- 1 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010448752019 NC: 2026:KHC:49992-DB WP No. 7663 of 2020 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 15TH DAY OF SEPTEMBER, 2026 PRESENT THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S.G.PANDIT AND THE HON'BLE DR. JUSTICE CHILLAKUR SUMALATHA WRIT PETITION NO. 7663 OF 2020 (S-KSAT) BETWEEN: 1. THE REGISTRAR KARNATAKA LOKAYUKTHA M S BUILDING, DR. B R AMBEDKAR ROAD BANGALORE-560001. 2. THE ADDITIONAL REGISTRAR ENQUIRIES-II KARNATAKA LOKAYUKTA M S BUILDING BANGALORE-560001 REP. BY ITS THE REGISTRAR KARNATAKA LOKAYUKTHA. …PETITIONERS (BY SRI. VENKATESH S ARBATTI, ADV.) AND: 1. STATE OF KARNATAKA REP. BY ITS SECRETARY, HOME DEPARTMENT, VIDHANA SOUDHA, BANGALORE-560001. 2. THE DIRECTOR GENERAL AND INSPECTOR GENERAL OF POLICE NO.2, NRUPATHUNGA ROAD BANGALORE-560002. Digitally signed by NANJUNDACHARI Location: High Court of Karnataka - 2 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010448752019 NC: 2026:KHC:49992-DB WP No. 7663 of 2020 3. SRI BASAVARAJ J SON OF SRI SHVIAPPA AGED ABOUT 41 YEARS COWAL BAZAAR POLICE STATION BELLARY - 583102 RESIDING AT GENIKEHAL POST BELLARY TALUK, BELLARY DISTRICT-583116. …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI. S C DESHMUKH, AGA FOR R1 & R2 SRI MOHAN C., ADV. FOR R3) THIS PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA, PRAYING TO QUASH THE ORDER DATED 21.06.2018 PASSED BY THE KARNATAKA ADMINISTRATIVE TRIBUNAL AT BANGALORE IN APPLICATION NO.6924/2016 AS PER ANNEXURE-A AND AWARD THE COST OF THIS WRIT PETITION. THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY HEARING ‘B’ GROUP, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S.G.PANDIT AND HON'BLE DR. JUSTICE CHILLAKUR SUMALATHA ORAL ORDER (PER: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S.G.PANDIT) The above writ petition is by the Karnataka Lokayukta represented by its Registrar questioning the order dated 21.06.2018 in Application No.6924/2016 passed by the Karnataka State Administrative Tribunal at Bengaluru (for short, ‘the Tribunal’), wherein, the order of - 3 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010448752019 NC: 2026:KHC:49992-DB WP No. 7663 of 2020 entrustment of enquiry dated 03.08.2012 under Rule 14-A of the Karnataka Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules, 1957 (for short, ‘CCA Rules’) as well as articles of charge dated 08.07.2015 (Annexure-A6) are quashed. 2. Heard learned counsel Sri.Venkatesh S. Arabatti for petitioners, learned Additional Government Advocate Sri.S.C.Deshmukh for respondent Nos.1 and 2 and learned counsel Sri.C.Mohan for respondent No.3. Perused the entire writ petition papers. 3. Learned counsel appearing for the parties would submit that the issue raised in the present writ petition is answered by the Co-ordinate Bench of this Court dated 10.08.2026 in W.P.No.5601/2022 and Connected Matters. Further learned counsel for respondent No.3 Sri.C.Mohan would submit that the Co-ordinate Bench of this Court protected the respondents therein from demotion till the enquiry is completed and orders are passed. Thus, he - 4 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010448752019 NC: 2026:KHC:49992-DB WP No. 7663 of 2020 prays for similar protection to the third respondent in this writ petition also. 4. Taking note of the above submissions and on perusal of the material on record, we are of the considered opinion that the present writ petition could be disposed of in terms of the order dated 10.08.2026 in W.P.No.5601/2022 and Connected Matters. Accordingly, we pass the following: ORDER a) Writ petition is allowed. b) The order dated 21.06.2018 in Application No.6924/2016 passed by the Karnataka State Administrative Tribunal at Bengaluru is set aside. c) If the third respondent is promoted to the next higher cadre, only on the ground that departmental enquiry is pending, he shall not - 5 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010448752019 NC: 2026:KHC:49992-DB WP No. 7663 of 2020 be demoted till completion of enquiry and passing of appropriate order. d) Respondent No.3 shall co-operate with the Enquiry Officer and with the co-operation, the enquiry be completed as expeditiously as possible, within six months from the date of receiving copy of this order. Sd/- (S.G.PANDIT) JUDGE Sd/- (DR.CHILLAKUR SUMALATHA) JUDGE NC CT:bms List No.: 1 Sl No.: 30