SRI ANAND GAMANAGATTI vs THE STATE OF KARNATAKA

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HC-KAR
NC: 2026:KHC:57938-DB
WP No. 24113 of 2021
C/W WP No. 4397 of 2022
WP No. 10925 of 2022
CNR: KAHC010493052021
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU
TH
DATED THIS THE 14 DAY OF OCTOBER, 2026
PRESENT
THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S.G.PANDIT
AND
THE HON'BLE DR. JUSTICE CHILLAKUR SUMALATHA
WRIT PETITION NO. 24113 OF 2021 (S-KSAT)
C/W
WRIT PETITION NO. 4397 OF 2022 (S-KSAT),
WRIT PETITION NO. 10925 OF 2022 (S-KSAT)
IN WP No. 24113/2021:
BETWEEN:
1. SRI. MALTHESEH Y. ANNIGERI,
S/O YELLAPPA ANNIGERI
AGED ABOUT 62 YEARS
ASSISTANT REGIONAL TRANSPORT OFFICER NOW
RETIRED R/AT NO 630 4TH MAIN
NGEF LAYOUT NAGARBHAVI
BENGALURU - 560072.
Digitally signed by
AASEEFA
PARVEEN
Location: HIGH
COURT OF
KARNATAKA
2.
SRI NAGABHUSAN Y. B.,
S/O LATE BASAVARAJU
AGED ABOUT 54 YEARS,
WORKING AS SENIOR REGIONAL
TRANSPORT OFFICER,
RTO KOPPAL DISTRICT,
NOW R/AT RTO JAYANAGAR
BENGALURU - 560004.
3. SRI. RAMANJINAPPA K.,
S/O KEMPEGOWDA M. S.
AGED ABOUT 63 YEARS,
ASSISTANT REGIONAL,
TRANSPORT OFFICER,

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HC-KAR
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WP No. 24113 of 2021
C/W WP No. 4397 of 2022
WP No. 10925 of 2022
CNR: KAHC010493052021
O/O RTO AND DCT,
JAYANAGAR BANGALORE - 560011
NOW RETIRED
R/AT: 433/18 44TH CROSS
8TH BLOCK JAYANAGAR
BENGALURU - 560070.
4. SRI. KUBERAPPA C. B.,
S/O. C. B. SANNABASAPPA,
AGED ABOUT 64 YEARS
RETIRED DEPUTY COMMISSIONER
FOR TRANSPORT,
R/AT: 97, 28TH MAIN,
HSR LAYOUT,
BANGALORE - 560102.
5. SRI. B. P. MANJEGOWDA,
S/O LATE PUTTASWAMY GOWDA
AGED ABOUT 59 YEARS,
SENIOR INSPECTOR OF MOTOR VEHICLES
OFFICE OF REGIONAL,
TRANSPORT OFFICE,
HASSAN DISTRICT.
6. SRI BASAVARADHYA B.,
S/O BASAVARAJU,
AGED ABOUT 55 YEARS,
SENIOR INSPECTOR OF MOTOR VEHICLES
O/O ASSISTANT REGIONAL
TRANSPORT OFFICE
TUMKUR, TUMKUR DISTRICT,
RTO OFFICE YESHWANTHPUR,
BENGALURU - 560 022.
7. SRI. BANAKAR N. J.
AGED ABOUT 61 YEARS
S/O JETTAPPA ASSISTANT REGIONAL
TRASNPORT OFFICER
O/O DEPUTY COMMISSIONER OF TRANSPORT
RAJAJINAGAR WEST

