Karnataka High Court
Sri Erabhadra K M vs The State Of Karnataka on 23 March, 2026
Author: S.R.Krishna Kumar
Bench: S.R.Krishna Kumar
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WP No. 8312 of 2026
HC-KAR
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU
DATED THIS THE 23RD DAY OF MARCH, 2026
BEFORE
THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S.R.KRISHNA KUMAR
WRIT PETITION NO. 8312 OF 2026 (S-RES)
BETWEEN:
1. SRI ERABHADRA K M
S/O MADAIAH
AGED ABOUT 53 YEARS
PRESENTLY WORKING AS FOREST WATCHER
D GROUP RANGE FOREST OFFICE METTIKUPPE
WILDLIFE RANGE METTIKUPPE POST,
H.D KOTE TALUK,
MYSORE DISTRICT- 571114.
2. SRI. LOKESHA. M
S/O H.K.MADEGOWDA
AGED ABOUT 58 YEARS
PRESENTLY WORKING AS
LITERATE ASSISTANT C GROUP
Digitally signed RANGE FOREST OFFICE WILDLIFE
by
SHARADAVANI RANGE HUNSUR, HUNSUR TALUK,
B
Location: High MYSORE DISTRICT-571105.
Court of
Karnataka
3. SRI. GOPALA
S/O KUPPA
AGED ABOUT 49 YEARS
PRESENTLY WORKING AS WIRELESS OPERATOR
D GROUP RANGE FOREST OFFICE METTIKUPPE
WILDLIFE RANGE METTIKUPPE POST
H.D.KOTE TALUK,
MYSORE DISTRICT-571114.
4. SRI. JAVAREGOWDA
S/O BASAVEGOWDA
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AGED ABOUT 57 YEARS
PRESENTLY WORKING AS FOREST WATCHER
D GROUP RANGE FOREST OFFICE METTIKUPPE
WILDLIFE RANGE METTIKUPPE POST
H.D KOTE TALUK, MYSORE DISTRICT-571114.
5. SRI. VENKATESHA. J
S/O JAVAREGOWDA
AGED ABOUT 51 YEARS
PRESENTLY WORKING AS DRIVER
C GROUP RANGE FOREST OFFICE METTIKUPPE
WILDLIFE RANGE METTIKUPPE POST
H.D KOTE TALUK, MYSORE DISTRICT- 571114.
6. SRI. LINGAPPA
S/O KUSAYYA
AGED ABOUT 49 YEARS
PRESENTLY WORKING AS FOREST WATCHER
D GROUP RANGE FOREST OFFICE
WILDLIFE RANGE VEERANAHOSAHALLY POST HUNSUR
TALUK, MYSORE DISTRICT-571106.
7. SRI. GANESH.J.K.
S/O KARIYA
AGED ABOUT 59 YEARS
PRESENTLY WORKING AS FOREST WATCHER
D GROUP RANGE FOREST OFFICE
WILDLIFE RANGE VEERANAHOSAHALLY POST HUNSUR
TALUK, MYSORE DISTRICT-571106.
8. SRI. PRASANNA.S
S/O SHIVAPPA
AGED ABOUT 48 YEARS
PRESENTLY WORKING AS LITERATE ASSISTANT
C GROUP RANGE FOREST OFFICE
WILDLIFE RANGE VEERANAHOSAHALLY POST HUNSUR
TALUK, MYSORE DISTRICT-571106.
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9. SRI. RAMESH. P.B
S/O UPENDRA (BASAVA)
AGED ABOUT 48 YEARS
PRESENTLY WORKING AS WIRELESS
OPERATOR D GROUP RANGE FOREST OFFICE
WILDLIFE RANGE HUNSUR, HUNSUR TALUK,
MYSORE DISTRICT-571106.
10. SRI. SHIVASWAMY
S/O LATE APPAIAH
AGED ABOUT 50 YEARS
PRESENTLY WORKING AS DRIVER
RANGE FOREST OFFICE D.B.KUPPE.
ANTARASANTHE HOBLI H.D KOTE TALUK,
MYSORE DISTRICT-571101
11. SRI. KUMAR
S/O VENKATEGOWDA
AGED ABOUT 49 YEARS
PRESENTLY WORKING AS FOREST WATCHER,
D GROUP RANGE FOREST OFFICE D.B.KUPPE.
ANTARASANTHE HOBLI, H.D KOTE TALUK,
MYSORE DISTRICT-571101
12. SRI. RAMESH.A.B
S/O LATE BASAVEGOWDA A
AGED ABOUT 58 YEARS
PRESENTLY WORKING AS FOREST WIRELESS
OPERATOR RANGE FOREST OFFICE.
