Sunil Hanagandi vs The State Of Karnataka
2026 Latest Caselaw 860 Kant

Citation : 2026 Latest Caselaw 860 Kant
Judgement Date : 4 February, 2026

[Cites 2, Cited by 0]

Karnataka High Court

Sunil Hanagandi vs The State Of Karnataka on 4 February, 2026

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                                                           NC: 2026:KHC-D:1578
                                                        WP No. 100216 of 2026


                       HC-KAR




                      IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA, AT DHARWAD
                           DATED THIS THE 4TH DAY OF FEBRUARY 2026
                                           BEFORE
                      THE HON'BLE SMT. JUSTICE LALITHA KANNEGANTI
                       WRIT PETITION NO. 100216 OF 2026 (GM-RES)

                      BETWEEN:

                      SUNIL HANAGANDI,
                      AGE: 33 YEARS, OCC: BANK MANAGER,
                      R/O. SASALATTI, TQ: RABAKAVI-BANAHATTI,
                      DIST: BAGALKOT-587315.
                                                                   ...PETITIONER
                      (BY SRI. SHREEVATSA S. HEGDE, ADVOCATE)

                      AND:

                      1.    THE STATE OF KARNATAKA,
                            DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORT,
                            BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY,
                            VIKAS SOUDHA, BENGALURU-560001.

                      2.    THE TRANSPORT COMMISSIONER,
                            GOVERNMENT OF KARNATAKA,
Digitally signed by         SHANTHINAGAR, BENGALURU-560027.
YASHAVANT
NARAYANKAR
Location: HIGH
COURT OF              3.    THE JOINT COMMISSIONER OF TRANSPORT,
KARNATAKA
                            BELAGAVI REGION, BELAGAVI-590001.

                      4.  THE ASSISTANT REGIONAL TRANSPORT OFFICER,
                          JAMKHANDI SUB-DIVISION,
                          BAGALKOT DISTRICT-587301.
                                                              ...RESPONDENTS
                      (BY SRI. T. HANUMAREDDY, AGA)


                           THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND
                      227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO ISSUE A
                      WRIT OF MANDAMUS DIRECTING THE RESPONDENTS TO GRANT
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                                               NC: 2026:KHC-D:1578
                                           WP No. 100216 of 2026


HC-KAR




BH-SERIES REGISTRATION TO THE PETITIONER'S VEHICLE
HYUNDAI CRETA 1.5 CRDI MT E BEARING CHASSIS
NO.MALPA813LSM171013 AND ENGINE NO.D4FASM404236.

    THIS WRIT PETITION, COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY
HEARING, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER:


CORAM:       THE HON'BLE SMT. JUSTICE LALITHA KANNEGANTI

                            ORAL ORDER

The present writ petition is filed seeking the following

prayer:

"a) Issue a Writ of Mandamus directing the Respondents to grant Bh-Series registration to the Petitioner's vehicle Hyundai Creta 1.5 CRDI MT E bearing Chassis No.MALPA813LSM171013 and Engine No.D4FASM404236.

b) Pass such other order or direction as this Hon'ble court may deem fit in the interest of justice and equity."

2. It is the case of the petitioner that, he is employed as

a Manager with ICICI Bank which is a Scheduled Private Sector

Bank having primary operations with offices in more than 4

States and he is liable for interstate transfer during his service.

The petitioner had requested the respondents to grant the

BH-Series registration of his vehicle. But the respondents by the

endorsement dated 08.12.2025 had rejected the case of the

petitioner stating that the petitioner is an employee of the

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Private Bank and is not entitled for the registration under

BH-Series.

3. Learned counsel appearing for the petitioner submits

that, the Government of India, Ministry of Road Transport and

Highways introduced the BH-Series vehicle registration under the

Central Motor Vehicle Rules to enable the transferable employees

to retain a single vehicle registration. The petitioner has applied

for BH-Series registration of his vehicle on 29.10.2025 and along

with that, he had submitted a valid employee certificate issued

by the ICICI Bank certifying the petitioner's employment.

Learned counsel has drawn the attention of the Court to the

notification issued by the Government of Karnataka dated

04.08.2022 which states that in partial modification to the

Notification No. TD 276 TDO 2021 issued on 30.11.2021,

permission is accorded for the registration of Non-transport

vehicle under BH-Series only for certain category of employees'

owned vehicles and in that at Sl.No.3, Officers of the Bank in the

post of Interstate Transfer were mentioned. Learned counsel

submits that, since the petitioner is in a managerial cadre and

holds a transferable post involving interstate movement and as

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the Bank operates in more than four States, he is eligible to avail

registration of his vehicle under the BH-Series.

4. Learned Additional Government Advocate appearing

for the respondents does not dispute the fact that the

Government of Karnataka has issued the Notification dated

04.08.2022. As per the same, the bank employees who are in

the cadre of Interstate Transfer are entitled for the registration

of their vehicles under BS-series.

5. Having heard the counsels on either side, perused

the material on record. This Court has perused the Notification

dated 04.08.2022 issued by the Government of Karnataka,

wherein at Sl.No.3, it is mentioned that the Officers of the Bank

in the post of Interstate Transfer are eligible to avail registration

of their vehicles under the BH-Series. The petitioner hold the

post of Manager in the ICICI Bank and as it is stated that the

Bank is operating in more than four States and as it is a

transferable job, the petitioner is entitled for the registration of

his vehicle under the BS-Series. Hence, this Court is passing the

following:

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ORDER

(i) The proceedings dated 08.12.2025 are

set-aside and the respondent No.4 is directed

to register the petitioner's vehicle i.e. Hyundai

Creta 1.5 CRDI MT E bearing Chassis No.

MALPA813LSM171013 and Engine No.

D4FASM404236 under the BH-Series.