- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:812-DB WP No. 4144 of 2017 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 7TH DAY OF JANUARY, 2026 PRESENT THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S.G.PANDIT AND THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE K. V. ARAVIND WRIT PETITION NO. 4144 OF 2017 (S-KAT) BETWEEN: SRI SURESH GOWDRA S/O YALLANNA GOWDA AGED ABOUT 25 YEARS, RESIDING AT POST KADIWAL KALLAPUR, TALUK HUNAGUND BAGALKOT-587120. …PETITIONER (BY SRI. SUBRAMANYA BHAT M., ADV.) AND: 1. PRINCIPAL CHIEF CONSERVATOR OF FOREST & CHIEF OF FOREST FORCE ARANYA BHAVAN, 18TH CROSS, MALLESHWARAM BENGALURU-560 003. 2. THE ADDITIONAL PRINCIPAL CHIEF CONSERVATOR OF FOREST (PERSONNEL AND RECRUITMENT) AND CHIEF EXAMINER FOR RECRUITMENT TO THE POST OF RFO S ARANYA BHAVAN, 18TH CROSS, MALLESHWARAM BENGALURU-560003. 3. SRI SANJAYA B S S/O SOMASHEKHARAPPA B S AGED ABOUT 23 YEARS, Digitally signed by NANJUNDACHARI Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:812-DB WP No. 4144 of 2017 R/AT BETTADA HALLI VILLAGE TARIKERE TLAUK-577228 CHIKMAGALUR DISTRICT. …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI.SHIVAREDDY, AGA FOR R1 & R2 SRI G.K. BASAVARAJA PATEL, ADV. FOR R3) THIS PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO QUASH THE ORDER DATED 16.01.2017 PASSED IN APPLICATION NO.2251/2016 BY THE KARNATAKA STATE ADMINISTRATIVE TRIBUNAL, BANGALORE VIDE ANNEX-E, AS THE SAME SUFFERS FROM ERROR WHICH IS APPARENT ON THE FACT OF RECORD AND ETC. THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR HEARING, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S.G.PANDIT AND HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE K. V. ARAVIND ORAL ORDER (PER: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S.G.PANDIT) The petitioner, respondent No.3 before the Karnataka State Administrative Tribunal, Bengaluru (for short “Tribunal”) is before this Court in this Writ Petition, questioning the order dated 16.01.2017 in Application No.2251/2016, by which, the application of Respondent No.3 herein was allowed, directing to include his name in the final select list dated 29.10.2014 of the Range Forest Officers, subject to other eligibility. - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:812-DB WP No. 4144 of 2017 2. Heard learned counsel Sri.Subramanya Bhat for petitioner, learned AGA Sri.V.Shivareddy for respondents No.1 and 2 and Sri.G.K.Basavaraja Patel, learned counsel for respondent No.3. Perused the entire writ petition papers. The parties shall be referred to hereinafter as per their ranking before this Court. 3. The first respondent, by notification dated 29.10.2014 invited applications to fill up 110 posts of Range Forest Officers, out of which, 61 posts were reserved for the candidates possessing B.Sc (Forestry). Out of 61 posts, 9 posts were earmarked for 2A Rural Candidates. The petitioner and respondent No.3 herein belonged to 2A Rural category. The petitioner had scored 58.5 marks, whereas, respondent No.3 had scored 97.5 marks. On the ground that respondent No.3 had produced Caste and Income Certificate dated 07.10.2015, obtained subsequent to the last date for submitting applications, the candidature of respondent No.3 was rejected and the petitioner herein was selected and appointed as Range - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:812-DB WP No. 4144 of 2017 Forest Officer against a post earmarked for 2A Rural category. The final select list and appointment of petitioner was challenged by respondent No.3 before the Tribunal in Application No.2251/2016 and the Tribunal under impugned order allowed the application of respondent No.3, placing reliance on the RAM KUMAR GIJROYA v/s DELHI SUBORDINATE SERVICES SELECTION BOARD AND ANOTHER reported in AIR 2016 SC 1098. Questioning the said order of the Tribunal, petitioner is before this Court in this writ petition. 