H.D KOTE TALUK, MYSORE DISTRICT-571114.
13. SRI. RAJANNA.A
S/O ANKANAYAK
AGED ABOUT 49 YEARS
WORKING AS FOREST DRIVER
RANGE FOREST OFFICE,
ANTARASANTHE. H.D KOTE TALUK,
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MYSORE DISTRICT-571114.
...PETITIONERS
(BY SRI. BASAVARAJA PATEL G K., ADVOCATE)
AND:
1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA
REP BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY,
DEPARTMENT OF FOREST, ECOLOGY AND
ENVIRONMENT, M.S. BUILDING
BENGALURU- 560 001,
2. THE PRINCIPAL CHIEF CONSERVATOR
OF FORESTS (HEAD OF THE FOREST FORCE)
ARANYA BHAVANA, 3RD FLOOR, 18 CROSS,
MALLESHWARAM. BENGALURU-560003
3. THE CHIEF CONSERVATOR OF FORESTS
ARANYA BHAVANA, PROJECT TIGER,
ASHOKAPURAM, MYSORE-577009
4. THE DEPUTY CONSERVATOR OF FORESTS
AND DIRECTOR, RAJIV GANDHI NATIONAL PARK,
FOREST CAMPUS. TIGER RESERVE, NAGARAHOLE, B.M
ROAD, HUNSUR. MYSORE DISTRICT-571105.
5. THE RANGE FOREST OFFICER,
METIKUPPE WILDLIFE RANGE
METIKUPPE
H.D.KOTE TALUK,
MYSORE DISTRICT -571114,
6. THE RANGE FOREST OFFICER,
VEERANAHOSAHALLY, WILDLIFE RANGE
VEERANAHOSAHALLY POST, HUNSUR TALUK,
MYSORE DISTRICT- 571106.
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7. THE RANGE FOREST OFFICER,
D.B.KUPPE WILDLIFE RANGE
D.B.KUPPE H.D.KOTE TALUK,
MYSORE DISTRICT -571114
8. THE RANGE FOREST OFFICER,
WILDLIFE RANGE, ANTARASANTHE
H.D KOTE TALUK,
MYSORE DISTRICT-571114.
9. THE RANGE FOREST OFFICER,
WILDLIFE RANGE, HUNSUR,
HUNSUR TALUK,
MYSORE DISTRICT- 571106.
...RESPONDENTS
(BY SRI. SPOORTHY HEGDE, AGA)
THIS WP IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF THE
CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO CALL FOR THE RECORDS
RELATING TO THE COMMON IMPUGNED ENDORSEMENTS ORDER
BEARING NO.B1/BGT/CR-12/2023-24 DATED 01.09.2025 VIDE
ANNEXURE-H TO H1, H2, H3, H4,H5, H6,H7, H8, H9, H10, H11 AND
H12 PASSED BY THE RESPONDENT NO.4, PERUSE AND QUASH
THE SAME AS ARBITRARY, ILLEGAL AND VIOLATIVE OF ARTICLES
14 AND 16(1) OF THE., AND ETC.
THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY HEARING,
THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER:
CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S.R.KRISHNA KUMAR
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ORAL ORDER
In this petition petitioner seeks the following reliefs.
"i. Call for the records relating to the common impugned endorsements order bearing No.B1/BGT/CR-12/2023-24 Dated 01.09.2025 vide Annexure-H to H1, H2, H3, H4, H5, H6, H7, H8, H9, H10, H11 and H12 passed by the Respondent No.4, peruse and quash the same as arbitrary, illegal and violative of Articles 14 and 16(1) of the ii. Issue a writ in the nature of mandamus to consider the claim of the Petitioners for the service benefits in terms of the Karnataka Daily Wage Employees Welfare Act 2012 vide Annexure-D, by holding them eligible for the benefits under the said Act for the long services rendered by the Petitioners with all monetary benefits;
iii. Pass such other orders or direction as this Hon'ble Court may be deemed fit in the circumstances of the case, in the interest of justice and equity."
2. Heard Sri. Basavaraja Patel G.K., learned counsel for the petitioners, Smt. Spoorthy Hegde, learned AGA for respondents and perused the material on record.