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HC-KAR
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WP No. 24113 of 2021
C/W WP No. 4397 of 2022
WP No. 10925 of 2022
CNR: KAHC010493052021
BANGALORE NOW RETIRED
AND RESIDING AT A8-703
ELITRE PROMONEDA APT RBI LAYOUT
J P NAGAR 7TH PHASE
BANGALORE - 560078.
8. SRI K. V. SHIVAPRASAD,
S/O VENKATARAM,
AGED ABOUT 55 YEARS,
SENIOR INSPECTOR OF MOTOR VEHICLES
O/O REGIONAL TRASNPORT
OFFICE KOPPAL
KOPPAL DISTRICT.
NOW AT DCT OFFICE,
JAYANAGAR, BENGALURU - 560011
9. SRI NARAYANAWAMY NAIK,
S/O LATE LAKSHMAN NAIK,
AGED ABOUT 58 YEARS,
REGIONAL TRANSPORT,
OFFICE JAYANAGAR BANGALORE.
NOW AT:
INCHARGE REGIONAL TRANSPORT REGIONAL
TRANSPORT OFFICE HASSAN,
HASSAN DISTRICT-571187.
10. SRI. PARAMESHWAR L.,
S/O GANGAPPA L.,
AGED ABOUT 64 YEARS,
RETIRED SENIOR INSPECTOR OF
MOTOR VEHICLE,
R/AT NO 593/76 4TH CROSS
NEAR ANJANEYA TEMPLE,
ANJANEYA BADAVANE,
DAVANGERE - 577004.
11.
SRI N KRISHNAMURTHY
S/O N NARASIMHAIAH
AGED ABOUT 62 YEARS
DRIVER O/O, RTO

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WP No. 24113 of 2021
C/W WP No. 4397 of 2022
WP No. 10925 of 2022
CNR: KAHC010493052021
HOSPET, BALLARY DISTRICT
NOW RETIRED RESIDING AT:
R/AT NO. 36/2, 1ST STAGE,
1ST PHASE GOKUL EXTENSION,
BENGALURU - 560 054.
12. SRI. ANJANEYALU
S/O BAILAYYA
AGED ABOUT 64 YEARS
DRIVER O/O RTO KOPPAL,
KOPPAL DISTRICT NOW RETIRED
R/AT NO 42/52 RAYADURGA ROAD
NEAR PLANT STATION
MOLAKALMURU - 577535.
13. SRI. M. D. SOMASHEKAR,
AGED ABOUT 60 YEARS,
S/O. PATEL DEVANNA,
SENIOR INSPECTOR OF
MOTOR VEHICLES,
O/O RTO RAMANAGAR,
NOW RETIRED,
R/AT NO 552, 2ND CROSS,
UNIVERSITY LAYOUT,
BASAVESHWARANAGAR,
BANGALORE - 560079.
14. SRI. UMESH P.,
S/O PUTTA SUBBANNA M.,
AGED ABOUT 54 YEARS,
SENIOR INSPECTOR OF MOTOR VEHICLES,
O/O RTO CHITRADURGA,
NOW AT ASSISTANT REGIONAL,
TRANSPORT OFFICER DEVANAHALLI,
BENGALURU RURAL DISTRICT-560 165.
15. SRI. T. S. PURUSHOTHAM,
S/O T GANGANNA
AGED ABOUT 60 YEARS,

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HC-KAR
NC: 2026:KHC:57938-DB
WP No. 24113 of 2021
C/W WP No. 4397 of 2022
WP No. 10925 of 2022
CNR: KAHC010493052021
ASSISTANT REGIONAL
TRANSPORT OFFICER RTO
EAST BANGALORE,
NOW RETIRED REGIONAL
TRANSPORT OFFICER,
R/AT NO. 20 4TH MAIN,
4TH CROSS GOWRAVANAGAR
J. P. NAGAR,
BENGALURU - 560078.
16. SRI MILIND KUMAR S. S.
S/O LATE SHIVSHAIL
AGED ABOUT 54 YEARS
ASSISTANT REGIONAL
TRANSPORT OFFICER
RAJAJIANAGAR WEST
BENGALURU - 560010.
17. SRI KARIYAPPA
S/O LATE K NANJAIAH
AGED ABOUT 61 YEARS
SENIOR INSPECTOR OF
MOTOR VEHICLES
O/O DEPUTY COMMISSIONER
OF TRANSPORT
JAYANAGAR BENGALURU SOUTH
R/AT NO 81
TEACHERS LAYOUT NAGARABHAVI CIRCLE
BENGALURU - 560072.
18. SRI. A. V. PRASAD,
S/O LATE DR A S SRIRAMULU
AGED ABOUT 55 YEARS
ASSISTANT REGIONAL
TRANSPORT OFFICER
RTO ELECTRONIC CITY
BANGALORE
NOW AT CENTRAL OFFICE HSR LAYOUT
BENGALURU - 560076.

