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SHRI MANGALAPPA S/O TIPPANNA HULLIKERI v. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA
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HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:29066-DB WP No. 104679 of 2026
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU
DATED THIS THE 16TH DAY OF JUNE, 2026
PRESENT
THE HON'BLE MR. VIBHU BAKHRU, CHIEF JUSTICE
AND
THE HON'BLE MRS. JUSTICE K.S. HEMALEKHA WRIT PETITION NO.104679 OF 2026 (GM-RES-PIL)
BETWEEN:
SHRI MANGALAPPA
S/O TIPPANNA HULLIKERI
AGE: 45 YEARS,
OCC: P.SERVICE
R/O NEAR SHIVAPPA KOUJAGANUR,
KATAGI HADDE, GIRANI CHALA,
HUBBALLI, TQ. HUBBALLI,
DIST. DHARWAD-PIN-580020. …PETITIONER
(BY SRI. HEMANTHKUMAR LAKSHMAPPA HAVARAGI, ADVOCATE)
AND:
1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA
REPRESENTED BY CHIEF SECRETARY
VIDHANA SOUDHA, BENGALURU-560001.
2. THE SECRETARY
KARNATAKA STATE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY
VIDHANA SOUDHA, BENGALURU-560001.
3. SHRI D.K. SHIVAKUMAR
THE CHIEF MINISTER OF KARNATAKA
VIDHANA SOUDHA, BENGALURU-560001.
4. DR. G. PARAMESHWAR
THE DEPUTY CHIEF MINISTER OF KARNATAKA
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KARNATAKA STATE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY
VIDHANA SOUDHA, BENGALURU-560001.
5. SHRI K.H. MUNIYAPPA
THE COUNCIL MINISTER OF KARNATAKA
KARNATAKA STATE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY
VIDHANA SOUDHA, BENGALURU-560001.
6. SHRI K.J. GEORGE
THE COUNCIL MINISTER OF KARNATAKA
KARNATAKA STATE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY
VIDHANA SOUDHA, BENGALURU-560001.
7. SHRI M.B. PATIL
THE COUNCIL MINISTER OF KARNATAKA
KARNATAKA STATE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY
VIDHANA SOUDHA, BENGALURU-560001.
8. SHRI RAMALINGA REDDY
THE COUNCIL MINISTER OF KARNATAKA
KARNATAKA STATE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY
VIDHANA SOUDHA, BENGALURU-560001.
9. SHRI SATISH JARAKIHOLI
THE COUNCIL MINISTER OF KARNATAKA
KARNATAKA STATE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY
VIDHANA SOUDHA, BENGALURU-560001.
10. SHRI KRISHNA BYREGOWDA
THE COUNCIL MINISTER OF KARNATAKA
KARNATAKA STATE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY
VIDHANA SOUDHA, BENGALURU-560001.
11. SHRI PRIYANKA KHARGE
THE COUNCIL MINISTER OF KARNATAKA
KARNATAKA STATE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY
VIDHANA SOUDHA, BENGALURU-560001.
12. SHRI U.T. KHADER
THE COUNCIL MINISTER OF KARNATAKA
KARNATAKA STATE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY
VIDHANA SOUDHA, BENGALURU-560001.
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13. SHRI ESHWAR KHANDRE
THE COUNCIL MINISTER OF KARNATAKA
KARNATAKA STATE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY
VIDHANA SOUDHA, BENGALURU-560001.
14. SHRI YATHINDRA SIDDARAMAIAH
THE COUNCIL MINISTER OF KARNATAKA
KARNATAKA STATE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY
VIDHANA SOUDHA, BENGALURU-560001.
15. SHRI BYRATHI SURESH
THE COUNCIL MINISTER OF KARNATAKA
KARNATAKA STATE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY
VIDHANA SOUDHA, BENGALURU-560001.
16. SHRI SHARAN PRAKASH PATIL
THE COUNCIL MINISTER OF KARNATAKA
KARNATAKA STATE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY
VIDHANA SOUDHA, BENGALURU-560001. …RESPONDENTS
(BY MS. NILOUFER AKBAR, ADDITIONAL GOVERNMENT
ADVOCATE)
THIS WRIT PETITION IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 & 227
OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO ISSUE ANY OTHER
WRIT IN THE NATURE CERTIORARI OR DIRECTION OR
MANDAMUS OR TO STRUCK DOWN THE 14 COUNCIL MINISTER
INCLUDING CHIEF MINISTER OF KARNATAKA AS COUNCIL
MINISTERS UNDER ARTICLE 164(1A) OF THE CONSTITUTION OF
INDIA AS UNCONSTITUTIONAL, FROM 03/06/2026 TO TILL
COMPLIANCE OF UNDER ARTICLE 164(1A) OF THE CONSTITUTION
OF INDIA AND ETC.
THIS PETITION COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY HEARING,
THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER:
CORAM: HON'BLE MR. VIBHU BAKHRU, CHIEF JUSTICE and
HON'BLE MRS. JUSTICE K.S. HEMALEKHA
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ORAL ORDER
(PER: HON'BLE MR. VIBHU BAKHRU, CHIEF JUSTICE)
1. The petitioner has filed the present petition, inter alia, praying as under:
"a. Issue any other writ in the nature certiorari or direction or mandamus or to struck down the 14 Council Minister including Chief Minister of Karnataka as Council Ministers under Article 164(1A) of the Constitution of India as unconstitutional, from 03/06/2026 to till compliance of under Article 164(1A) of the Constitution of India. b. Issue any other writ or direction, which this Hon'ble Court deems fit under the facts and circumstances of the case, in the interest of justice and equity."
2. We note that the petitioner has also arrayed all the Ministers, who were recently sworn in, as respondents. The present petition is premised on an erroneous ground that the number of Ministers, including the Chief Minister, in the Council of Ministers cannot be less than 12% of the total number of members of the Karnataka Legislature.
3. A plain reading of the proviso to Clause (1A) of Article 164 of the Constitution of India states that the number of Ministers, including the Chief Minister, in a State shall not be less than twelve and not 12% of the total number of members, as contended by the
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petitioner. The present petition is premised on an ex facie erroneous assumption.
4. We are of the view that the present petition has been essentially filed to seek publicity and is an unjustifiable imposition on judicial time.
5. In view of the above, the petition is dismissed with costs quantified at `50,000/- (Rupees fifty thousand only). The costs shall be deposited with the Karnataka State Legal Services Authority within a period of two weeks from date.
6. At this stage, the learned counsel for the petitioner seeks to withdraw the present petition and the same is declined.
Sd/-
(VIBHU BAKHRU)
CHIEF JUSTICE
Sd/-
(K.S. HEMALEKHA)
JUDGE
MBM
List No.: 2 Sl No.: 17
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