- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC-D:1578 WP No. 100216 of 2026 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA, AT DHARWAD DATED THIS THE 4TH DAY OF FEBRUARY 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE SMT. JUSTICE LALITHA KANNEGANTI WRIT PETITION NO. 100216 OF 2026 (GM-RES) BETWEEN: SUNIL HANAGANDI, AGE: 33 YEARS, OCC: BANK MANAGER, R/O. SASALATTI, TQ: RABAKAVI-BANAHATTI, DIST: BAGALKOT-587315. …PETITIONER (BY SRI. SHREEVATSA S. HEGDE, ADVOCATE) AND: 1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORT, BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY, VIKAS SOUDHA, BENGALURU-560001. 2. THE TRANSPORT COMMISSIONER, GOVERNMENT OF KARNATAKA, SHANTHINAGAR, BENGALURU-560027. 3. THE JOINT COMMISSIONER OF TRANSPORT, BELAGAVI REGION, BELAGAVI-590001. 4. THE ASSISTANT REGIONAL TRANSPORT OFFICER, JAMKHANDI SUB-DIVISION, BAGALKOT DISTRICT-587301. …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI. T. HANUMAREDDY, AGA) THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO ISSUE A WRIT OF MANDAMUS DIRECTING THE RESPONDENTS TO GRANT Digitally signed by YASHAVANT NARAYANKAR Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC-D:1578 WP No. 100216 of 2026 BH-SERIES REGISTRATION TO THE PETITIONER’S VEHICLE HYUNDAI CRETA 1.5 CRDI MT E BEARING CHASSIS NO.MALPA813LSM171013 AND ENGINE NO.D4FASM404236. THIS WRIT PETITION, COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY HEARING, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: THE HON'BLE SMT. JUSTICE LALITHA KANNEGANTI ORAL ORDER The present writ petition is filed seeking the following prayer: “a) Issue a Writ of Mandamus directing the Respondents to grant Bh-Series registration to the Petitioner’s vehicle Hyundai Creta 1.5 CRDI MT E bearing Chassis No.MALPA813LSM171013 and Engine No.D4FASM404236. b) Pass such other order or direction as this Hon’ble court may deem fit in the interest of justice and equity.” 2. It is the case of the petitioner that, he is employed as a Manager with ICICI Bank which is a Scheduled Private Sector Bank having primary operations with offices in more than 4 States and he is liable for interstate transfer during his service. The petitioner had requested the respondents to grant the BH-Series registration of his vehicle. But the respondents by the endorsement dated 08.12.2025 had rejected the case of the petitioner stating that the petitioner is an employee of the - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC-D:1578 WP No. 100216 of 2026 Private Bank and is not entitled for the registration under BH-Series. 3. Learned counsel appearing for the petitioner submits that, the Government of India, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways introduced the BH-Series vehicle registration under the Central Motor Vehicle Rules to enable the transferable employees to retain a single vehicle registration. The petitioner has applied for BH-Series registration of his vehicle on 29.10.2025 and along with that, he had submitted a valid employee certificate issued by the ICICI Bank certifying the petitioner's employment. Learned counsel has drawn the attention of the Court to the notification issued by the Government of Karnataka dated 04.08.2022 which states that in partial modification to the Notification No. TD 276 TDO 2021 issued on 30.11.2021, permission is accorded for the registration of Non-transport vehicle under BH-Series only for certain category of employees’ owned vehicles and in that at Sl.No.3, Officers of the Bank in the post of Interstate Transfer were mentioned. Learned counsel submits that, since the petitioner is in a managerial cadre and holds a transferable post involving interstate movement and as - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC-D:1578 WP No. 100216 of 2026 the Bank operates in more than four States, he is eligible to avail registration of his vehicle under the BH-Series. 4. Learned Additional Government Advocate appearing for the respondents does not dispute the fact that the Government of Karnataka has issued the Notification dated 04.08.2022. As per the same, the bank employees who are in the cadre of Interstate Transfer are entitled for the registration of their vehicles under BS-series. 5. Having heard the counsels on either side, perused the material on record. This Court has perused the Notification dated 04.08.2022 issued by the Government of Karnataka, wherein at Sl.No.3, it is mentioned that the Officers of the Bank in the post of Interstate Transfer are eligible to avail registration of their vehicles under the BH-Series. The petitioner hold the post of Manager in the ICICI Bank and as it is stated that the Bank is operating in more than four States and as it is a transferable job, the petitioner is entitled for the registration of his vehicle under the BS-Series. Hence, this Court is passing the following: - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC-D:1578 WP No. 100216 of 2026 ORDER (i) The proceedings dated 08.12.2025 are set-aside and the respondent No.4 is directed to register the petitioner's vehicle i.e. Hyundai Creta 1.5 CRDI MT E bearing Chassis No. MALPA813LSM171013 and Engine No. D4FASM404236 under the BH-Series. (ii) Accordingly, the writ petition is allowed. (iii) All pending I.As. in this writ petition shall stand closed. Sd/- JUSTICE LALITHA KANNEGANTI RH LIST NO.: 1 SL NO.: 17