3. A perusal of the material on record would indicate that during the period 1995-1996, the petitioners were appointed as Forest Watchers in the respondents' department and have been working in -7- NC: 2026:KHC:16099 WP No. 8312 of 2026 HC-KAR various places for around 29 years as per Annexure A. By Government orders dated 11.06.2009 and 31.07.2012, the State Government enhanced the daily wages payable to the petitioner by Rs.1,000/-. But the said benefits were granted in favour of the petitioners only up to 2017 and not thereafter. Meanwhile, on 15.02.2013, the State Government enacted the Karnataka Daily Wages Employees' Welfare Act, 2012 extending the benefits of Regular Government Servant to Daily Wage's Appoint Employees also. Under these circumstances, several similarly situated daily wages were notified by the State Government in the year 2014, subsequent to which, the petitioners as well as other persons submitted several representations before the State Government seeking extension of enhanced wages in their favour also. Being aggrieved by the non consideration of their grievances, the petitioners filed WP No.29873/2024 and WP No.29221/2024 along with others and connected matters, which was allowed and disposed of by this Court vide Order at Annexure - G dated 29.11.2024. The said order passed by this Court vide Annexure G reads as under:
" ORAL ORDER In all these matters, petitioners who are stated to have been appointed as forest watchers in the respondent - Department assert that they have been working for a long -8- NC: 2026:KHC:16099 WP No. 8312 of 2026 HC-KAR period of time and have completed 10 years as on 10.04.2006.
2. The petitioners have sought for issuance of writ in the nature of mandamus to consider the claim of petitioners for service benefits in terms of the Karnataka Daily Wage Employees Welfare Act, 2012 (for short '2012 Act') by recording a finding that they are eligible for the benefit under the Act for the services rendered over a long period of time. Petitioners have also sought for issuance of writ in the nature of mandamus to direct the respondents to pay monthly payment of Rs.1,000/- from 2009 and Rs.2,000/- from 2012 as per the Government Orders dated 11.06.2009 and 31.07.2012 vide Annexures B and C respectively.
3. It is submitted that by virtue of coming into force of the Karnataka Daily Wage Employees Welfare Act, 2012, the provision under Section 2(a) would include daily wage employees who have worked and completed not less than 10 years as on 10.04.2006. It is further submitted that in terms of Section 3 of the 2012 Act, the employees engaged on daily wage are entitled to continue till they complete the age of 60 years. It is also pointed out that there are various other benefits provided under Section 4 of the 2012 Act.
4. It is submitted that in W.P.No.29873/2024, the Range Forest Officer, Kaggalipura Range, has addressed a communication to the Deputy Conservator of Forests, Bangalore Urban Division vide Annexure-A and has observed in the communication dated 30.10.2015 that the petitioners have made a representation regarding their long -9- NC: 2026:KHC:16099 WP No. 8312 of 2026 HC-KAR service and extension of benefit under the 2012 Act. Such a proposal has been forwarded along with a Schedule containing details of names of petitioners, dates on which they have been engaged on daily wage basis and other details including the place at which they have worked as well as the emoluments drawn by them.
5. In other connected matters also, similar communications have been addressed by the concerned officer to the Authority.
6. Learned counsel for the petitioner files a memo along with the table indicating the names of the petitioners, the serial number found in the schedule, the date of such employee having joined service. The said table is provided as hereunder:
W.P.No. Petitioner Sl No. Joining Date Tot of the al petition Le er in ngt the h Schedu of le of ser Annexu vic re-A e 29873/2024 Muniraju 1 01.07.1994 30 "-" Krishnappa 6 01.07.1994 30 28996/2024 Channabasappa 6 01.10.1995 * 29 KS "-" Lakshman Naik 2 01.07.1990 34
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29220/2024 Paramesh 1 01.09.1992 32
"-" Anjinappa 6 04.01.1990 34
"-" Sanjeevayya 2 01.04.1989 35
"-" Siddaraju N C 7 09.07.1995 29
"-" Honnayya 3 01.04.1996 28
29221/2024 Erabhadra 4 01.12.1995 29
"-" Lokesh M 2 01.10.1995 29
"-" Gopal 1 01.12.1995 29
"-" Javaregowda 3 01.12.1995 29
"-" Venkatesha J 5 01.04.1995 29
"-" Lingappa 8 04.02.1996 28
"-" Ganesh J K 7 01.03.1996 28
"-" Prasanna S 6 01.04.1996 28
"-" Ramesha P B 10 01.04.1996 28
"-" Shivaswamy 1 23.11.1995 29
"-" Kumara 9 01.07.1995 29
"-" Ramesha A B 2 01.02.1996 28
"-" Rajanna A 1 01.02.1996 28
29682/2024 Kumar ** 01.03.1995 29
"-" Thammegowda 2 01.03.1994 30
"-" Jayarama ** 01.03.1995 29
"-" Shivalingappa 1 01.11.1995 29
"-" Kumara D ** 01.03.1995 29
29722/2024 Palaiah 3 01.01.1995 29
"-" Govindappa B 1 01.01.1995 29
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"-" Thippeswamy M 4 01.01.1992 32
29734/2024 Prakash H R 1 01.01.1996 28
29894/2024 Nataraja V 1 26.06.1995 29
"-" C. N. 7 26.06.1995 29
Shankarappa
"-" Ravanappa 2 26.06.1995 29
"-" Erappa 6 26.06.1995 29
"-" Shankarappa 5 26.06.1995 29
"-" G. N. Chalapathi 8 20.09.1995 29
31234/2024 Eshwar 3 01.04.1985 39
* as averred in the petition
** Insofar as Petitioner Nos. 1, 3 and 5 in
W.P.No.29682/2024 are concerned, their names were recommended by way of a separate proposal as per Annexure-E dated 22.11.2023.
