Karnataka HC issues notice on plea against Disabilities Commissioner appointment

Bengaluru The High Court of Karnataka on Thursday ordered notice to the State government on a petition challenging the appointment of Venkataramanaswamy S.V. as the State Commissioner for Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Justice S.

Sunil Dutt Yadav passed the order on the petition filed by Praveen Ullagaddi, a 43-year-old advocate and disability rights activist from Belagavi, who has 80% permanent locomotor disability. The petitioner, who was an aspirant to the post, termed the selection process “opaque, arbitrary and non-transparent.” Dr. Venkataramanaswamy was appointed to the post on October 31.

It has been stated in the petition that the post fell vacant on March 5, 2026, and was advertised on March 7 in English and Kannada newspapers pursuant to Section 79 of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016. The petitioner, who is the president of the State Divyan Para-Valley Association of Karnataka and a two-term vice-president of the Karnataka State Association for Physically Handicapped, applied on April 4.