Smt Renuka P Bagali v. The State of Karnataka

IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 1ST DAY OF JULY, 2026 PRESENT THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S.G.PANDIT AND THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE RAJESH RAI K WRIT PETITION NO. 7178 OF 2023 (S-KSAT) BETWEEN: SMT. RENUKA P. BAGALI D/O SRI. PADMAPPA B AGED ABOUT 40 YEARS, D/6 RAMASWAMY BADAVANE, NEAR AIRTEL TOWER, HOOVINABADAGALI, BELLARY DISTRICT 583219. PRESENTLY R/AT BRIGADE BRICKLANE, NO.G-249, 2ND FLOOR, TOWER G, SY.NO.95 AND 97, KOGILU MAIN ROAD, NEAR BRIGADE NORTHRIDGE, JAKKUR, BENGALURU 560 064. …PETITIONER (BY SMT.RENUKA P.BAGALI, PARTY-IN-PERSON) AND:

¶1THE STATE OF KARNATAKA REPRESENTED BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY, HIGHER EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, M.S. BUILDING, BENGALURU 560001. by PANKAJA S Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA

¶2THE DIRECTORATE OF COLLEGIATE EDUCATION PALACE ROAD, BANGALORE 560018.

¶3KARNATAKA EXAMINATION AUTHORITY, REPRESENTED BY ITS COMMISSIONER, 18TH CROSS, SAMPIGE ROAD, BANGALORE 560 003. …RESPONDENTS (BY SRI.HARISHA A.S., AGA)

THIS WP IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO ISSUE A WRIT OF CERTIORARI OR ANY OTHER WRIT, QUASHING THE ORDER DATED 27/08/2020 MADE IN APPLICATION NO.8793/2016 IN (ANNEXURE-A) PASSED BY THE KARNATAKA STATE ADMINISTRATIVE TRIBUNAL, BENGALURU, BEING ARBITRARY, ERRONEOUS AND CONTRARY TO THE LAW EQUITY AND JUSTICE, AND ETC.

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

CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S.G.PANDIT and HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE RAJESH RAI K ORAL ORDER (PER: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE RAJESH RAI K)

In this writ petition, the petitioner has assailed the order dated 27.08.2020 passed in application No.8793/2016 by the Karnataka State Administrate Tribunal, Bengaluru (for short 'the Tribunal'), whereby the Tribunal dismissed the application filed by the petitioner.

¶2The factual matrix of the case is that, respondent No.1 has published the Karnataka Education Department Service (Collegiate Education Department) (Recruitment) (Special) Rules, 2014 (for short '2014 Rules') and by way of notification dated 25.10.2014 issued guidelines for recruitment of Assistant Professor Post in the Department of Collegiate Education. On 16.05.2014, respondent No.1 issued notification fixing the educational qualification criteria and issued notification for the recruitment calling application from the eligible candidates for filling up of 1298 Assistant Professors

post in various subjects in terms of the Karnataka Education Department Service, Rules 2014. Out of that 91 posts were Assistant Lecturer teaching Management subjects, in which 12 posts were reserved for Hyderabad-Karnataka region. The petitioner applied for the post of Assistant Professor in the Management subject. According to her, she has acquired B.Sc., MBA (Master Degree) together with NET Management. She was permitted to write competitive exam and on the basis of her performance, she was included in the merit list and was called for verification of records on 02.09.2016. However, objection was raised that she is not having the basic degree of BBM/BBA/B.Com decree. Therefore, respondents refused to verify the records of the petitioner on 02.09.2016. However, the petitioner filed a representation on 03.09.2016 requesting to include her name in the selection list and to verify the records, since she was qualified as per UGC Regulations. The said prayer of the petitioner was rejected and consequently, candidature was also rejected. As such, she approached the Tribunal filing an application No.8793/2016 challenging the notification and the impugned endorsement dated 03.09.2016 issued by respondent No.3.

¶3The Tribunal on assessment of the documents placed before it, dismissed the application. Challenge to the same is lis before this Court.

¶4Heard the petitioner - party-in-person and the learned Additional Government Advocate for respondents.

¶5The contention of the petitioner - party-in-person is that she has completed her B.Sc., degree and also completed her MBA master degree. Placing the service certificate that she worked as a guest faculty in the department of Management issued by the Principal of Government Ramnarayan Chellaram College of Commerce and Management, she submits that since she completed B.Sc. degree which is equivalent to BBA/BBM/B.Com, her candidature ought to have been considered by the respondents. She also contended that she had a master degree in MBA, as such, rejection of her candidature is not sustainable under law. As such, she prays to allow the writ petition by setting aside the impugned order.

¶6Per contra, learned Additional Government Advocate contended that Government has published notification inviting applications for the post of Assistant Professor in the Management subject, under 2014 Rules and UGC Regulations, which clearly depicts that the candidates, who have completed degree in BBM/BBA/B.Com with MBA/M.Com, only are eligible to teach the Management subject. Subsequently, by a corrigendum dated 12.02.2015 order was modified by the respondents stating that those candidates having BBM/BBA/B.Com degrees along with MBA master degree would be eligible. Under such circumstances, since the petitioner has not obtained BBM/BBA/B.Com degrees, she is not eligible for the post. Accordingly, respondents have rightly issued the endorsement rejecting the candidature. The said aspect of the matter has rightly been upheld by the Tribunal. Accordingly, he prays to dismiss the petition.

¶7We have given our anxious consideration both on the submission made by the petitioner - party-in-person and the learned Additional Government Advocate for the respondents.

¶8As could be gathered from records, the petitioner has applied for the post of Assistant Professor in the Management subject. Admittedly, she has acquired B.Sc. degree and MBA master degree together with NET Management. The notification issued by the Government by the Collegiate Education clearly reveals the qualification for the post of Assistant Professor that, one has to obtain bachelor degree in BBM/BBA/B.Com with master degree in MBA. No doubt, the petitioner has worked as a guest lecturer/guest faculty in the department of management where she has completed her MBA degree, however, the fact remains that the petitioner being a BSc. degree holder, the same cannot be equated with BBM/BBA/B.Com degree in view of the notification. The petitioner lacks basic qualification.

¶9In that view of the matter, we are of the considered view that the Tribunal has rightly considered all these aspects and rejected the application of the petitioner. We find no merit in the contention of the petitioner - party - in-person.

Accordingly, writ petition lacks merit and the same is dismissed. SD/- (S.G.PANDIT) JUDGE SD/- (RAJESH RAI K) JUDGE GPG List No.: 1 Sl No.: 18