Karnataka HC Upholds Quashing Of Two PDO Transfers, Holds Government Must Follow 2024 Counselling Rules

The petitioner and respondent No. 5 were Panchayat Development Officers (PDOs).

Respondent No. 5 had served at Meenukunte Gram Panchayat since 2021, while the petitioner was posted at the Commissionerate in August 2025.

By Official Memorandum dated 7 May 2026, the Government transferred respondent No. 5 to Meenukunte and the petitioner to Thammanahalli Gram Panchayat.

Respondent No. 5 challenged the transfers before the Karnataka State Administrative Tribunal, which set them aside insofar as they concerned the two officers, holding that the prescribed counselling procedure had not been followed.

The petitioner then challenged the Tribunal’s order before the High Court.

The Karnataka State Civil Services (Regulation of Transfers of Senior Panchayat Development Officers, Panchayat Development Officers, Grama Panchayat Secretaries and Rural Development Assistants (Grade-I and Grade-II) and Second Division Assistants) Rules, 2024 govern transfers of the officers covered by them.

Under Rule 3, transfers must be made through counselling conducted in the manner specified in Rule 7; Rule 10 provides for transfers in specified exceptional circumstances.

The High Court held that an authority other than the competent authority prescribed under the Rules—including the Government—must also follow the Rules’ transfer procedure when transferring covered officers.

The Tribunal had not decided whether the Government retained power to transfer the officers; it proceeded on the basis that the Government could do so, but was required to follow the 2024 Rules.

The High Court left the question of the Government’s transfer power open, finding it unnecessary to decide.

It agreed, however, that the Rules’ counselling procedure applied regardless of which authority made the transfer.

The 7 May 2026 memorandum transferred 86 officers without counselling, contrary to the Rules; accordingly, the Tribunal’s decision to set aside the transfers concerning the two officers was not disturbed.

The question of the Government’s power to transfer was left open.

The authorities were at liberty to effect transfers in accordance with the 2024 Rules.

The petitioner was ordered to pay costs of ₹10,000 to the Karnataka State Legal Services Authority within two weeks; failing payment, respondent No. 2 was directed to deduct the amount from his salary and remit it within the following two weeks.