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WP No. 24113 of 2021
C/W WP No. 4397 of 2022
WP No. 10925 of 2022
CNR: KAHC010493052021
19. SRI FAZALULLA H
S/O BASHITH SAB
AGED ABOUT 64 YEARS
RETIRED ASSISTANT REGIONAL
TRANSPORT OFFICER
CHITRADURGA NOW RETIRED
AND R/AT HUSSAINIVALA MANJIL
HOLALKERE ROAD
3RD CROSS, NEHRU NAGAR
CHITRADURGA,
CHITRADURGA DISTRICT-515 767.
20.
SRI S. RAJU,
S/O LATE CHANNAPPA
AGED ABOUT 57 YEARS
INCHARGE RTO GADAG,
GADAG DISTRICT,
NOW AS REGIONAL
TRANSPORT OFFICER
B H ROAD TUMKUR,
TUMKUR DISTRICT-577101.
21. SRI SHIVRAJ P PATIL
S/O BASANNA GOUDA
AGED ABOUT 61 YEARS
JOINT COMMISSIONER OF TRANSPORT
SHIVAMOGGA DIVISION,
NOW RETIRED ADDITIONAL COMMISSIONER
OF TRANSPORT, R/AT. NO. 11, 1ST FLOOR,
DRIVERS TRAINING CENTRE, 11TH MAIN,
30TH CROSS JAYANAGAR 4TH BLOCK,
BENGALURU - 560011.
…PETITIONERS
(BY SRI. VIJAYA KUMAR, ADVOCATE)
AND:
1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA
REP BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORT

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HC-KAR
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WP No. 24113 of 2021
C/W WP No. 4397 of 2022
WP No. 10925 of 2022
CNR: KAHC010493052021
M S BUILDING, DR BR AMBEDKAR VEEDHI
BENGALURU - 560001.
2. THE COMMISSIONER OF TRANSPORT
1ST FLOOR 'A' BLOCK
BMTC COMPLEX SHANTHINAGAR,
BANGALORE - 560027.
3. THE KARNATAKA LOKAYUKTA
REPRESENTED BY ITS REGISTRAR
M S BUILDING, DR B R AMBEDKAR VEEDHI
BANGALORE - 560001.
4. THE ADDITIONAL REGISTRAR OF ENQUIRY -2,
KARNATAKA LOKAYUKTA,
M. S. BUILDING,
DR B R AMBEDKAR VEEDHI,
BANGALORE - 560001.
…RESPONDENTS
(BY SRI. S.C. DESHMUKH, AGA FOR R1;
SRI. VENKATESH S. ARABATTI, ADVOCATE FOR R2- R4)
THIS WP IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF
THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO QUASHING TO SET
ASIDE THE IMPUGNED ORDER DATED 30TH AUGUST 2021
PASSED BY THE KARNATAKA STATE ADMINISTRATIVE
TRIBUNAL IN APPLICATION NOS. 2693/2017, 2694/2017,
2695/2017, 2696/2017, 2772/2017, 2776/2017, 2781/2017,
2783/2017, 2788/2017, 2792/2017, 2794/2017, 2795/2017,
2796/2017, 2797/2017, 2798/2021, 2799/2017, 2826/2017,
2829/2017, 2830/2017, 2833/2017 AND 2834/2017 (VIDE
ANNEXURE-A) AND ALLOW THE SAID APPLICATION AS PRAYED
FOR.

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HC-KAR
NC: 2026:KHC:57938-DB
WP No. 24113 of 2021
C/W WP No. 4397 of 2022
WP No. 10925 of 2022
CNR: KAHC010493052021
IN WP NO. 4397/2022:
BETWEEN:
SRI. RAJKUMAR,
S/O SHIVAPPA,
AGED ABOUT 50 YEARS,
SENIOR INSPECTOR OF MOTOR VEHICLES,
REGIONAL TRANSPORT OFFICE,
YELAHANKA,
BENGALURU - 560 064.
...PETITIONER
(BY SRI. S. V. NAIKAR, ADVOCATE)
AND:
1.
THE STATE OF KARNATAKA
REP. BY ITS SECRETARY
DEPARMENT OF TRANSPORT
M.S. BUILDING
DR. AMBEDKAR VEEDHI,
BENGALURU - 560001.
2. THE COMMISSIONER FOR TRANSPORT
1ST FLOOR A BLOCK
BMTC COMPLEX
BENGALURU - 560027.
3. THE KARNATAKA LOKAYUKTA
REP. BY ITS REGISTRAR
M.S. BUILDING
DR. AMBEDKAR VEEDHI
BENGALURU - 560001.
4. THE ADDITIONAL REGISTRAR OF
ENQUIRIES -2
KARNATAKA LOKAYUKTA
M.S. BUILDING
DR. AMBEDKAR VEEDHI
BENGALURU - 560001.

