Full Judgment
-1-
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 220KV RECEIVING STATION, Digitally KPTCL, SARJAPURA, signed by BENGALURU-562 125. CHANDANA BM
3. SMT. RAMYA R Location: D/O SRI. RAMESH M High Court of Karnataka PIN NO.15232 AGED 37 YEARS 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 W1 SUB-DIVISION, GIRI NAGAR, -2- AVALAHALLI, OPPOSITE TO PES COLLEGE, BENGALURU-560 026.
5. SMT. ASHAKUMARI M D/O SRI. MARISWAMY PIN NO 15241 AGED 37 YEARS L.T RATING, RAMANAGAR, BESCOM, RAMAGANAR-562 159.
6. SMT. SAVITHA B
D/O SRI. BYREGOWDA PIN NO 15246 AGED 44 YEARS 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 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 (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 -3- 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 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 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- 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 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 -5- S12 GAURAVNAGAR, BESCOM BENGALURU - 560 108.
9. SMT. MANJULA.K D/O KARIYANNA PIN NO. 15455 AGED ABOUT 38 YEARS MAGADI SUB-DIVISION BESCOM, MAGADI.
10. SMT. SWETHA.S D/O SIDDARAMAIAH PIN NO. 15505 AGED ABOUT 39 YEARS KPTCL, 66/11KV, KANAKAPURA SUB-STATION KANAKAPURA - 562 167.
11. SMT. MANJULKA K.J D/O JAYAPPA PIN NO.15492 AGED ABOOUT 39 YEARS 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 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 MYSORE PALACE BOARD -6- MYSORE -570 001. UNDER ORDER OF DEPUTATION FROM KPTCL
14. SMT. JYOTHI L D/O LINGARAJU PIN NO. 15456 AGED ABOUT 40 YEARS SUB-STATION, KPTCL MYSORE - 570 017.
15. SMT. SHRUTHI S. D/O SIDDARAMAIAH M. PIN NO. 15369 AGED ABOUT 38 YEARS 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 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 ANNEXUREF) 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-
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 th issued by the 4 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- 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: ०00, & ಏಶಾಲ್ಮಾಕ್ಕ ಕಾರ್ಯದರ್ಶಿ ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ ವಿಧಾನ ಸಭೆ ಸಚಿವಾಲಯ ಕವಿಸಸ/ಅಜಚಾ. ಅಷ/20/20. ۹20024-25 ದಿನಾ೦ಕ: 16.11.2024 DOA,
ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ ವಿಧಾನಮಂಡಲದ ಅನುಸೂಚಿತ ಜಾತಿ ಮತ್ತು ಅನುಸೂಚಿತ ಪಂಗಡಗಳ ಕಲ್ಯಾಣ ಸಮಿತಿಯು ದಿನಾ೦ಕ: 25.10.2024 ರಂದು ಇಂಧನ ಇಲಾಖೆಗೆ ಸಂಬಂಧಿಸಿದಂತೆ. ನಡೆಸಿದ ಸಭೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ ವಿದ್ಯುತ್ ಪಸರಣ ನಿಗಮ ನಿಯಮಿತದಲ್ಲಿ ಪರಿಶಿಷ್ಟ ಜಾತಿ ಮತ್ತು ಪರಿಶಿಷ್ಟ ಪಂಗಡಗಳ ಸಹಾಯಕ ಇಂಜಿನಿರ್ (०0), ಪದವೀಧರ ಹುದ್ದೆಯಿಂದ ಸಹಾಯಕ ಕಾರ್ಯನಿರ್ವಾಹಕ ಇಂಜಿನಿಯರ್(ವಿ), ವೃಂದಗಳ ಬ್ಯಾಕ್ಲಾಗ್ ಹುದ್ದೆಗಳನ್ನು ಭರ್ತಿ ಮಾಡಲು ಮೀಸಲಾತಿಯನ್ನು ಅನುಸರಿಸಿರುವುದಿಲ್ಲವೆಂದು ಮನವಿ ಸಳಲಿಸಿರುವ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಚರ್ಚಿಸಿ ನಿಯಮಾನುಸಾರ ಬ್ಯಾಕ್ಲಾಗ್ ಹುದ್ದೆಗಳನ್ನು ಗುರುತಿಸುವವರೆಗೆ ಇಲಾಖಾ ಮುಂಬಡ್ತಿ ಸಮಿತಿ ಸಭೆಯನ್ನು ನಡೆಸಬಾರದೆಂದು ಸಮಿತಿಯು ಸೂಚಿಸಿರುತ್ತದೆ.
