- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC-D:1211 WP No. 109521 of 2025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA, AT DHARWAD DATED THIS THE 30TH DAY OF JANUARY 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MRS JUSTICE K.S.HEMALEKHA WRIT PETITION NO. 109521 OF 2025 (S-RES) BETWEEN: MALHARI APPAYA MOLERAKHI AGE: 55 YEARS, OCC: NIL, R/O. H.NO.80, BHAVAKAI GALLI, KAKATI, TAL AND DIST: BELAGAVI-591113. …PETITIONER (BY SRI. VITTHAL S.TELI, ADVOCATE) AND: 1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA REPRESENTED BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY, DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION, M.S.BUILDING, DR. AMBEDKAR BEEDHI, BENGALURU-560001. 2. THE ADDITIONAL COMMISSIONER DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, DHARWAD RODDA ROAD, DHARWAD-580008. 3. THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTIONS, CHIKKODI, OFFICE AT DDPI COMPUS, CHIKKODI, DIST: BELAGAVI-591201. 4. THE BLOCK EDUCATIONAL OFFICER DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION MANJANNA E Digitally signed by MANJANNA E Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA DHARWAD BENCH Date: 2026.02.18 10:31:29 +0530 - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC-D:1211 WP No. 109521 of 2025 AND LITERACY, HUKKERI, TAL: HUKKERI, EDUCATION DISTRICT CHIKKODI, DIST: BELAGAVI-591201. 5. STATE COMMISSIONER FOR RIGHTS OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES, REPRESENTED BY COMMISSIONER, 2ND FLOOR, KARNATAKA SLUM DEVELOPMENT BOARD BUILDING, SHESHADRIPURAM, BENAGLURU-560020. …RESPONDENTS (BY SMT. NANDINI B.SOMAPUR, AGA) THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO ISSUE A WRIT IN THE NATURE OF MANDAMUS OR DIRECTION, DIRECTING THE RESPONDENTS TO IMPLEMENT THE ORDER DATED 23.12.2020 IN CASE NO. 19/2020-21/921 BY STATE COMMISSION UNDER SECTION 82 OF THE RIGHT OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITY ACT 2016, BENGALURU VIDE ANNEXURE-E; ISSUE A WRIT IN THE NATURE OF MANDAMUS OR DIRECTION, DIRECTING THE RESPONDENTS TO PROVIDE ALL SERVICE BENEFITS INCLUDING PROMOTION ETC AT PER THE RIGHT OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITY ACT 2016 AND ETC. THIS WRIT PETITION COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY HEARING THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: THE HON'BLE MRS JUSTICE K.S.HEMALEKHA - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC-D:1211 WP No. 109521 of 2025 ORAL ORDER The petitioner has approached this Court seeking a writ of mandamus directing the respondents to implement the order dated 23.12.2020 in Case No.19/2020-21 passed by the State Commission for Persons with disabilities under Section 82 of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 [for short ‘Act, 2016’] and to extend all consequential service benefits, including arrears of salary and medical reimbursement. 