- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:20483 WP No. 27983 of 2025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 10TH DAY OF APRIL, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S.R.KRISHNA KUMAR WRIT PETITION NO.27983 OF 2025 (S-RES) BETWEEN: 1. KEB ENGINEERS ASSOCIATION REGISTERED UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF KARNATAKA SOCIETIES REGISTRATION ACT, NO.28, SILVER JUBILEE BUILDING, RACE COURSE CROSS ROAD, ANAND RAO CIRCLE, BENGALURU-560009. REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY, SANTHOSH R.M, BENGALURU CITY. 2. SMT. VARSHITHA M R D/O SRI. RAMESH GOWDA M.G PIN NO.15231 AGED 38 YEARS ASSISTANT ENGINEER (ELECT.) 220KV RECEIVING STATION, KPTCL, SARJAPURA, BENGALURU-562 125. 3. SMT. RAMYA R D/O SRI. RAMESH M PIN NO.15232 AGED 37 YEARS ASSISTANT ENGINEER (ELECT.) ICT AND MIS, BESCOM, CORPORATE OFFICE, BENGALURU-560 001 4. SMT. SINDHU KUMAR M D/O SRI. MAHESH KUMAR PIN NO.15238 AGED 37 YEARS ASSISTANT ENGINEER (ELECT.) W1 SUB-DIVISION, GIRI NAGAR, Digitally signed by CHANDANA B M Location: High Court of Karnataka - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:20483 WP No. 27983 of 2025 AVALAHALLI, OPPOSITE TO PES COLLEGE, BENGALURU-560 026. 5. SMT. ASHAKUMARI M D/O SRI. MARISWAMY PIN NO 15241 AGED 37 YEARS ASSISTANT ENGINEER (ELECT.) L.T RATING, RAMANAGAR, BESCOM, RAMAGANAR-562 159. 6. SMT. SAVITHA B D/O SRI. BYREGOWDA PIN NO 15246 AGED 44 YEARS ASSISTANT ENGINEER (ELECT.) O/O THE EXECUTIVE ENGINEER (ELE.,), JAYANAGAR DIVISION, BESCOM, 23RD MAIN ROAD, 27TH CROSS, BANSHANKARI 2ND STAGE, BENGALURU - 560070. 7. SMT. SHUBHA BHAT K D/O LATE SRI. SHRIPATHI BHAT K PIN NO 15257 AGED 39 YEARS ASSISTANT ENGINEER (ELECT.) 0/0 THE EXECUTIVE ENGINEER(ELEC.), PROJECTS DIVISION, BENGALURU (SOUTH), ANAND RAO CIRCLE, NEHRU NAGAR, BENGALURU-560 009. 8. SRI. KISHORE G S/O SRI. GOWDAIAH PIN NO 15271 AGED 37 YEARS ASSISTANT ENGINEER (ELECT.) 0/0 THE ASST. EXECUTIVE ENGINEER (ELE.), BESCOM, N6 SUB DIVISION, OUTER RING ROAD, PREM NAGAR, LAGGERE, BENGALURU-560 058. 9. SMT. LATHA R D/O R. RANGAHANUMAIAH PIN NO 15286 AGED 37 YEARS ASSISTANT ENGINEER (ELECT.) - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:20483 WP No. 27983 of 2025 O/O THE EXECUTIVE ENGINEER (ELEC.), RAJAJINAGAR DIVISION, WEST OF CHORD ROAD, RAJAJI NAGAR 2ND BLOCK, BANGALORE – 560 010. 