Mr Shamanth S K v. The Principal Secretary

IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 23RD DAY OF SEPTEMBER, 2026 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S SUNIL DUTT YADAV WRIT PETITION NO. 29250 OF 2026 (EDN-RES) BETWEEN: MR. SHAMANTH S. K. S/O S. K. KUMAR, AGED ABOUT 25 YEARS, STUDENT OF MBA, CBSMS, BANGALORE UNIVERSITY, R/AT SINDIGERE, PO: SINDIGERE, DISTRICT: CHIKMAGALUR, KARNATAKA - 577146. …PETITIONER (BY SRI. CHETAN V., ADVOCATE) AND:

¶1THE PRINCIPAL SECRETARY GOVERNMENT OF KARNATAKA, HIGHER EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, 2ND GATE, 6TH FLOOR, M.S. BUILDING, DR. AMBEDKAR VEEDHI, BENGALURU 560001.

¶2THE REGISTRAR BANGALORE UNIVERSITY, JNANABHARATHI CAMPUS, BENGALURU 560056. Digitally signed by PRAKASH N Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA

¶3THE VICE-CHANCELLOR BANGALORE UNIVERSITY, JNANABHARATHI CAMPUS, BENGALURU - 560056.

¶4THE DIRECTORATE OF STUDENTS WELFARE, BANGALORE UNIVERSITY, JNANABHARATHI CAMPUS, BENGALURU-560056. …RESPONDENTS (BY SMT. RASHMI RAO, HCGP FOR R1; SRI. VINEESH S. BHAT, ADVOCATE FOR R2 TO R4)

THIS WP IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO ISSUE A WRIT OF CERTIORARI OR ANY OTHER APPROPRIATE WRIT, ORDER, OR DIRECTION, QUASHING THE ORDER NO.AAC-IV/M.SC/2025-26 DATED 08.06.2026 VIDE ANNEXURE-A ISSUED BY THE RESPONDENT NO.3, INSOFAR AS IT PERTAINS TO THE PETITIONER AND ETC.,

THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY HEARING, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE S SUNIL DUTT YADAV

ORAL ORDER

The present petition has been filed by a student studying in the Bangalore University, calling in question the correctness of Order dated 08.06.2026 at Annexure-A.

¶2In terms of the impugned order, the Disciplinary Action Committee after an enquiry, had suspended the continuance of the petitioner along with other students from attending classes and using hostel facilities, pending completion of the enquiry. The said action by the Disciplinary Committee included not only the petitioner, but three other students.

¶3The relevant facts leading to such action by the Disciplinary Committee appears to be an incident of assault that had taken place at PG-3 Men's Paying Hostel of the respondent - University.

¶4It is made out that an FIR was registered in Cr.No.127/2026 and charge sheet was also filed. Subsequently, the respondent - University taking note of

the said events had initiated proceedings which resulted in the order at Annexure-A being passed. The said order is in question in the present proceedings.

¶5Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that insofar as other students are concerned, the Co-ordinate Bench of this Court in W.P.No.21086/2026 had passed an order allowing the writ petition and setting aside the order of the Disciplinary Authority and upon certain terms and on parity, the similar order may be passed in the present matter also.

¶6Learned counsel for the petitioner further submits that the name of the petitioner did not figure in the FIR as well as the charge sheet and accordingly, the Court may take note of the role of the petitioner vis-à-vis other students while deciding on passing appropriate orders by the Disciplinary Committee at Annexure-A.

¶7Learned counsel for the respondent - University submits that if the petitioner were to claim parity, the

relief extended in W.P.No.21086/2026 would amount to a relief of setting aside of the disciplinary proceedings itself, which is a substantive relief, and the petitioner ought not to be permitted to make distinctions between the role of the students vis-à-vis the petitioner, when the proceedings by the Disciplinary Committee was common to all.

¶8After hearing the matter for sometime, taking note of the stand of the counsel for the petitioner on parity and taking note of the order passed by the Co-ordinate Bench, it would be appropriate to extend the benefit as granted by the Co-ordinate Bench in W.P.No.21086/2026 to the present petitioner as well. The operative directions passed in W.P.No.21086/2026 are as follows: "15. Considering overall view of the matter in the light of the fact that the petitioners being students, ought to be free from any further distractions from the academic activities. It would be in the larger interest of both the petitioners and the respondent-University to give the entire matter a quietus so that they can focus on positive aspects of their

careers in view of the above matter, I proceed to pass the following: ORDER i. The writ petition is allowed; ii. Annexures-B and C are hereby quashed; iii. The respondents are directed to permit the petitioners to continue their studies and attend the classes/examinations subject to the petitioners depositing Rs.50,000/- each with the respondent-University; iv. The petitioners shall give undertakings before the respondent-University stating that henceforth they will not repeat such acts in the University campus and deposit the amount of Rs.50,000/- each, within four weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order; v. Pending IA(s), if any, shall stand disposed of."

¶9In light of the petitioner not contesting beyond the relief of parity, the present petition may be allowed on same terms as in W.P.No.21086/2026 and accordingly, the proceedings at Annexure-A vis-à-vis the petitioner are set aside. The respondents are directed to permit the

petitioner to continue his studies and attend the classes/examinations subject to the petitioner depositing Rs.50,000/- with the respondent-University.

¶10The petitioner shall give undertaking before the respondent-University stating that henceforth he will not repeat such acts in the University campus and deposit the amount of Rs.50,000/-, within four weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order

Accordingly, the petition is disposed of. Sd/- (S SUNIL DUTT YADAV) JUDGE MCR List No.: 2 Sl No.: 14