- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:21189-DB WP No. 1234 of 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 17TH DAY OF APRIL, 2026 PRESENT THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S.G.PANDIT AND THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE K. V. ARAVIND WRIT PETITION NO. 1234 OF 2026 (S-KSAT) BETWEEN: THE ADDITIONAL REGISTRAR (ENQUIRIS-10) KARNATAKA LOKAYUKTA, M S BUILDING, BENGALURU – 560001. …PETITIONER (BY SRI. K PRASANNA SHETTY, ADV.) AND: 1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA REP. BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY, KARNATAKA PUBLIC WORKS, PORTS AND INLAND WATER TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT, VIDHANA SOUDHA, BENGALURU-560001. 2. SRI. D.S. DEVARAJ S/O SHAMBHU GOWDA AGED ABOUT 56 YEARS ASST. ENGINEER, WARD NO.66, SUBRAMANYA NAGAR, BBMP, BANGALORE-560010. …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI. V SHIVAREDDY, AGA FOR R1) THIS PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO ISSUE A WRIT IN THE NATURE OF WRIT OF CERTIORARI OR ANY OTHER APPROPRIATE WRIT, ORDER OR DIRECTION TO QUASH THE ORDER DATED 17/07/2019 PASSED IN APPLICATION NO.3993/2017 BY THE KARNATAKA STATE ADMINISTRATIVE TRIBUNAL AT BENGALURU (ANNEXURE-A) AND PASS ANY OTHER OR FURTHER ORDERS. THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY HEARING, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: Digitally signed by NANJUNDACHARI Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:21189-DB WP No. 1234 of 2026 CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S.G.PANDIT AND HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE K. V. ARAVIND ORAL ORDER (PER: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE K.V. ARAVIND) Heard learned counsel Sri.K.Prasanna Shetty for petitioner and learned Additional Government Advocate Sri.V.Shivareddy for respondent No.1. 2. The present writ petition is filed by the Registrar, Lokayukta, challenging the order dated 17.07.2019 passed by the Karnataka State Administrative Tribunal, Bengaluru (for short, ‘the Tribunal’) in Application Nos.3993 & 3994 of 2017. 3. The present writ petition has been filed on 13.01.2026 after a lapse of more nearly six years. Irrespective of the merits canvassed in the writ petition, we find that no justifiable explanation has been offered for the delayed presentation of this writ petition. 4. On a query made by the Court, the learned counsel appearing for the petitioner was not in a position to furnish any acceptable reason for the delay. It is no doubt true that no - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:21189-DB WP No. 1234 of 2026 period of limitation is prescribed for filing a writ petition. However, if any right is claimed by the petitioner, the same ought to be agitated within a reasonable time. We are of the considered view that a delay of nearly six years cannot be said to be reasonable so as to entertain the present writ petition. 5. Moreover, the private respondent is aged more than 65 years. If this belated petition is entertained at this stage, it would unsettle the rights that have accrued in favour of the private respondent. 6. For the aforesaid reasons, this Court is not inclined to entertain the present writ petition, and the same is accordingly dismissed on the ground of delay and laches. Sd/- (S.G.PANDIT) JUDGE Sd/- (K. V. ARAVIND) JUDGE NC CT:bms: List No.: 1 Sl No.: 40