The Karnataka State Administrative Tribunal (KSAT) at Kalaburagi has stayed the suspension of a government school teacher who participated in a Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) event, holding that his participation did not violate the Karnataka State Civil Services (Conduct) Rules, 2021, as reported in Bar and Bench.
The order was passed in Gururaj v. State of Karnataka by a Bench comprising Judicial Member S.Y. Watawati and Administrative Member Dr Amita Prasad.
The Tribunal held that Rule 5 of the Conduct Rules prohibits government servants from attending functions organised by political parties or associations that participate in politics. However, it found that the RSS was a non-political organisation and that Gururaj’s participation in its event did not breach the provision.
“When he participated in the event organized by a non-political party, the act of the applicant did not violate the conditions stipulated under Rule 5 of the Conduct Rules, 2021 referred to supra. Further, the State Government has not issued any order or notification prohibiting any Government Official from participating in such an event.”
The Tribunal also observed that the State government had not issued any specific order or notification prohibiting government officials from participating in such events.
Gururaj, an assistant teacher at the Government Girls High School in Hunasagi, Yadgiri district, was suspended on August 20, 2026, by the Deputy Director of the Department of School Education, Yadgiri.
The teacher did not dispute his participation in an RSS function. His contention was that there was no rule prohibiting government employees from participating in programmes organised by a non-political organisation.
The Tribunal further noted that Rule 7, cited in the suspension order, had been omitted from the Conduct Rules as far back as 25 April 1968.
Subscribe to our channels on WhatsApp, Telegram, Instagram and YouTube to get the best stories of the day delivered to you personally.