10. SMT. PALLAVI B S D/O SRI. SHANTHAKUMAR SN PIN NO.15289 AGED 37 YEARS ASSISTANT ENGINEER (ELECT.) 220KV RECEIVING STATION, R.R.NAGAR ARCH, NEAR VRUSHABAVATHI VALLEY, KARNATAKA POWER TRANSMISSION CORPORATION LIMITED (KPTCL), MYSURU ROAD, BENGALURU-560 039. 11. SMT. SUJATHA B D/O SRI.BASAVARAJU TM PIN NO 15290 AGED 38 YEARS ASSISTANT ENGINEER (ELECT.) O/O THE EXECUTIVE ENGINEER (ELE.,), 1ST FLOOR, NEAR POLICE STATION, MYSORE ROAD, BYATARAYANAPUR, R.R.NAGAR DIVISION, BESCOM, BENGALURU – 560 026. …PETITIONERS (BY SRI. VIJAYA KUMAR, ADVOCATE) AND: 1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA REPRESENTED BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY ENERGY DEPARTMENT, VIKASA SOUDHA BENGALURU-560 001. 2. THE SECRETARY KARNATAKA LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY SECRETARIAT ROOM NO.121, I FLOOR, VIDHANA SOUDHA BENGALURU-560 001. 3. THE KARNATAKA POWER TRANSMISSION - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:20483 WP No. 27983 of 2025 CORPORATION LIMITED REPRESENTED BY ITS MANAGING DIRECTOR CAUVERY BHAVAN, K.G. ROAD BENGALURU-560 009. 4. THE DIRECTOR (ADMN. & HR) THE KARNATAKA POWER TRANSMISSION CORPORATION LIMITED CAUVERY BHAVAN, K.G. ROAD BENGALURU-560 009. 5. KPTCL ESCOM’S SC/ST OFFICERS’ ASSOCIATION (KESOA), REGD NO.348, REGISTERED UNDER THE SOCIETIES ACT, 1860 OFFICE: COMPUND OF O/O. ASSISTANT EXECUTIVE ENGINEER, TRANSPORT SECTION, KPTCL RAJAJINAGAR BENGALURU – 560 010. REPRESENTED BY GENERAL SECRETARY, SRI. M. RAVINDRA. 6. SRI. RASHMI RAJ M.D. D/O DEVARAJ M.H. PIN NO. 15475 AGED ABOUT 38 YEARS ASSISTANT ENGINEER (ELE), OFFICE OF THE ASSISTANT EXECUTIVE ENGINEER (ELE) C-2 SUB DIVISION, BESCOM MALLESHWARAM, 13TH CROSS BENGALURU – 560 003. 7. SMT. POOJA PRABHAKAR D/O G. PRABHAR PIN NO.15341 AGED ABOUT 39 YEARS ASSISTANT ENGINEER (ELE) O/O THE ASSISTANT EXECUTIVE ENGINEER E10 SUB DIVISION, BESCOM PAI LAYOUT, BENGALURU – 560 016. 8. SMT. BHAVYA N.T D/O TULASIRAM N.T PIN NO.15479 AGED ABOUT 38 YEARS ASSISTANT ENGINEER (ELE) - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:20483 WP No. 27983 of 2025 O/O THE ASSISTANT EXECUTIVE ENGINEER S12 GAURAVNAGAR, BESCOM BENGALURU – 560 108. 9. SMT. MANJULA.K D/O KARIYANNA PIN NO. 15455 AGED ABOUT 38 YEARS ASSISTANT ENGINEER (ELE) O/O THE ASSISTANT EXECUTIVE ENGINEER MAGADI SUB-DIVISION BESCOM, MAGADI. 