Karnataka High Court
Smrithi Meghati vs The Union Of India on 6 March, 2025
Author: S.R.Krishna Kumar
Bench: S.R.Krishna Kumar
-1-
NC: 2025:KHC:9624
WP No. 3671 of 2024
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU
DATED THIS THE 6TH DAY OF MARCH, 2025
BEFORE
THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE S.R.KRISHNA KUMAR
WRIT PETITION NO.3671 OF 2024 (EDN-RES)
BETWEEN:
SMRITHI MEGHATI
D/O SRI. MEGHATI SATEESH KUMAR,
AGED ABOUT 17 YEARS (MINOR)
R/AT NO 244, 2ND FLOOR, 1ST CROSS,
7TH MAIN, MOOGI RESIDENCY,
OPPOSITE HOTEL HIGH SKY
BEML LAYOUT, THUBARAHALLI,
WHITEFIELD, BENGALURU SOUTH,
BENGALURU - 560 066.
REP BY HER FATHER
AND NATURAL GUARDIAN
SRI. MEGHATI SATEESH KUMAR.
...PETITIONER
(BY SRI. D VIJAYAKUMAR.,ADVOCATE)
AND:
1. THE UNION OF INDIA
REP BY ITS SECRETARY
Digitally signed by TO GOVERNMENT OF INDIA,
LEELAVATHI S R MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS,
Location: High NORTH BLOCK,
Court of NEW DELHI - 110 001.
Karnataka
2. KARNATAKA EXAMINATIONS AUTHORITY
REP BY ITS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR,
SAMPIGE ROAD, 18TH CROSS,
MALLESHWARAM,
BENGALURU - 560 012.
3. STATE OF KARNATAKA
REP BY ITS PRINCIPAL
SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT,
HIGH EDUCATION DEPARTMENT,
VIDHANA SOUDHA,
BENGALURU - 560 001.
-2-
NC: 2025:KHC:9624
WP No. 3671 of 2024
...RESPONDENTS
(BY SRI. B PRAMOD, CGC FOR R-1
SMT. NAVYA SHEKAR, AGA FOR R-2
SRI. N.K. RAMESH, ADVOCATE FOR R-2)
THIS W.P IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF THE
CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO QUASH THE IMPUGNED
NOTIFICATION ISSUED THE R1 UNION OF INDIA, MINISTRY OF HOME
AFFAIRS AT ANNEXURE-A, IN SO 1050(E) DATED 4TH MARCH 2021 AND
ETC.
THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY HEARING IN 'B'
GROUP, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER:
CORAM: HON'BLE MR JUSTICE S.R.KRISHNA KUMAR
ORAL ORDER
In this petition, petitioner seeks for the following reliefs:-
" a) Issue a Writ of Certiorari or any other appropriate
Writ, Order or Direction quashing the impugned Notification
issued the 1st Respondent Union of India, Ministry of Home
Affairs at Annexure-A in No.S.O.1050(E) dated: 4th March
2021; and so for as petitioner concerned.
b) Issue a Writ of Certiorari or any other
appropriate Writ, Order or Direction quashing the impugned
Notification issued by the 2nd Respondent KEA at Annexure-
B in No.ED/KEA/ADMN/CR-09/2023-24, dated: 09.01.2024;
and so for as petitioner concerned.
c) Issue a Writ of Mandamus or any other
appropriate Writ, Order or Direction, directing the
Respondent No.2 3 to permit the petitioner to file Online
Application to register with KEA for K-CET -2024 as per the
Notification bearing No.ED/KEA/ADMN/CR-09/2023-24,
dated: 09.01.2024 issued by the 2nd Respondent KEA at
NC: 2025:KHC:9624
Annexure-B and permit the petitioner to participate in the
counseling of K-CET-2024 for selection of Engineering
seats and allotment of Government seats in BE, B-Tech, B-
Arch Engineering Courses for the academic year 2024-25
for admission to the Under Graduate Engineering Courses
in Karnataka and allow them to choose the said seats, on
the basis of their merit and ranking in K-CET-2024; and
d) Issue a Writ of Mandamus or any other
appropriate Writ, Order or Direction, Directing the
Respondents No.2 & 3 to permit the petitioner to participate
in the online counseling process, seat selection and
allotment of Engineering seats for the academic years 2-24-
25 for admission to the Under Graduate Engineering
Courses and allow them to choose the seats for BE, B-
Tech, B-Arch and other professional curses in Government
and private Aided and Unaided Engineering colleges and
other Professional Colleges, on the basis of their merit and
ranking in K-CET-2024; AND
e) Costs of this petition and such other and
further reliefs as this Hon'ble Court may deem fit to grant,
having regard to the facts and circumstances of the case, in
the interest of justice and equity."
2. Heard learned counsel for the petitioner as well as
learned counsel for the respondents and perused the material on
record.
NC: 2025:KHC:9624
3. When the matter came up before this Court on
07.02.2024, the following interim order was passed:-
"Sri Aditya Singh, Central Government Standing
Counsel is directed to accept notice for respondent no.1.
Sri N.K. Ramesh, learned counsel is directed to
accept notice for respondent no.2. Learned AGA accepts
notice for respondent no.3.
Learned counsel for petitioner submitted that present
writ petition is similar to W.P.no.1529/2024, wherein this
Court had granted interim order dated 22.01.2024. Hence,
petitioner seeking same relief.
In this writ petition, petitioner seeking for quashing of
impugned Notification issued by respondent no.1 - Union of
India at Annexure-A in No.S.O.1050(E) dated 04.03.2021
also Notification issued by respondent no.2 - Karnataka
Examinations Authority at Annexure-B in
No.ED/KEA/ADMN/CR-09/2023-24 dated 09.01.2024 sofar
petitioner is concerned and etc.
In view of same, petitioner (OCI) candidate is
permitted to file application for KEA Common Entrance
Exam-2024 and appear for CET Exams on par with Indian
Citizens for both Government and Private seats subject to
final outcome of writ petition.
List this petition on 15.02.2024.
Hand Delivery is permitted."
NC: 2025:KHC:9624
4. As can be seen from the aforesaid interim order, this
Court placed reliance upon the identical interim order dated
22.01.2024 passed in W.P.No.1529/2024 and connected matters.
Subsequently, during the pendency of the present petition, this
Court in the aforesaid W.P.No.1529/2024 and connected matters
- Kum.Druthi Bollineni & others vs. Union of India and others
Dated 02.09.2024, upheld the claim of the respondents - students
and disposed of the writ petition.
5. In view of the aforesaid facts and circumstances and in
the light of the judgment of this Court in the aforesaid petition, the
present petition also disposed of in terms of the aforesaid judgment
passed in W.P.No.1529/2024 & connected cases dated
20.09.2024.
Sd/-
(S.R.KRISHNA KUMAR)
JUDGE
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