2. Brief facts; The petitioner was appointed as an Assistant Teacher in the Government Marathi Primary School, Ramgurwadi, Khanapur Taluk, Belagavi District. On 10.11.2012, while discharging his duties, the petitioner suffered a sudden stroke and was diagnosed with ‘Right Hemiplegia with Left Hemiparsis of both Lower Limbs’. The medical condition was intimated to the authorities. Subsequently, the petitioner - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC-D:1211 WP No. 109521 of 2025 was assessed by BIMS-Belagavi and was issued a disability certificate, certifying 80% disability under the Act, 2016. 3. Despite disability occurring during the course of employment, the petitioner was not paid salary, arrears, or extended service benefits. Aggrieved, the petitioner approached the State Commission under Section 82 of the Act, 2016. 4. The State Commissioner, by order dated 23.12.2020, recommended that: i. Payment of salary and arrears from 10.11.2012; ii. Grant of all service benefits and iii. Reimbursement of medical expenses within the stipulated time. The recommendation, however was not implemented compelling the petitioner to approach this Court. - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC-D:1211 WP No. 109521 of 2025 5. Heard the learned counsel for the petitioner and the learned Additional Government Advocate for respondents-State. 6. Learned counsel for the petitioner contend that the disability occurred during the course of employment and the State Commissioner exercised statutory powers under Section 82 of the Act, 2016. Under the Scheme of the Act, 2016, once a recommendation is made, the concerned authority is bound to act upon it within the prescribed time. It is contended that despite lapse of considerable time, no action has been taken, thereby violating the statutory mandate and the right guaranteed under the Act, 2016. 7. Learned Additional Government Advocate for the State does not dispute the order passed by the State Commission under Section 82 of the Act, 2016 and submits that the recommendation would be considered and implemented in accordance with law. - 6 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC-D:1211 WP No. 109521 of 2025 8. This Court has carefully considered the rival contentions and perused the material on record. 9. Section 82 of the Act, 2016 envisages the powers of the State Commissioner which reads as under; 82. Powers of State Commissioner.— (1) The State Commissioner shall, for the purpose of discharging their functions under this Act, have the same powers of a civil court as are vested in a court under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (5 of 1908) while trying a suit, in respect of the following matters, namely:— (a) summoning and enforcing the attendance of witnesses; (b) requiring the discovery and production of any documents; (c) requisitioning any public record or copy thereof from any court or office; (d) receiving evidence on affidavits; and (e) issuing commissions for the examination of witnesses or documents. - 7 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC-D:1211 WP No. 109521 of 2025 (2) Every proceeding before the State Commissioner shall be a judicial proceeding within the meaning of sections 193 and 228 of the Indian Penal Code (45 of 1860) and the State Commissioners shall be deemed to be a civil court for the purposes of section 195 and Chapter XXVI of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974). 