10. SMT. SWETHA.S D/O SIDDARAMAIAH PIN NO. 15505 AGED ABOUT 39 YEARS ASSISTANT ENGINEER (ELE) O/O THE ASSISTANT EXECUTIVE ENGINEER KPTCL, 66/11KV, KANAKAPURA SUB-STATION KANAKAPURA – 562 167. 11. SMT. MANJULKA K.J D/O JAYAPPA PIN NO.15492 AGED ABOOUT 39 YEARS ASSISTANT ENGINEER (ELE) O/O THE CHIEF ENGINEER (ELE) PLANNING & CO –ORDINATING KPTCL, BENGALURU. 12. SMT. ANNAPURNA S.H D/O HUCHANGAPPA PIN NO.15294 AGED ABOUT 39 YEARS ASSISTANT ENGINEER (ELE) O/O THE ENERGY MONOTORING CELL, ENERGY DEPARTMENT VIKAS SOUDHA, BENGALURU . 13. SRI. SHIVAKUMAR.M S/O MANJUNATH.V PIN NO.15266 AGED ABOUT 37 YEARS ASSISTANT ENGINEER (ELE) O/O THE ASSISTANT EXECUTIVE ENGINEER MYSORE PALACE BOARD - 6 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:20483 WP No. 27983 of 2025 MYSORE -570 001. UNDER ORDER OF DEPUTATION FROM KPTCL 14. SMT. JYOTHI L D/O LINGARAJU PIN NO. 15456 AGED ABOUT 40 YEARS ASSISTANT ENGINEER (ELE) O/O THE ASSISTANT EXECUTIVE ENGINEER 66/11KV BANNI MANTAPA SUB-STATION, KPTCL MYSORE – 570 017. 15. SMT. SHRUTHI S. D/O SIDDARAMAIAH M. PIN NO. 15369 AGED ABOUT 38 YEARS ASSISTANT ENGINEER (ELE) O/O THE CHIEF ENGINEER (ELE) TRANSMISSION (OPERATIONS) ZONE, MYSORE – 570 007. 16. SRI. RAMESH B. S/O BASAVARAJU P., PIN NO. 15522 AGED ABOUT 38 YEARS ASSISTANT ENGINEER (ELE) O/O THE ASSISTANT EXECUTIVE ENGINEER FTS 66/11KV-SUB-STATION. KPTCL, MYSORE – 570 001. …RESPONDENTS (BY SMT. SARITHA KULKARNI, AGA FOR R-1 & R-2; SRI. SRIRANGA, SENIOR COUNSEL APPEARING FOR SMT. SUMANA NAGANAND, ADVOCATE FOR R-3 & R-4 SRI. PRADYUMNA L.NARASIMHA, FOR SRI. M.V. SUNDARARAMAN, ADVOCATES FOR R-5 TO R-16) THIS W.P IS FILED UNDER ARTICLE 226 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO CALL FOR THE RECORDS RELATING TO ISSUE OF THE IMPUGNED ORDER NO. KA VI SA SA/AA JA.AA PA/20/M.E/ 2024-25 DATED 16.11.2024 ISSUED BY THE 2ND RESPONDENT (VIDE ANNEXURE- F) AND IMPUGNED CIRCULAR BEARING NO.KPTCL/GMP/MADM(B5)/3/2025 DATED 13.1.2025 ISSUED BY THE 4TH RESPONDENT (VIDE ANNEXURE-J) AND AFTER PERUSAL SET ASIDE THE SAME IN SO FAR AS IT RELATES TO STALLING THE DPC FOR PROMOTION TO HIGHER CADRE IS CONCERNED AND ETC. - 7 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:20483 WP No. 27983 of 2025 THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR