- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:22166-DB WP No. 9470 of 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 23RD DAY OF APRIL, 2026 PRESENT THE HON'BLE MR. VIBHU BAKHRU, CHIEF JUSTICE AND THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE C.M. POONACHA WRIT PETITION NO. 9470 OF 2026 (GM-RES) BETWEEN: MR B SIDHARAJU AGED ABOUT 47 YEARS S/O BIRALINGAPPA OCCUPATION: SECURITY SUPERVISOR NO.2, JYOTHIPURA, VIRGONAGAR POST BENGALURU-560049 AADHAR NO.8847 8201 5711 MOBILE NO. 9880531010 EMAIL ID: SIDHARAJU1979@GMAIL.COM …PETITIONER (BY SRI. ARUNA SHYAM, SENIOR ADVOCATE A/W SMT. SUNITHA N, ADVOCATE) AND: 1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA REP BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY DEPARTMENT OF LABOUR GOVERNMENT OF KARNATAKA, VIKASA SOUDHA, BENGALURU-560 001 EMAIL: SECY-LABOUR@KARNATAKA.GOV.IN Digitally signed by NIRMALA DEVI Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:22166-DB WP No. 9470 of 2026 2. THE UNION OF INDIA MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT, SHRAMSHAKTHI BHAVAN, RAFI MARG, NEW DELHI-110001. REP BY ITS SECRETARY. 3. THE EMPLOYEES STATE INSURANCE CORPORATION PANCHADEEP BHAVAN, CIG MARG, NEW DELHI - 110 002. REP BY ITS DIRECTOR GENERAL EMAIL : PG-HQRS@ESIC.NIC.IN 4. THE COMMISSIONER EMPLOYEES STATE INSURANCE SCHEME MEDICAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT, GOVERNMENT OF KARNATAKA, S.NIJALINGAPPA ROAD, RAJAJINAGAR 2ND BLOCK, BENGALURU-560 010. REP BY ITS COMMISSIONER. EMAIL: DIR-ESI@KARNATAKA.GOV.IN 5. THE KARNATAKA EMPLOYEES STATE INSURANCE SOCIETY REP. BY ITS C.E.O CUM COMMISSIONER S.NIJALINGAPPA ROAD, RAJAJINAGAR 2ND BLOCK, BENGALURU - 560 010. …RESPONDENTS (BY MS. NILOUFER AKBAR, AGA FOR R1 SRI. POOJAPPA J, CGC FOR R2) THIS WP IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 & 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO ISSUE A WRIT IN THE NATURE OF MANDAMUS OR ANY OTHER APPROPRIATE WRIT DIRECTING THE RESPONDENT NOS.1 AND 4 TO HAND OVER / TRANSFER ALL THE STATE RUN ESI HOSPITALS, DISPENSARIES AND DIAGNOSTIC CENTRES IN THE STATE - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:22166-DB WP No. 9470 of 2026 OF KARNATAKA WHICH ARE PRESENTLY UNDER THE CONTROL OF RESPONDENT NOS.1 AND 4 TO RESPONDENT NOS.2 AND 3, BY CONSIDERING THE REPRESENTATIONS DATED 31/12/2025 AT ANNEXURE-A. THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY HEARING, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. VIBHU BAKHRU, CHIEF JUSTICE and HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE C.M. POONACHA 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 praying that directions be issued to respondent Nos.1 to 4 to handover and transfer all the State run ESI Hospitals, Dispensaries and Diagnostic Centres in the State of Karnataka which are presently under the control of respondent Nos.1 and 4 [The State of Karnataka] to respondent Nos.2 and 3 [Union of India and the Employees State Insurance Corporation]. The petitioner also prays that directions be issued to respondent Nos.2 and 3 to take over all the State run ESI Hospitals, Dispensaries and Diagnostic Centres. - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:22166-DB WP No. 9470 of 2026 2. It is the petitioner's case that the Hospitals and Dispensaries managed by the State are not being run efficiently and the quality of medical care at the said Hospitals is relatively poor as compared to ESI Hospitals run by respondent No.3. 3. We do not consider it apposite that any directions for handing over of Hospitals are required to be issued. If the petitioner has any grievance with a particular Hospital, it would be open for the petitioner to raise his grievance with the appropriate authorities. 4. Petition is dismissed with the aforesaid observations. Sd/- (VIBHU BAKHRU) CHIEF JUSTICE Sd/- (C.M. POONACHA) JUDGE BS List No.: 1 Sl No.: 2