7. It is accordingly submitted that a perusal of the date of joining in service would indicate that they have completed 10 years of work and accordingly are eligible for benefits under the
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NC: 2026:KHC:16099 WP No. 8312 of 2026 HC-KAR 2012 Act. It is also submitted that apart from such request made, the petitioners are also eligible for payment in terms of the Government orders dated 11.06.2009 and 31.07.2012 vide Annexures B and C respectively.
8. Taking note of the same, case is made out to direct the respondents to consider the case of petitioners in light of the communication at Annexure-A in all the writ petitions made by the concerned officer to the Authority giving necessary details regarding the length of service. Accordingly, respondent - Authorities are directed to consider the request of petitioners as made out in Annexure- A in accordance with law. Respondents are also directed to consider the request of the petitioners for extension of payment in terms of the Government orders dated 11.06.2009 and 31.07.2012. Such consideration to be made within a period of 3 months from the date of receipt of certified copy of this order. All contentions are kept open.
9. In light of the above, petitions are disposed off."
4. It is the grievance of the petitioners that despite the aforesaid order passed by this Court, which had attained finality and become conclusive and binding upon the respondents and filing of contempt proceedings in CCC No.464 of 2025, respondent No.4 issued common endorsement dated 01.09.2025 to the effect that the petitioners' services cannot be considered under the Karnataka Daily Wages Employees' Welfare Act, 2012, since the notification under the
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NC: 2026:KHC:16099 WP No. 8312 of 2026 HC-KAR said Act had to be issued within one year from the date of commencement of the said Act, which came into force on 15.02.2013 and the said notification not having been issued to the petitioners within the aforesaid period of one year, the petitioner would not be entitled to the benefits under the said Act.
5. Aggrieved by the impugned endorsement, the petitioners are before this Court, inter alia contending that in relation to identically /similarly situated Daily Wage Employees, the State Government has extended the benefits even after the lapse of more than one year and on the ground of parity, the impugned endorsement deserves to be quashed and the petitioners would be entitled to similar benefit. It is also submitted that having regard to the fact that aforesaid Karnataka Daily Wages Employees' Welfare Act, 2012 is a welfare piece of legislation and has been enacted with the intention of extending the benefit to Daily Wage Employees, the inaction on the part of the State Government to issue a notification extending the benefit to the petitioners could not have been made the basis to issue the impugned endorsements dated 01.09.2025 vide Annexures H, H1 to H12, which deserve to be quashed.
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6. Per contra, learned AGA submits that there is no merit in the petition and the same is liable to be dismissed.
7. I have given anxious consideration to the rival submissions and perused the material on record.
8. As noticed supra, in the earlier round of litigation, this Court has come to the conclusion that the petitioners would be entitled to the benefit of the aforesaid Act, which is undisputedly a beneficial piece of legislation. As rightly contended by the learned counsel for the petitioners, the mere inaction on the part of the respondent - State to issue a notification extending the benefit of the said Act to the petitioners also could not have been made the basis to deny / deprive the entitlement of the petitioners from the benefits under the said Act and especially when the respondents themselves have extended the benefit to similarly / identically situated Daily Wage Employees even after expiry of one year, as can be seen from Annexure - F dated 29.05.2014.
9. Under these circumstances, by invoking /applying the doctrine of parity, I am of the view that the impugned endorsements deserve to be quashed and respondents are to be directed to extend
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NC: 2026:KHC:16099 WP No. 8312 of 2026 HC-KAR the benefits of the Karnataka Daily Wages Employees' Welfare Act, 2012 in favour of the petitioners and grant all benefits flowing therefrom within a stipulated time frame.
ORDER
(i) Writ petition is thereby allowed.
(ii) The Impugned Annexures at H, H1 to H12 are hereby quashed.
(iii) The respondents are directed to grant the benefits including monetary benefits under the Karnataka Daily Wages Employees' Welfare Act, 2012, in favour of the petitioners within a period of three months from the date of receipt of a copy of this order.
Sd/-
(S.R.KRISHNA KUMAR) JUDGE BH List No.: 1 Sl No.: 13