ORDERS, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S.R.KRISHNA KUMAR ORAL ORDER In this petition, petitioner seeks the following reliefs: “(i) To call for the records relating to issue of the impugned order No.Ka Vi Sa Sa/Aa Ja.Aa Pa/20/M.E/2024- 25 dated 16.11.2024 issued by the 2nd Respondent (vide Annexure-F) and impugned circular baring No.KPTCL/GMP/MADM(B5)/3/2025 dated 13.01.2025 issued by the 4th Respondent (vide Annexure-J) and after perusal set aside the same in so far as it relates to stalling the DPC for promotion to higher cadre is concerned; (ii) To direct the 4th Respondent to convene DPC for promotion to the post of Assistant Executive Engineers Grade-I and grant promotion in terms of the R & P Regulations of the 3rd Respondent Corporation within a time limit to be stipulated by this Hon’ble Court; and (iii) To pass such other order as this Hon’ble Court deems fit in the facts and circumstances of the case.” 2. Heard learned counsel for the petitioners and learned AGA for respondent Nos.1 and 2 and learned Senior Counsel for - 8 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:20483 WP No. 27983 of 2025 respondent Nos.3 and 4 and learned counsel for respondent Nos.5 to 16 and perused the material on record. 3. In addition to reiterating the various contentions urged in the petition and referring to the material on record, learned counsel for the petitioner invited my attention to the Communication at Annexure – F dated 16.11.2024 purporting / said to have been addressed by respondent No.2 to respondent No.3 and respondent No.4, who have proceeded to issue the impugned Circular at Annexure – J dated 13.01.2025 taking a decision not to conduct DPC meetings for the purpose of promotion and the said Circular being based solely upon the said Communication at Annexure – F is contrary to law and facts and the same deserves to be quashed. 4. Per contra, learned AGA for respondent Nos.1 and 2 and learned Senior Counsel for respondent Nos.3 and 4 and learned counsel for respondent Nos.5 to 16 submits that there in no merit in the petition and the same is liable to be dismissed. 