- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC-D:2566 WP No. 108918 of 2025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA, AT DHARWAD DATED THIS THE 19TH DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE SMT. JUSTICE LALITHA KANNEGANTI WRIT PETITION NO.108918 OF 2025 (GM-RES) BETWEEN: SMT. RUDRAVVA D/O. BASAPPA BUDNUR, AGE. 42 YEARS, SINCE MENTALLY DISABLED IS BEING REPRESENTED BY HER SISTER SMT. DODDAVVA W/O. BHIMAPPA PUJER, AGE. 47 YEARS, OCC. HOUSEHOLD, R/O. YARADAL, TALUK. BAILHONGAL, DISTRICT. BELAGAVI. …PETITIONER (BY SRI. RAVICHANDRAGOUDA R.PATIL, ADVOCATE) AND: 1. STATE OF KARNATAKA, DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY, ROOM NO.236, 2ND FLOOR, VIKASA SOUDHA, DR.AMBEDKAR STREET, BANGALORE-560 001, REPRESENTED BY THE ADDITIONAL CHIEF SECRETARY. 2. KARNATAKA POWER TRANSMISSION CORPORATION LTD., KAVERI BHAVAN, BENGALURU-560009, REPRESENTED BY ITS MANAGING DIRECTOR. 3. HUBLI ELECTRICITY SUPPLY COMPANY (HESCOM), NAVANAGAR, HUBBALLI-580025, REPRESENTED BY THE DIRECTOR. Digitally signed by YASHAVANT NARAYANKAR Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC-D:2566 WP No. 108918 of 2025 4. THE EXECUTIVE ENGINEER, O AND M DIVISION, HESCOM, BAILHONGAL, DISTRICT. BELAGAVI-591102. 5. THE ACCOUNTS OFFICER (PENSION), KPTCL DIVISION OFFICE, SOMWARPETH, BAILHONGAL, DIST. BELAGAVI-591102. …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI. T. HANUMAREDDY, ADDL. GOVT. ADVOCATE FOR R1; SRI. SHIVAKUMAR S. BADAWADGI, ADVOCATE FOR R3; SRI. B.S. KAMATE, ADVOCATE FOR R2, R4 AND R5) THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLE 226 OF CONSTITUTION OF INDIA, PRAYING TO 1. ISSUE A WRIT OF MANDAMUS DIRECTING THE RESPONDENTS TO SANCTION AND RELEASE FAMILY PENSION IN FAVOR OF THE PETITIONER, THROUGH HER LAWFUL GUARDIAN; 2. DIRECT THE RESPONDENTS TO CONSIDER AND ACT UPON THE LATEST REPRESENTATION DATED 30.09.2024 HEREBY ANNEXED AT ANNEXURE E AND EXTEND PENSIONARY BENEFITS WITHIN A TIME-FRAME FIXED BY THIS HON’BLE COURT; 3. GRANT SUCH OTHER RELIEFS AS THIS HON’BLE COURT MAY DEEM FIT IN THE INTEREST OF JUSTICE AND EQUITY. THIS WRIT PETITION, COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY HEARING, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: THE HON'BLE SMT. JUSTICE LALITHA KANNEGANTI - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC-D:2566 WP No. 108918 of 2025 ORAL ORDER The present writ petition is filed seeking the following prayers: “1. Issue a writ of mandamus directing the respondents to sanction and release family pension in favor of the petitioner, through her lawful guardian; 2. Direct the respondents to consider and act upon the latest representation dated 30.09.2024 hereby annexed at Annexure E and extend pensionary benefits within a time-frame fixed by this Hon’ble Court; 3. Grant such other reliefs as this Hon’ble Court may deem fit in the interest of justice and equity.” 2. The petitioner is a mentally disabled daughter of deceased Basappa Ningappa Budnur, who served as a lineman under the respondent No.3/HESCOM at Bailhongal and died on 30.10.2013 leaving behind his wife and three daughters. After his demise, the family pension was sanctioned in favour of the wife i.e., the mother of the petitioner. She also died on 08.05.2021. It is the case of the petitioner that the petitioner, who is physically challenged daughter of the deceased Basappa Ningappa Budnur is entitled to the family pension, as she suffers from permanent mental or intellectual disability and has no - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC-D:2566 WP No. 108918 of 2025 independent means of livelihood. She is entirely dependent on her lawful guardian for sustenance and care. She made repeated representations requesting sanction of pension and the latest representation is dated 30.09.2024. It is submitted that the petitioner is not in a position to maintain herself and the Court ought to have considered the case of the petitioner for sanction of the pension. The learned counsel appearing for the petitioner has relied on the Karnataka Government Servants’ (Family Pension) Rules, 1964 (for short ‘Family Pension Rules’) and as per the same, the petitioner is entitled for the family pension. 3. The learned counsel appearing for respondent No.3/HESCOM submits that the representation as stated to have been given to the respondents is not available with them. If a representation is given, whether the petitioner is entitled for the family pension, the same would be considered by the respondents in accordance with the Rules. It is submitted that the Family Pension Rules, which the petitioner is relying upon, do not apply to the respondents/HESCOM and they have their own separate set of Rules and based on that, they will take appropriate action on the representation. - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC-D:2566 WP No. 108918 of 2025 4. Having heard the learned counsel on either side, perused the material on record. It is the contention of the petitioner that as she is suffering from permanent mental or intellectual disability and has no independent means of livelihood, she is entitled for family pension after the demise of her mother and in that regard already representation is given to the respondents/HESCOM. 5. According to the learned counsel for the respondent No.3/HESCOM, the said representation is not given or it is not with them and if a representation is given the same would be considered by the respondents in accordance with the Rules. 6. In that view of the matter, this Court is passing the following: ORDER (i) The respondents are directed to consider the representation made by the petitioner dated 30.09.2024, which is annexed with the present writ petition. - 6 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC-D:2566 WP No. 108918 of 2025 (ii) The learned counsel appearing for the respondent No.3 shall forward it to the respondents/HESCOM and the concerned respondents shall consider the said representation in accordance with law within a period of four weeks from the date of receipt of the copy of the order. (iii) Accordingly, the writ petition is disposed off. (iv) All I.As., in this writ petition stand closed. Sd/- JUSTICE LALITHA KANNEGANTI YAN, CT: UMD List No.: 1 Sl No.: 3