What did the High Court hold?

The petitioners sought permission to withdraw their petitions with liberty to pursue the inquiry proceedings. The respondents agreed to expedite the inquiry.

The petitioners, a Revenue Inspector and a Village Accountant, filed writ petitions challenging inquiry proceedings initiated against them. They sought to set aside the impugned order and the ongoing inquiry.

What were the issues?

The primary issue was the challenge to the inquiry proceedings initiated against the petitioners. The case was disposed of based on the parties' submissions regarding withdrawal and expedition of the inquiry.

V Ratnakara vs The Government of Karnataka | Karnataka High Court 2017

1 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU

DATED THIS THE 11TH DAY OF SEPTEMBER, 2017

BEFORE

THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE B. VEERAPPA

WRIT PETITION NOs.33147-33148 OF 2017 (S-RES)

BETWEEN:

1) V. RATNAKARA

REVENUE INSPECTOR,

S/O. VENKAPPA PUJARI,

AGED ABOUT 56 YEARS,

RESIDING AT: NEHERUNAGAR EXTENSION,

CHIKKAMANGALURU-577 101

2) S. PRAKASH,

VILLAGE ACCOUNTANT,

S/O. K.N. SIDDARAMMAPPA

AGED ABOUT 44 YEARS,

RESIDING AT: BEHIND INCOME TAX OFFICE,

NO.32, P.W.D. QUARTERS,

CHIKKAMANGALURU-577 101

... PETITIONERS

(BY SRI VISHNU HEGDE, ADV.)

AND:

1) THE GOVERNMENT OF KARNATAKA,

REPRESENTED BY

ITS CHIEF SECRETARY

VIDHANA SOUDHA,

DR. AMBEDKAR ROAD,

BENGALURU-560 001

2) THE REGISTRAR,

KARNATAKA LOKAYUKTHA,

DR. AMBEDKAR ROAD,

M.S. BUILDING,

BENGALURU-560 001

3) THE ADDITIONAL ENQUIRY OFFICER-10

KARNATAKA LOKAYUKTHA,

M.S. BUILDING,

DR. AMBEDKAR ROAD,

BENGALURU-01

4) R. LALEETHAMMA,

AGED ABOUT 62 YEARS,

W/O. R. KRISHNAPPA,

NO.655, 17TH CROSS ROAD,

29TH A MAIN ROAD,

J.P. NAGARA, 6TH STAGE,

BENGALURU-560 078

… RESPONDENTS

(BY SRI Y.D. HARSHA, AGA FOR R1; SRI VENKATESH S. ARABATTI, ADV., FOR R2 & R3; R4-NOTICE DISPENSED WITH V/O. DTD.11.09.2017)

THESE WRIT PETITIONS ARE FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 & 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA, PRAYING TO SET ASIDE THE IMPUGNED ORDER/CHARGES AS WELL AS ENQUIRY PROCEEDINGS AGAINST THE PETITIONERS INITIATED BY R1 TO R3 AS PER ORDER DTD.05.04.2017 i.e. ANNEUXRE-A.

3 THESE PETITIONS COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY HEARING, THIS DAY, THE COURT MADE THE FOLLOWING :

O R D E R

Learned AGA is directed to take notice for respondent No.1.

Sri Venkatesh S. Arabatti, learned counsel is directed to take notice for respondent Nos.2 and 3.

Learned counsel for the petitioners has filed a memo for dispensation of notice to respondent No.4.

The memo is taken on record. Notice to respondent No.4 is dispensed with.

After arguing the matter for some time, learned counsel appearing for the petitioners Sri Vishnu Hegde,

4 fairly submits that the petitioners may be permitted to withdraw the petitions, with liberty to pursue enquiry proceedings and sought for a direction to the respondents to expedite the enquiry proceedings.

The submission made by the learned counsel for the petitioners is placed on record.

Sri Venkatesh S. Arabatti, learned counsel appearing for respondent Nos.2 and 3 fairly submits that the respondents will expedite the enquiry proceedings.

The submission made by the learned counsel for the respondent Nos.2 and 3 is also placed on record.

Taking into consideration the facts and circumstances of the case, it is expected that the

5 Enquiry Authority will expedite the enquiry proceedings in accordance with law.

10.

With the above observation, writ petitions stand disposed of.

Sd/- JUDGE

SBS*

V RATNAKARA vs. THE GOVERNMENT OF KARNATAKA

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