5. Before adverting to the rival contentions, it would be necessary to extract Annexures – F and J, which read as under: - 9 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:20483 WP No. 27983 of 2025 JA. PÉ «±Á¯ÁQë PÁAiÀÄðzÀ²ð PÀ£ÁðlPÀ «zsÁ£À ¸À¨sÉ ¸ÀaªÁ®AiÀÄ PÀ«¸À¸À/CeÁ.C¥À/20/EA.E/2024-25 ¢£ÁAPÀ: 16.11.2024 ªÀiÁ£ÀågÉÃ, PÀ£ÁðlPÀ «zsÁ£ÀªÀÄAqÀ®zÀ C£ÀĸÀÆavÀ eÁw ªÀÄvÀÄÛ C£ÀĸÀÆavÀ ¥ÀAUÀqÀUÀ¼À PÀ¯Áåt ¸À«ÄwAiÀÄÄ ¢£ÁAPÀ: 25.10.2024 gÀAzÀÄ EAzsÀ£À E¯ÁSÉUÉ ¸ÀA§A¢ü¹zÀAvÉ £ÀqɹzÀ ¸À¨sÉAiÀÄ°è PÀ£ÁðlPÀ «zÀÄåvï ¥Àæ¸ÀgÀt ¤UÀªÀÄ ¤AiÀÄ«ÄvÀzÀ°è ¥Àj²µÀÖ eÁw ªÀÄvÀÄÛ ¥Àj²µÀÖ ¥ÀAUÀqÀUÀ¼À ¸ÀºÁAiÀÄPÀ EAf¤gï («), ¥ÀzÀ«ÃzsÀgÀ ºÀÄzÉݬÄAzÀ ¸ÀºÁAiÀÄPÀ PÁAiÀÄð¤ªÁðºÀPÀ EAf¤AiÀÄgï(«), ªÀÈAzÀUÀ¼À ¨ÁåPï¯ÁUï ºÀÄzÉÝUÀ¼À£ÀÄß ¨sÀwð ªÀiÁqÀ®Ä «ÄøÀ¯ÁwAiÀÄ£ÀÄß C£ÀĸÀj¹gÀĪÀÅ¢®èªÉAzÀÄ ªÀÄ£À« ¸À°è¹gÀĪÀ §UÉÎ ZÀað¹ ¤AiÀĪÀiÁ£ÀĸÁgÀ ¨ÁåPï¯ÁUï ºÀÄzÉÝUÀ¼À£ÀÄß UÀÄgÀÄw¸ÀĪÀªÀgÉUÉ E¯ÁSÁ ªÀÄÄA§rÛ ¸À«Äw ¸À¨sÉAiÀÄ£ÀÄß £ÀqɸÀ¨ÁgÀzÉAzÀÄ ¸À«ÄwAiÀÄÄ ¸ÀÆa¹gÀÄvÀÛzÉ. DzÀPÁgÀt, PÀ£ÁðlPÀ «zÀÄåvï ¥Àæ¸ÀgÀt ¤UÀªÀÄ ¤AiÀÄ«ÄvÀzÀ°è ««zsÀ ªÀÈAzÀUÀ¼À°è ¨ÁåPï¯ÁUï ºÀÄzÉÝUÀ¼À£ÀÄß UÀÄgÀÄw¸ÀĪÀªÀgÉUÉ ¥ÀzÉÆãÀßw ¤ÃqÀ®Ä E¯ÁSÁ ªÀÄÄA§rÛ ¸À«Äw ¸À¨sÉUÀ¼À£ÀÄß vÀqÉ»rAiÀĨÉÃPÉAzÀÄ w½¸À®Ä ¸À«Äw¬ÄAzÀ ¤zÉÃð²vÀ¼ÁVzÉÝãÉ. DzÀgÀUÀ¼ÉÆA¢UÉ, vÀªÀÄä £ÀA§ÄUÉAiÀÄ ¸À»/- ²æà UËgÀªÀ UÀÄ¥ÀÛ, ¸ÀPÁðgÀzÀ C¥ÀgÀ ªÀÄÄRå PÁAiÀÄðzÀ²ð EAzsÀ£À E¯ÁSÉ, «PÁ¸À ¸ËzsÀ, ¨ÉAUÀ¼ÀÆgÀÄ. ¥ÀæwAiÀÄ£ÀÄß ¸ÀÆPÀÛ PÀæªÀÄPÁÌV: ªÀåªÀ¸ÁÜ¥ÀPÀ ¤zÉÃð±ÀPÀgÀÄ, PÀ£ÁðlPÀ «zÀÄåvï ¥Àæ¸ÀgÀt ¤UÀªÀÄ ¤AiÀÄ«ÄvÀ, ¤UÀªÀÄ PÁAiÀiÁð®AiÀÄ, PÁªÉÃj ¨sÀªÀ£À, ¨ÉAUÀ¼ÀÆgÀÄ – 560009 EªÀjUÉ PÀ¼ÀÄ»¸À¯ÁVzÉ. PÁAiÀÄðzÀ²ð.” - 10 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:20483 WP No. 27983 of 2025 PÀ£ÁðlPÀ «zÀÄåvï ¥Àæ¸ÀgÀt ¤UÀªÀÄ ¤AiÀÄ«ÄvÀ ¤UÀªÀÄzÀ UÀÄgÀÄw£À ¸ÀASÉå: (¹.L.J£ï): AiÀÄ40109PÉJ1999J¸ïf¹025521 PÀA¥À¤ C¢üPÀÈvÀ PÀbÉÃj: ¤UÀªÀÄ PÁAiÀiÁð®AiÀÄ, PÁªÉÃj ¨sÀªÀ£À, PÉ.f. gÀ¸ÉÛ, ¨ÉAUÀ¼ÀÆgÀÄ – 560 009. ¸ÀASÉå: KPTCL/GMP/MADM(B5)/3/2025 ¢£ÁAPÀ: 13.01..2025 ¸ÀÄvÉÆÛÃ¯É «µÀAiÀÄ: E¯ÁSÁ §rÛ ¸À«Äw ¸À¨sÉUÀ¼À£ÀÄß / §rÛ ¥ÀæQæAiÉÄUÀ¼À£ÀÄß vÀqÉ»rAiÀÄĪÀ §UÉÎ. G¯ÉèÃR: PÁAiÀÄðzÀ²ð, PÀ£ÁðlPÀ «zsÁ£À ¸À¨sÉ ¸ÀaªÁ®AiÀÄ gÀªÀgÀ ¥ÀvÀæ ¸ÀASÉå; PÀ«¸À¸À/CeÁ.C¥À/20/EA.E/2024-25 ¢£ÁAPÀ: 16.11.2024. PÀ£ÁðlPÀ «zsÁ£ÀªÀÄAqÀ®zÀ C£ÀĸÀÆavÀ eÁw ªÀÄvÀÄÛ C£ÀĸÀÆavÀ ¥ÀAUÀqÀUÀ¼À PÀ¯Áåt ¸ÀªÀÄwAiÀÄÄ ¢£ÁAPÀ: 25.10.2024 gÀAzÀÄ EAzsÀ£À E¯ÁSÉUÉ ¸ÀA§A¢ü¹zÀAvÉ £ÀqɹzÀ ¸À¨sÉAiÀÄ°è PÀ«¥À椤AiÀÄ°è ¥Àj²µÀÖ eÁw ªÀÄvÀÄÛ ¥Àj²µÀÖ ¥ÀAUÀqÀUÀ¼À ¸ÀºÁAiÀÄPÀ EAf¤AiÀÄgï(«) ¥ÀzÀ«ÃzsÀgÀ ºÀÄzÉݬÄAzÀ ¸ÀºÁAiÀÄPÀ PÁAiÀÄð¤ªÁðºÀPÀ EAf¤AiÀÄgï(«) ªÀÈAzÀUÀ¼À ¨ÁåPï¯ÁUï ºÀÄzÉÝUÀ¼À£ÀÄ ¨sÀwð ªÀiÁqÀ®Ä «ÄøÀ¯ÁwAiÀÄ£ÀÄß C£ÀĸÀj¹gÀĪÀÅ¢®èªÉAzÀÄ ªÀÄ£À« ¸À°è¹gÀĪÀ §UÉÎ ZÀað¹ ¤AiÀĪÀiÁ£ÀĸÁgÀ ¨ÁåPï¯ÁUï ºÀÄzÉÝUÀ¼À£ÀÄß UÀÄgÀÄw¸ÀĪÀªÀgÉUÉ E¯ÁSÁ ªÀÄÄA§rÛ ¸À«Äw ¸À¨sÉAiÀÄ£ÀÄß £ÀqɸÀ¨ÁgÀzÉAzÀÄ ¸À«ÄwAiÀÄÄ ¸ÀÆa¹gÀÄvÀÛzÉ. F »£É߯ÉAiÀÄ°è PÀ«¥À椤AiÀÄ°è ««zsÀ ¥ÀzÀªÀÈAzÀUÀ¼À°è ¨ÁåPï ¯ÁUï ºÀÄzÉÝUÀ¼À£ÀÄß UÀÄgÀÄw¸ÀĪÀªÀgÉUÉ ¥ÀzÉÆãÀßw ¤ÃqÀ®Ä E¯ÁSÁ ªÀÄÄA§rÛ ¸À«Äw ¸À¨sÉUÀ¼À£ÀÄß vÀqÉ»rAiÀĨÉÃPÉAzÀÄ G¯ÉèÃTvÀ ¥ÀvÀæzÀ°è ¸ÀÆa¸À¯ÁVgÀÄvÀÛzÉ. DzÀÝjAzÀ ¤UÀªÀÄzÀ gÁdå ªÁå¦Û ¥ÀzÀªÀÈAzÀzÀ ºÁUÀÆ ªÀ®AiÀÄ/ªÀÈvÀÛ/«¨sÁUÀ ªÁå¦ÛAiÀÄ ¥ÀzÀªÀÈAzÀUÀ¼À ¥ÀzÉÆãÀßw ¥Áæ¢üPÁgÀUÀ¼ÀÄ / E¯ÁSÁ §rÛ ¸À«ÄwAiÀÄ ªÀÄÄRå¸ÀÜgÀÄUÀ¼ÀÄ E¯ÁSÁ §rÛ ¸À«Äw ¸À¨sÉUÀ¼À£ÀÄß / §rÛ ¥ÀæQæAiÉÄUÀ¼À£ÀÄß ¤UÀªÀÄzÀ ªÀÄÄA¢£À DzÉñÀzÀªÀgÉUÉ vÀqÉ»rAiÀÄĪÀAvÉ ¸ÀÆa¹zÉ. ¤zÉÃð±ÀPÀgÀÄ (DqÀ½vÀ ªÀÄvÀÄÛ ªÀiÁ.¸ÀA), PÀ.«.¥Àæ.¤.¤.” - 11 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:20483 WP No. 27983 of 2025 6. As can be seen from the aforesaid impugned Communication and Circular, except stating that the Circular was being issued on the basis of the aforesaid Communication at Annexure – F dated 16.11.2024, no other reasons are assigned by respondent Nos.3 and 4 – KPTCL for issuing the impugned Circular. In addition thereto, neither the petitioners nor respondent Nos.5 to 16 have been heard by respondent Nos.3 and 4 before issuing the impugned Circular. Under these circumstances, I deem it just and appropriate to remit the matter back to respondent Nos.3 and 4 for reconsideration afresh. It is also relevant to state that merely because respondent No.2 is said to have issued a Communication at Annexure – F dated 16.11.2024, in the absence of any other material to justify the issuance of Circular at Annexure – J dated 13.01.2025, I am of the considered opinion that the said Communication at Annexure – F could not have been made the sole basis by respondent Nos.3 and 4 to issue the impugned Circular, which deserves to be quashed. 7. In the result, I pass the following: ORDER (i) The petition is hereby allowed. - 12 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:20483 WP No. 27983 of 2025 (ii) The impugned Circular at Annexure – J dated 13.01.2025 issued by respondent No.4 is hereby quashed. (iii) Matter is remitted back to respondent Nos.3 and 4 to reconsider the matter afresh and proceed further bearing in mind the observations made in the body of this Order and after providing sufficient and reasonable opportunity to the petitioners and respondents. Sd/- (S.R.KRISHNA KUMAR) JUDGE SV List No.: 2 Sl No.: 34