATTAGALLI MYSURU - 570 023 …PETITIONER (BY SRI MAHANTHESHA B., ADVOCATE) AND: 1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA REPRESENTED BY ITS CHIEF SECRETARY AND CHAIRPERSON OF MYSORE PALACE BOARD GOVERNMENT OF KARNATAKA VIDHANA SOUDHA DR. B.R. AMBEDKAR VEEDHI BENGALURU - 560 001 2. THE PRINCIPAL SECRETARY DEPARTMENT OF PERSONNEL AND Digitally signed by AMBIKA H B Location: High Court of Karnataka - 2 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010519352026 NC: 2026:KHC:43766-DB WP No. 23258 of 2026 ADMINISTRATIVE REFORMS GOVERNMENT OF KARNATAKA VIDHANA SOUDHA DR. B.R. AMBEDKAR VEEDHI BENGALURU - 560 001 3. THE PRINCIPAL SECRETARY DEPARTMENT OF KANNADA AND CULTURE GOVERNMENT OF KARNATAKA VIKASA SOUDHA DR. B.R. AMBEDKAR VEEDHI BENGALURU - 560 001 4. THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER AND EXECUTIVE OFFICER MYSORE PALACE BOARD MYSURU DISTRICT MYSURU - 570 001 5. SRI T.S. SUBRAMANYA DEPUTY DIRECTOR MYSORE PALACE BOARD MYSORE PALACE MYSURU - 570 001 …RESPONDENTS (BY SMT. NILOUFER AKBAR, AGA FOR R-1 TO R-4) THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA READ WITH RULE 14 OF THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA (PUBLIC INTEREST LITIGATION) RULES, 2018 PRAYING TO ISSUE A WRIT OF CERTIORARI OR ANY OTHER APPROPRIATE WRIT, ORDER OR DIRECTION, QUASHING GOVERNMENT ORDER No. KASAMVA 119 KOL AKA 2025 (ಕಸಂಾ 119 ೆಒಎ ಆಕ 2025) DATED 20.02.2026, ISSUED BY THE GOVERNMENT OF KARNATAKA, DEPARTMENT OF KANNADA AND CULTURE, INSOFAR AS IT APPOINTS RESPONDENT No. 5, SRI. T. S. SUBRAMANYA, AFTER HIS SUPERANNUATION, AS DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF THE MYSORE PALACE BOARD, MYSURU, ON A CONTRACTUAL BASIS FOR A PERIOD OF TWO YEARS WITH EFFECT FROM 01.07.2026, PRODUCED AT ANNEXURE-A AND ETC. - 3 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010519352026 NC: 2026:KHC:43766-DB WP No. 23258 of 2026 THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR ORDERS, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. VIBHU BAKHRU, CHIEF JUSTICE and HON'BLE MRS. JUSTICE K.S. HEMALEKHA ORAL ORDER (PER: HON'BLE MR. VIBHU BAKHRU, CHIEF JUSTICE) 1. The petitioner has filed the present petition as a public interest litigation, inter alia, impugning a Government Order dated 20.02.2026 issued by the Government of Kannada, Department of Kannada and Culture appointing respondent No.5 as Deputy Director of the Mysore Palace Board, Mysuru on contractual basis for a period of two years with effect from 01.07.2026. 2. The petitioner states that although such contractual appointment which has the effect of extending the services of an employee after superannuation can be issued, however, the same can be issued only in exceptional circumstances. 3. It is also averred in the present petition to the effect that respondent No.5's services has been extended albeit on a contractual basis for a period of two years as the State was of the opinion that he has been efficiently managing the administration - 4 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010519352026 NC: 2026:KHC:43766-DB WP No. 23258 of 2026 and development works of the Mysuru Palace and that, there was no other employee of the Mysuru Palace Board who was eligible for promotion to the said post. 4. Given the reasons, we do not consider it apposite to examine the merits of the said decision. 5. Consequently, we decline to entertain the present petition. The same is, accordingly, dismissed. Sd/- (VIBHU BAKHRU) CHIEF JUSTICE Sd/- (K.S. HEMALEKHA) JUDGE AHB List No.: 2 Sl No.: 2