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HC-KAR
NC: 2026:KHC:57938-DB
WP No. 24113 of 2021
C/W WP No. 4397 of 2022
WP No. 10925 of 2022
CNR: KAHC010493052021
...RESPONDENTS
(BY SRI.S.C. DESHMUKH, AGA FOR R1 AND R2;
SRI. VENKATESH S. ARABATTI, ADVOCATE FOR R3 AND R4)
THIS WP IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF THE
CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO SET ASIDE THE ORDER
DATED 30.08.2021 PASSED BY THE KARNATAKA STATE
ADMINISTRATIVE TRIBUNAL IN APPLICATION No-2787-
2785/2017 (ANNEXURE-A).
IN WP NO. 10925/2022:
BETWEEN:
SRI. ANAND GAMANAGATTI,
S/O. VIRUPAXAPPA GAMANAGATTI,
AGED ABOUT 56 YEARS,
INSPECTOR OF MOTOR VEHICLES,
REGIONAL TRANSPORT OFFICE,
BELGAUM- 590001.
...PETITIONER
(BY SRI. S. V. NAIKAR, ADVOCATE)
AND:
1.
THE STATE OF KARNATAKA
REP BY ITS SECRETARY, DEPARATMENT OF TRANSPORT,
M S BUILDING,
DR. AMBEDKAR VEEDHI,
BENGALURU - 560 001.
2. THE COMMISSIONER FOR
TRANSPORT,
1ST FLOOR A BLOCK,
BMTC COMPLEX,
BENGALURU - 560027.

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HC-KAR
NC: 2026:KHC:57938-DB
WP No. 24113 of 2021
C/W WP No. 4397 of 2022
WP No. 10925 of 2022
CNR: KAHC010493052021
3. THE KARNATAKA LOKAYUKTA
REP BY ITS REGISTRAR,
M S BUILDING, DR AMBEDKAR VEEDHI,
BENGALURU - 560001.
4. THE ADDITIONAL REGISTRAR
OF ENQUIRIES -2
KARNATAKA LOKAYUKTA,
M S BUILDING, DR AMBEDKAR VEEDHI,
BENGALURU - 560 001.
...RESPONDENTS
(BY SRI. S.V. DESHMUKH, AGA FOR R1 AND R2;
SRI. VENKATESH S. ARABATTI, ADVOCATE FOR R2 TO R4)
THIS WP IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF
THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO SET ASIDE THE
ORDER DATED 30/08/2021 PASSED BY THE KARNATAKA
STATE ADMINISTRATIVE TRIBUNAL IN
APPLICATION NO. 3068/2017 (VIDE ANNEXURE-A) AND
ALLOW THE SAID APPLICATIONS AS PRAYED FOR, IN SO FAR
AS PETITIONER IS CONCERNED.
THESE PETITIONS ARE COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY
HEARING IN B-GROUP, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN
AS UNDER:
CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S.G.PANDIT
and
HON'BLE DR. JUSTICE CHILLAKUR SUMALATHA

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HC-KAR
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WP No. 24113 of 2021
C/W WP No. 4397 of 2022
WP No. 10925 of 2022
CNR: KAHC010493052021
ORAL ORDER
(PER: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S.G.PANDIT)
IN WP No.24113/2021
Petitioners/Officers belonging to the Transport
Department are before this Court in this Writ
Petition questioning the order dated 30.08.2021 in
Application Nos. 2693/2017, 2694/2017, 2695/2017,
2696/2017, 2772/2017, 2776/2017, 2781/2017, 2783/2017,
2788/2017, 2792/2017, 2794/2017, 2795/2017, 2796/2017,
2797/2017, 2798/2017, 2799/2017, 2826/2017, 2829/2017,
2830/2017, 2833/2017 and 2834/2017 (Annexure-A)
whereunder the petitioners' challenge to the order dated
04.04.2017 and corrigendum dated 04.05.2017 entrusting
the enquiry to the third respondent-Karnataka Lokayukta,
is rejected.
IN WP No.4397/2022
2. Petitioner/Officer belonging to the Transport
Department is before this Court in this Writ
Petition questioning the order dated 30.08.2021 in

