- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:5778-DB WP No. 20069 of 2022 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 2ND DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2026 PRESENT THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S.G.PANDIT AND THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE K. V. ARAVIND WRIT PETITION No. 20069 OF 2022 (S-KSAT) BETWEEN: 1. STATE OF KARNATAKA, REP. BY ITS SECRETARY, DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE, M. S. BUILDING, DR. AMBEDKAR VEEDHI, BENGALURU-560001. 2. THE COMMISSIONER, DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE, SESHADRI ROAD, BENGALURU-560 001. 3. THE JOINT DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE, ADMINISTRATIVE BUILDING, CHAMARAJANAGARA-571 313. 4. THE ACCOUNTANT GENERAL IN KARNATAKA (A AND E), PARK HOUSE ROAD, BENGALURU-560 001. …PETITIONERS (BY SRI K.R. RAJENDRA, AGA) Digitally signed by VINUTHA B S Location: High Court of Karnataka - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:5778-DB WP No. 20069 of 2022 AND: 1. SRI SIDDEGOWDA, AGED ABOUT 62 YEARS, S/O SIDDE GOWDA, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE (RETIRED), RESIDING AT No.53, KAVERI MAIN ROAD, GURURAJA LAYOUT, RAGHAVENDRA NAGAR, MYSURU-570010. …RESPONDENT (BY SRI P.M. NAYAK, ADVOCATE) THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLE 226 AND 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO SET ASIDE THE IMPUGNED ORDER DATED 06.01.2020 IN A.No-6169/2019 (ANNEXURE-A) PASSED BY THE KSAT BENGALURU. THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY 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 K. V. ARAVIND) Heard Sri K.R. Rajendra, learned Additional Government Advocate for the petitioners-State, and Sri P.M. Nayak, learned counsel for the respondent. - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:5778-DB WP No. 20069 of 2022 2. The State Government has filed the present writ petition calling in question the order dated 06.01.2020 passed by the Karnataka State Administrative Tribunal, Bengaluru (hereinafter referred to as 'the Tribunal'), in Application No.6169/2019. 3. The respondent retired from service on 30.06.2018 upon attaining the age of superannuation. It is contended that during the period 2011–12, while the respondent was working as an Agriculture Officer at Kollegalu Taluk, Chamarajanagar District, there was misappropriation of funds. A letter dated 06.03.2019 was issued with regard to the settlement of pensionary benefits. However, on the ground that an enquiry was pending, only provisional pension was sanctioned. 3.1 Aggrieved thereby, the respondent filed an application before the Tribunal seeking a direction to the authorities to release and pay the Death-cum-Retirement Gratuity (DCRG), Commuted Value of Pension, Encashment of Earned Leave, and Group Insurance, together with interest at the rate of 12%. The Tribunal, by the impugned order, directed release of the aforesaid benefits within a period of four months. - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:5778-DB WP No. 20069 of 2022 4. Sri K.R. Rajendra, learned Additional Government Advocate appearing for the petitioners, submits that the Articles of Charge were issued on 16.10.2020. It is further submitted that prior to issuance of the Articles of Charge, an enquiry was conducted by the Ombudsman and an enquiry report dated 08.05.2014 was submitted against the respondent. On that basis, it is contended that the withholding of pensionary benefits is justified. Learned AGA also submits that the respondent, challenging the Articles of Charge, has preferred an application before the Tribunal and the same is pending. 5. Sri P.M. Nayak, learned counsel for the respondent submits that the respondent retired on 30.06.2018. As on the date of retirement, no proceedings were pending enabling withholding of retirement benefit. Subsequent issuance of Articles of Charge cannot be a ground to withhold the pensionary benefits. It is submitted that the Articles of Charge are issued contrary to Rule 214(2)(b)(ii) of the Karnataka Civil Services Rules (KCSRs) and on that ground, the same is not - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:5778-DB WP No. 20069 of 2022 challenged before the Tribunal. With the above submission, learned counsel prays to dismiss the writ petition. 6. Be that as it may, we notice that the alleged period of misappropriation pertains to the year 2011–12. The respondent retired from service on 30.06.2018, whereas the Articles of Charge were issued only on 16.10.2020. Rule 214(2)(b)(ii) of KCSRs places a restriction on the initiation of disciplinary proceedings in respect of an event which has taken place more than four years prior to the institution of such proceedings. 7. If the aforesaid dates are taken note of, the Articles of Charge are clearly barred under Rule 214(2)(b)(ii) of the KCSRs. On that ground alone, we hold that once the Articles of Charge are held to be not maintainable, the order passed by the Tribunal directing settlement of the pensionary benefits cannot be found fault with. 8. The contention of the learned Additional Government Advocate that an enquiry was conducted by the Ombudsman and a report was submitted against the - 6 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:5778-DB WP No. 20069 of 2022 respondent on 08.05.2014 is of no consequence, once the Articles of Charge are held to be barred in terms of the Rule referred to hereinabove. The enquiry by Ombudsman was for a different purpose and it was not with regard to alleged misconduct of the respondent. 9. For the aforesaid reasons, we find no ground to entertain this writ petition. Accordingly, the writ petition stands dismissed. Sd/- (S.G.PANDIT) JUDGE Sd/- (K. V. ARAVIND) JUDGE DDU List No.: 1 Sl No.: 25