ಆದಕಾರಣ, ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ ವಿದ್ಯತ್ ಪಸರಣ ನಿಗಮ ನಿಯಮಿತದಲ್ಲಿ ವಿವಿಧ ವೃ೦ದಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಬ್ಯಾಕ್ಲಾಗ್ ಹುದ್ದೆಗಳನ್ನು ಗುರುತಿಸುವವರೆಗೆ ಪದೋನ್ನತಿ ನೀಡಲು ಇಲಾಖಾ ಮುಂಬಡ್ವ್ತಿ ಸಮಿತಿ ಸಭೆಗಳನ್ನು ತಡೆಹಿಡಿಯಬೇಕೆಂದು ತಿಳಿಸಲು ಸಮಿತಿಂಬಂದ ನಿರ್ದೇಶಿತಳಾಗಿದ್ದೇನೆ. ಆದರಗಳೊಂದಿಗೆ. ತಮ್ಮ ನಂಬುಗೆಯ ಸಹಿ/- ಶ್ರೀ ಗೌರವ MH, ಸರ್ಕಾರದ ಅಪರ ಮುಖ್ಯ ಕಾರ್ಯದರ್ಶಿ ಇಂಧನ ಇಲಾಖೆ, ಏಕಾಸ ಸೌಧ, ಬೆಂಗಳೂರು. ಪತಿಯನ್ನು MOF ಕಮಕ್ಕಾಗಿ: ವ್ಯವಸ್ಥಾಪಕ ನಿರ್ದೇಶಕರು, ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ ವಿದ್ಯುತ್ ಪಸರಣ ನಿಗಮ ನಿಯಮಿತ. ನಿಗಮ ಕಾರ್ಯಾಲಯ, ಕಾವೇರಿ ಭವನ, ಬೆಂಗಳೂರು - 560009 ಇವರಿಗೆ ಕಳುಹಿಸಲಾಗಿದೆ. ಕಾರ್ಯದರ್ಶಿ.-10- ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ ವಿದ್ಯುತ್ ಪ್ರಸರಣ ನಿಗಮ ನಿಯಮಿತ ನಿಗಮದ ಗುರುತಿನ ಸಂಖ್ಯೆ: (ಸಿ.ಐ.ಎನ್): ಯ 40109ಕೆಎ1999ಎಸ್ಜಿಸಿ025521 ಕಂಪನಿ ಅಧಿಕೃತ ಕಛೇರಿ: ನಿಗಮವು ಕಾರ್ಯಾಲಯ, ಕಾವೇರಿ ಭವನ, ಕೆಜಿ ರಸ್ತೆ ಬೆಂಗಳೂರು - 560 009. ಸಂಖ್ಯೆ: KPTCL/GMP/MADM(B5)/3/2025 ದಿನಾ೦ಕ: 13.01.2025
ಸುತ್ತೋಲೆ ವಷಯ: ಇಲಾಖಾ WB ಸಮಿತಿ ಸಭೆಗಳನ್ನು / ಬಡ್ಡಿ ಪಕಿಯೆಗಳನ್ನು ತಡೆಹಿಡಿಯುವ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಉಲ್ಲೇಖ: ಕಾರ್ಯದರ್ಶಿ, ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ ವಿಧಾನ ಸಭೆ ಸಚಿವಾಲಯ ರವರ ಪತ್ರ ಸಂಖ್ಯೆ: ಕವಿಸಸ/ಅಜಾ. ಅಪ/20/ಐ೦. ಇ/2024-25 ದಿನಾ೦ಕ: 16.11.2024, ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ ವಿಧಾನಮಂಡಲದ ಅನುಸೂಚಿತ ಜಾತಿ ಮತ್ತು ಅನುಸೂಚಿತ ಪಂಗಡಗಳ ಕಲ್ಯಾಣ ಸಮತಿಯು ದಿನಾ೦ಕ: 25.10.2024 ರಂದು ಇಂಧನ ಇಲಾಖೆಗೆ ಸಂಬಂಧಿಸಿದಂತೆ ನಡೆಸಿದ ಸಭೆಯಲ್ಲಿ BITING ಪರಿಶಿಷ್ಟ ಜಾತಿ ಮತ್ತು ಪರಿಶಿಷ್ಟ ಪಂಗಡಗಳ ಸಹಾಯಕ ಇಂಜಿನಿಯರ್(ವಿ) ಪದವೀಧರ ಹುದ್ದೆಯಿಂದ ಸಹಾಯಕ ಕಾರ್ಯನಿರ್ವಾಹಕ ಇಂಜಿನಿಯರ್(ವಿ) ವೃ೦ದಗಳ ಬ್ಯಾಕ್ಲಾಗ್ ಹುದ್ದೆಗಳನು ಭರ್ತಿ ಮಾಡಲು ಮೀಸಲಾತಿಯನ್ನು ಅನುಸರಿಸಿರುವುದಿಲವೆ೦ದು ಮನವಿ ಸಲ್ಲಿಸಿರುವ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಚರ್ಚಿಸಿ ನಿಯಮಾನುಸಾರ ಬ್ಯಾಕ್ಲಾಗ್ ಹುದ್ದೆಗಳನ್ನು ಗುರುತಿಸುವವರೆಗೆ ಇಲಾಖಾ ಮುಂಬಡ್ತಿ ಸಮಿತಿ ಸಭೆಯನ್ನು ನಡೆಸಬಾರದೆ೦ದು ಸಮಿತಿಯು ಸೂಚಿಸಿರುತ್ತದೆ. ಈ ಹಿನ್ನೆಲೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಕವಿಪನಿನಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ವಿವಿಧ ಪದವ್ಳ೦ದಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಬ್ಯಾಕ್ ಲಾಗ್ ಹುದ್ದೆಗಳನ್ನು 7ುರುತಿಸುವವರೆಗೆ ಪದೋನ್ನತಿ ನೀಡಲು ಇಲಾಖಾ ಮುಂಬಡ್ತಿ ಸಮಿತಿ ಸಭೆಗಳನ್ನು ತಡೆಹಿಡಿಯಬೇಕೆಂದು ಉಲ್ಲೇಖಿತ ಪತದಲಿ ಸೂಚಿಸಲಾಗಿರುತ್ತದೆ. ಆದ್ದರಿಂದ ನಿಗಮದ ರಾಜ್ಯ ವ್ಯಾಪ್ಟಿ DIY, OCI ಹಾಗೂ ವಲಯ/ವೃತ್ಯ/ಎಭಾಗ ವ್ಯಾಪ್ತಿಯ ಪದವೃ್ಳ೦ದಗಳ ಪದೋನ್ನತಿ ಪಾಛಕಾರಗಳು / ಇಲಾಖಾ ಬಡ್ಡಿ ಸಮಿತಿಯ ಮುಖ್ಯಸ್ಥರುಗಳು ಇಲಾಖಾ WB ಸಮಿತಿ ಸಭೆಗಳನ್ನು ۸ ಬಡ್ತಿ ಪಕಿಯೆಗಳನ್ನು ನಿಗಮದ ಮುಂದಿನ ಆದೇಶದವರೆಗೆ ತಡೆಹಿಡಿಯುವಂತೆ ಸೂಚಿಸಿದೆ.
ನಿರ್ದೇಶಕರು (ಆಡಳಿತ ಮತ್ತು ಮಾ.ಸಂ), 87” - 11 -
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 -
(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