AKHILA KARNATAKA BRAHMANA MAHA SABHA (REGD) vs STATE OF KARNATAKA
- Court
- Karnataka High Court
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HC-KAR
NC: 2026:KHC:61247-DB
WP No. 12499 of 2025
CNR: KAHC010286322025
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU
TH
DATED THIS THE 4 DAY OF NOVEMBER, 2026
PRESENT
THE HON'BLE MRS. JUSTICE ANU SIVARAMAN
AND
THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE K.S.BHARATH KUMAR
WRIT PETITION NO. 12499 OF 2025 (GM-RES-PIL)
BETWEEN:
AKHILA KARNATAKA BRAHMANA MAHA SABHA
(REGD)
A SOCIETY REGISTERED UNDER
THE KARNATAKA SOCIETIES REGISTRATION ACT,
1960 HAVING ITS OFFICE AT NO.3070, GAYATHRI
BHAVAN 8TH MAIN ROAD, 14TH CROSS
BANASHANKRI 3RD STAGE
BENGALURU 560 070
REPRESENTED BY ITS PRESIDENT
MR.RAGHUNATH
…PETITIONER
Digitally
signed by
PAVITHRA N
Location:
High Court
of Karnataka
(BY SRI.ASHWINI N. RAVINDRA, ADV. FOR
SRI. SUMANA NAGANAND, ADV.)
AND:
1. STATE OF KARNATAKA
REP. BY ITS CHIEF SECRETARY
VIDHAN SOUDHA, AMBEDKAR VEEDHI
BENGALURU-560 001
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HC-KAR
NC: 2026:KHC:61247-DB
WP No. 12499 of 2025
CNR: KAHC010286322025
2. STATE OF KARNATAKA
REP. BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY
DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION
M.S. BUILDING
BENGALURU - 560 001
3. KARNATAKA EXAMINATION AUTHORITY
COMMON ENTRANCE TEST CELL
TH
18 CROSS, MALLESHWARAM
BENGALURU-560 003
REP. BY ITS EXECUTIVE OFFICER
…RESPONDENTS
(BY SMT. PRAMODHINI KISHAN, AGA FOR R1 & R2;
SRI. N.K.RAMESH, ADV. FOR R3)
THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226
AND 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA, PRAYING TO
DIRECT FORMULATION OF SPECIFIC GUIDELINES AND
INSTRUCTIONS REGARDING CONDUCT OF EXAMINATIONS
IN THEN STATE OF KARNATAKA GENERALLY AND
SPEICIALLY WITH REGARD TO FRISKING BY THE OFFICIALS
RD
AT THE EXAMINATION CENTRES ESTABLISHED BY THE 3
RESPONDENT.
THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY
HEARING, THIS DAY, JUDGMENT WAS DELIVERED THEREIN
AS UNDER:
CORAM: HON'BLE MRS. JUSTICE ANU SIVARAMAN
and
HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE K.S.BHARATH KUMAR
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HC-KAR
NC: 2026:KHC:61247-DB
WP No. 12499 of 2025
CNR: KAHC010286322025
ORAL JUDGMENT
(PER: HON'BLE MRS. JUSTICE ANU SIVARAMAN)
This writ petition is filed seeking the following
reliefs:
" i) Direct formulation of specific guidelines and
instructions regarding conduct of examinations in then
State of Karnataka generally and specifically with
regard to frisking by the officials at the examination
centers established by the 3rd Respondent;
ii) Issue a writ in the nature of mandamus and direct
respondent No.2 to consider the representation dated
17.04.2025 (Annexure C)
iii) Declare that the action of Respondents in not
permitting students wearing scared thread from
appearing in Common Entrance Examination 2025 held
from 17.04.2025 to 19.04.2025 is unconstitutional,
arbitrary and illegal;
iv) Issue a writ in the nature of mandamus and direct
Respondents to reconduct the Common Examination
Test held on 17.04.2025 to 19.04.2025 for the victims
of such illegal acts;
v) Issue a writ in the nature of mandamus and direct
Respondents not to discriminate the students who
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HC-KAR
NC: 2026:KHC:61247-DB
WP No. 12499 of 2025
CNR: KAHC010286322025
wear scared tread and not to interfere in professing
their essential religious practice;"
2. We have heard the learned counsel
appearing for the writ petitioner as well as the learned
counsel appearing for the respondents.
3. It is submitted by the learned counsel
appearing for the writ petitioner that there have been
instances of the respondents selectively not permitting
students to wear scared threads to the Common
Entrance Test (CET) which is a discrimination. It is
further submitted that even after the writ petition has
been filed, there has been such incidents. It is
submitted that it is in the said circumstances that the
writ petition has been filed seeking the framing of
specific guidelines and instructions with regard to the
conduct of the examinations and specifically with regard
to frisking by the officials at examination centres.
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HC-KAR
NC: 2026:KHC:61247-DB
WP No. 12499 of 2025
CNR: KAHC010286322025
4. Learned counsel appearing for the writ
petitioner has also placed on record a memo producing
First Information Reports (FIR) registered on
18.04.2025 by the Shimoga Police.
5. A Statement of objections has been placed
on record by respondent No.3 stating that the Deputy
Commissioners of the Districts are the Chief
Superintendent for the conduct of the entrance test in
each of the Districts. The Deputy Chief Superintendents
are appointed in all districts to assist the Commissioners
to conduct the examination. It is submitted that the
guidelines regarding 'Dress Code' to be adhered to by
the students is also issued by the respondents and is
produced as Annexure-R1.
6. It is further submitted that there are no
instructions or guidelines instructing students to remove
the 'Sacred Thread' worn by them and that were such
incidents have been reported, necessary steps have
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HC-KAR
NC: 2026:KHC:61247-DB
WP No. 12499 of 2025
CNR: KAHC010286322025
been taken. It is submitted that Karnataka State Human
Rights Commission and Karnataka Child Rights
Protection Commission had taken cognizance and issued
notice to the respondent and had called for a status
report and such status reports have been filed. It is
submitted that necessary instructions are being issued
to the Deputy Commissioners and to all persons
involved in the conduct of the examinations to prevent
such incidents in the future.
7. Having considered the contentions advanced,
we are of the opinion that it is for respondent No.3 to
take appropriate steps to see all arrangements for the
proper conduct of the examinations are uniformly
provided across the State. In view of the submission
made by the learned counsel for the respondent that
necessary steps and instructions will be given to avoid
incidents in the future, we are of the opinion that the
nothing further remains in the matter.
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HC-KAR
NC: 2026:KHC:61247-DB
WP No. 12499 of 2025
CNR: KAHC010286322025
8. The writ petition is accordingly disposed of
recording the submissions made by the learned counsel
and directing that appropriate steps shall be taken for
the conduct of the examinations in an orderly and
uniform manner across the State and for the issuance of
appropriate directions to the Commissioners and Deputy
Superintendents in this regard.
Sd/-
(ANU SIVARAMAN)
JUDGE
Sd/-
(K.S.BHARATH KUMAR)
JUDGE
RAK,
List No.: 1 Sl No.: 14