10. Section 82 of the Act, 2016, confers powers of the civil Court upon the State Commissioner while discharging statutory functions. Proceedings before the Commissioner are deemed judicial proceedings. The State Commissioner has passed an order dated 23.02.2020 as per Annexure-E and the relevant portion is culled out as under; DzÉñÀ 1. wêÀæ ¸ÀégÀÆ¥ÀzÀ CAUÀ«PÀ® ²PÀëPÀgÁzÀ ²æà ªÀįÁèj J, ªÀÄƼÉgÉÃT, ¸ÀºÀ ²PÀëPÀgÀÄ, ¸ÀPÁðj »¤AiÀÄ ¥ÁæxÀ«ÄPÀ ªÀÄgÁp ±Á¯É, zÀrØ, ºÀÄPÉÌÃj vÁ®ÆèPÀÄ aPÉÆÌÃr, ¨É¼ÀUÁ« f¯Éè EªÀgÀ£ÀÄß ¸ÉêÉAiÀÄ°è ªÀÄÄAzÀĪÀj¹ CAUÀ«PÀ®vÉAiÀÄ PÁgÀt¢AzÀ ªÀiÁ¹PÀ ¥ÀUÁgÀ ªÀÄvÀÄÛ ¨sÀvÉåUÀ¼À£ÀÄß ¥ÁªÀw¸ÀzÀ ¢£ÁAPÀ: 10-11-2012 jAzÀ PÀvÀðªÀå ¤gÀvÀ ¸ÁªÀiÁ£Àå C¢üPÁj/ ¹§âA¢AiÀĪÀjUÉ ¤ÃrzÀAvÉ J¯Áè ¸ÉêÁ ªÀÄvÀÄÛ DyðPÀ ¸Ë®¨sÀåUÀ¼À£ÀÄß F DzÉñÀ eÁjAiÀiÁzÀ 60 ¢£ÀUÀ¼ÉƼÀUÉ ¤ÃqÀ®Ä DzÉñÀ ºÉÆgÀr¸ÀĪÀAvÉ C¥ÀgÀ - 8 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC-D:1211 WP No. 109521 of 2025 DAiÀÄÄPÀÛgÀÄ, ¸ÁªÀðd¤PÀ ²PÀët E¯ÁSÉ, gÉÆzÀÝ gÀ¸ÉÛ, zsÁgÀªÁqÀ, G¥À¤zÉÃð±ÀPÀgÀÄ (DqÀ½vÀ) ¸ÁªÀðd¤PÀ ²PÀët E¯ÁSÉ, aPÉÆÌÃr ±ÉÊPÀëtÂPÀ f¯Éè, aPÉÆÌÃr ºÁUÀÆ PÉëÃvÀæ ²PÀëuÁ¢üPÁjUÀ¼ÀÄ ¸ÁªÀðd¤PÀ ±ÉÊPÀëtÂPÀ E¯ÁSÉ ºÀÄPÉÌÃj vÁ®ÆèPÀÄ, aPÉÆÌÃr ±ÉÊPÀëtÂPÀ f¯Éè gÀªÀjUÉ ¸ÀÆa¹zÉ. 2. 2. CAUÀ«PÀ® ²PÀëPÀgÁzÀ ²æà ªÀįÁèj J, ªÀÄƼÀgÉÃT, ¸ÀºÀ ²PÀëPÀgÀÄ, ¸ÀPÁðj »jAiÀÄ ¥ÁæxÀ«ÄPÀ ªÀÄgÁp ±Á¯É, zÀrØ, ºÀÄPÉÌÃj vÁ®ÆèPÀÄ aPÉÆÌÃr, ¨É¼ÀUÁ« f¯Éè EªÀgÀÄ CAUÀ«PÀ®vÉUÉ vÀÄvÁÛzÀ ¢£ÁAPÀ¢AzÀ C£ÀéAiÀĪÁUÀĪÀAvÉ CªÀgÀ DgÉÆÃUÀå ¤ªÀðºÀuÉUÁV ªÀiÁrPÉÆArgÀĪÀ J¯Áè RZÀÄðUÀ¼À£ÀÄß ¤AiÀĪÀiÁ£ÀĸÁgÀ F DzÉñÀ eÁjAiÀiÁzÀ 45 ¢£ÀUÀ¼ÉƼÀUÉ ¥ÁªÀw¸À®Ä PÀæªÀÄ PÉÊUÉƼÀÄîªÀAvÉ C¥ÀgÀ DAiÀÄÄPÀÛgÀÄ, ¸ÁªÀðd¤PÀ ²PÀët E¯ÁSÉ, gÉÆzÀÝ gÀ¸ÉÛ, zsÁgÀªÁqÀ G¥À¤zÉÃð±ÀPÀgÀÄ, DqÀ½vÀ ¸ÁªÀðd¤PÀ ²PÀët E¯ÁSÉ, aPÉÆÌÃr ºÁUÀÆ PÉëÃvÀæ ²PÀëuÁ¢üPÁjUÀ¼ÀÄ ¸ÁªÀðd¤PÀ ²PÀët E¯ÁSÉ ºÀÄPÉÌÃj vÁ®ÆèPÀÄ, aPÉÆÌÃr ±ÉÊPÀëtÂPÀ f¯Éè gÀªÀjUÉ DzÉò¹ ¥ÀæPÀgÀtªÀ£ÀÄß EvÀåxÀð¥Àr¹zÉ. (F DzÉñÀªÀ£ÀÄß £Á£ÀÄ ¢£ÁAPÀ: 23.12.2020 gÀAzÀÄ GPÀÛ ¯ÉÃR£À ¤ÃrgÀÄvÉÛãÉ.) 11. The order dated 23.12.2020 is a statutory recommendation issued in exercise of powers under the Act. The Scheme of the Act, 2016 contemplates that upon such recommendation, the concerned authority must take necessary action within the prescribed period and inform the Commissioner accordingly. 12. In the present case: - 9 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC-D:1211 WP No. 109521 of 2025 i. The recommendation is dated 23.12.2020; ii. No material is placed on record to show compliance; iii. The respondents have not furnished any justification for non-implementation. The failure to act upon the recommendation defeats the beneficial object of the Act, 2016 which is welfare legislation enacted to protect and secure the rights of persons with disabilities. In such circumstances, issuance of a mandamus is warranted. Accordingly, this Court pass the following; ORDER i) The writ petition is allowed. ii) Mandamus is issued to respondent Nos.2 to 4 to implement the order dated 23.12.2020 in Case No.19/2020-21 passed by the State Commissioner under Section 82 of the - 10 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC-D:1211 WP No. 109521 of 2025 Right of Persons with Disability Act, 2016. iii) The said order shall be implemented within a period of six (6) weeks from the date of receipt of copy of this order. Sd/- JUSTICE K.S.HEMALEKHA PJ/Ct:VH List No.: 1 Sl No.: 8