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HC-KAR
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WP No. 24113 of 2021
C/W WP No. 4397 of 2022
WP No. 10925 of 2022
CNR: KAHC010493052021
Application Nos.2787-2795/2017 (Annexure-A)
whereunder the petitioner's challenge to the order dated
04.04.2017 and corrigendum dated 04.05.2017 entrusting
the enquiry to the third respondent-Karnataka Lokayukta,
is rejected.
IN WP No.10925/2022
3. Petitioner/Officer belonging to the Transport
Department is before this Court in this Writ
Petition questioning the order dated 30.08.2021 in
Application No.3068/2017 (Annexure-A) whereunder the
petitioner's challenge to the order dated 04.04.2017 and
corrigendum dated 04.05.2017 entrusting the enquiry to
the third respondent-Karnataka Lokayukta, is rejected.
4. The petitioners were before the Tribunal
questioning the order of entrustment of enquiry to the
respondent-Lokayukta in exercise of its power under Rule
14-A of the Karnataka Civil Services (Classification,
Control and Appeal) Rules, 1957. The Tribunal, on

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HC-KAR
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WP No. 24113 of 2021
C/W WP No. 4397 of 2022
WP No. 10925 of 2022
CNR: KAHC010493052021
considering the contention raised by both the parties
under impugned order dated 30.08.2021, dismissed their
request to quash the entrustment of enquiry order.
Questioning the said order of the Tribunal, the petitioners
are before this Court in these writ petitions.
5. During the course of hearing it is brought to our
notice that an identical entrustment of enquiry was under
challenge before the Tribunal and the Tribunal had allowed
the said challenge and quashed the order of entrustment,
against which the Lokayukta had preferred writ petition
being WP Nos.29212/2017 and 29213/2017 before this
Court. This Court vide judgment dated 29.06.2021 allowed
the aforesaid writ petitions of the respondent-Lokayukta
and restored the order of entrustment of enquiry.
6. Further, the said order of Co-ordinate Bench of
this Court was the subject matter of SLP before the
Hon'ble Apex Court in SLP (C) Nos.13209-13210/2021.
The Hon'ble Apex Court vide order dated 26.09.2023

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HC-KAR
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C/W WP No. 4397 of 2022
WP No. 10925 of 2022
CNR: KAHC010493052021
dismissed the challenge of the petitioners therein and
passed the following order:
"However, we are of the opinion that this is a
case of challenging the order of initiation of
departmental action and the charge-sheet issued
by the department, therefore, we observe that all
the contentions as raised before this Court or as
are available under the law, are left open to the
petitioner to be raised before the appropriate
authority in accordance with law, which shall be
duly considered. On passing any adverse order
against the petitioner, liberty is granted to raise
all those points before the appropriate forum.
In view of the dismissal of these Special Leave
Petitions, the interim order dated 07.09.2021
passed by this Court stands vacated. The
respondents are at liberty to take appropriate
action in accordance with law and conclude the
inquiry as expeditiously as possible."
7. In view of the above order of the Hon'ble Apex
Court, enquiries are being continued against the DGOs
therein.
8. The present entrustment of enquiry order also
arises from similar or identical facts which were the
subject matter of writ petition before the Co-ordinate
Bench and the SLPs referred to above.

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HC-KAR
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WP No. 24113 of 2021
C/W WP No. 4397 of 2022
WP No. 10925 of 2022
CNR: KAHC010493052021
9. The Co-ordinate Bench of this Court by
following the decision of the Hon'ble Apex Court in SLP
referred to above by its order dated 21.08.2025 in WP
No.8245/2022 rejected the writ petition whereunder
identical entrustment of enquiry order was under
challenge.
10. Learned counsel appearing for the parties would
fairly submit that the order of the SLP supra would
squarely apply to the facts of the present case also.
11. In view of the above, we are of the considered
opinion that there is no merit in the writ petitions and the
dismissed
writ petitions stand .
Sd/-
(S.G.PANDIT)
JUDGE
Sd/-
(DR.CHILLAKUR SUMALATHA)
JUDGE
DS
CT:TSM
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