- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:16590 WP No. 7862 of 2024 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 24TH DAY OF MARCH, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SACHIN SHANKAR MAGADUM WRIT PETITION NO. 7862 OF 2024 (GM-CC) BETWEEN: SMT. SARASWATHI K W/O CHIKKANARASAYYA, AGED ABOUT 30 YERAS, WORKING AS TYPIST AS COURT OF CIVIL JUDGE SENIOR DIVISION AT SHIRA, TUMKUR DISTRICT - 572 137. …PETITIONER (BY SRI. NAVEEN J.N, ADVOCATE) AND: 1. THE CHAIRMAN AND THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER DISTRICT LEVEL CASTE, VERIFICATION COMMITTEE, MANDYA DISTRICT - 571 401. 2. THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR AND MEMBER SECRETARY, DISTRICT LEVEL CASTE VERIFICATION COMMITTEE, MANDYA DISTRICT, OFFICE OF DEPUTY DIRECTOR, DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL WELFARE, MANDYA DISTRICT, MANDYA - 571 401. Digitally signed by SHARADAVANI B Location: High Court of Karnataka - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:16590 WP No. 7862 of 2024 3. THE ADDITIONAL SECRETARY (ADMINISTRATION), ZILLA PANCHYATH, MANDYA AND DISTRICT LEVEL CASTE VERIFICATION COMMITTEE, MANDYA DISTRICT, MANDYA - 571 401. 4. THE TAHSILDAR MANDYA TALUK, MANDYA DISTRICT - 571 401 5. THE ADDITIONAL DIRECTOR GENERAL OF POLICE, DIRECTORATE OF CIVIL RIGHTS AND ENFORCEMENT, TECHNICAL EDUCATION BOARD BUILDING, PALACE ROAD, BENGALURU - 560 001 …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI. C. JAGADEESH, ADVOCATE) THIS W.P. IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO QUASHING THE IMPUGNED ORDER BEARING NO. SAN.U.NI-SA.KA.I-MAN- SINDHUTVA-72/2017-18 DTD. 16.02.2023 PASSED BY THE RESPONDENT CASTE VERIFICATION COMMITTEE MARKED AT ANNX-A AND ETC., THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY HEARING, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SACHIN SHANKAR MAGADUM - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:16590 WP No. 7862 of 2024 ORAL ORDER The petitioner calls in question the order passed by the Caste Verification Committee, which is appealable under Section 4(d) of the Karnataka Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes (Reservation of Appointment, etc.) Act, 1990. Though this Court finds some substance in the contention urged by the petitioner that she was selected under the general category and, therefore, the reference of her caste certificate for validation by the Department may not have been warranted, on a deeper examination of the writ papers, this Court is of the considered view that even if the petitioner was appointed under the general category, her caste status would assume significance while considering her claim for promotion, if she belongs to a Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe. Therefore, the petitioner is required to avail the statutory remedy of appeal and substantiate her caste claim before the appellate authority. In view of the availability of an efficacious alternative remedy, this Court deems it appropriate to relegate the petitioner to avail the remedy of appeal. - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:16590 WP No. 7862 of 2024 2. Insofar as the interim protection granted by this Court is concerned, having regard to the fact that the same has been in operation since the year 2024, this Court is of the view that such protection shall continue to remain in force till the petitioner files an appeal and also files an appropriate application seeking interim relief before the appellate authority. 3. This Court further deems it appropriate to extend the benefit of Section 14 of the Limitation Act, 1963, in the event the petitioner files an appeal within a period of four weeks from the date of receipt of a certified copy of this order. With the above observations, the writ petition stands disposed of. Sd/- (SACHIN SHANKAR MAGADUM) JUDGE HDK List No.: 1 Sl No.: 36