4. Learned counsel Sri.Subramanya Bhat for petitioner would submit that respondent No.3 had not produced 2A (Rural Certificate) along with his application and as such, the case of respondent No.3 for selection and appointment to the post of Range Forest Officer in pursuance of the notification dated 29.10.2014 was not considered and his candidature was rejected. Subsequently, respondent No.3 obtained Caste and Income Certificate dated 07.10.2015 and produced before the Selection Committee at the time - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:812-DB WP No. 4144 of 2017 of verification of documents which was rightly rejected by respondents No.1 and 2. Thus, he would submit that the candidate who has failed to produce Caste and Income Certificate obtained before the last date for submitting applications would not be entitled for consideration of his case for selection and appointment. It is submitted that the Tribunal wrongly applied the principles laid down in RAM KUMAR GIJROYA case and erroneously allowed the application. Thus, he would pray for allowing the writ petition. 5. Per contra, learned counsel Sri.G.K.Basavaraja Patel appearing for respondent No.3 would submit that he is more meritorious than the petitioner and further he submits that initially, at the time of submitting the application, the petitioner had submitted Caste and Income Certificate dated 05.05.2010 which had the validity for 5 years. It is submitted that the Caste and Income Certificate dated 05.05.2010 was in force as on the last date for submitting the application i.e., - 6 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:812-DB WP No. 4144 of 2017 19.12.2014. As such, the Selection Authority ought to have considered the said Caste and Income Certificate and ought to have selected respondent No.3 as Range Forest Officer. It is his submission that during the course of selection process, Caste and Income Certificate dated 05.05.2010 had expired and he obtained fresh Caste and Income Certificated dated 07.10.2025. Thus, he would submit that the Tribunal has rightly appreciated the contentions of respondent No.3 and allowed the application and in pursuance of the direction of the Tribunal, respondent No.3 was appointed and he is working as on this date as Range Forest Officer. 6. Having heard the learned counsel for the parties and on perusal of the entire writ petition papers, we are of view that the petitioner has not made out any ground to interfere with the impugned order passed by the Tribunal, more particularly, when respondent No.3 had produced the Caste and Income Certificate dated 05.05.2010 along - 7 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:812-DB WP No. 4144 of 2017 with his application which was valid as on the last date for submitting the application i.e., 19.12.2014. 7. The notification inviting application would indicate that, unless one produces the relevant documents along with the application, he would not be permitted to write the preliminary examination. In the instant case, respondent No.3 was permitted to write preliminary examination and he was qualified in the preliminary and main examination. It appears that respondents No.1 and 2 permitted respondent No.3 to write preliminary and main examination and to participate in the selection process based on the Caste and Income Certificate dated 05.05.2010, which is proper. 8. Normally, the Caste and Income Certificate would be valid for 5 years and respondent No.3 obtained the Caste and Income Certificate 05.05.2010 which was valid till 04.05.2015. Thereafter, respondent No.3 appears to have obtained fresh Caste and Income Certificate dated 07.10.2015. However, the Caste and Income Certificate - 8 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:812-DB WP No. 4144 of 2017 dated 05.05.2010 was valid as on the last date for submitting the application, shall have to be considered by the Selection Committee. In the instant case, the respondents No.1 and 2 have rightly considered the Caste and Income Certificate dated 05.05.2010 and permitted Respondent No.3 to participate in the selection process. In view of above factual position, we need not examine as to whether RAM KUMAR GIJROYA case would apply or not. 9. In the light of the above, we are of the considered view that there is no merit in the writ petition and accordingly, the writ petition stands rejected. Sd/- (S.G.PANDIT) JUDGE Sd/- (K. V. ARAVIND) JUDGE MPK CT:bms List No.: 1 Sl No.: 41