Isukapati Bhragavi Vs Smt.G.Jaya Lakshmi — Contempt of Court | Andhra Pradesh HC (2026)

Isukapati Bhragavi Vs Smt.G.Jaya Lakshmi — Contempt of Court | Andhra Pradesh HC (2026)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

None to the petitioner: no punishment imposed, as the Court found no willful disobedience; the Contempt Case is closed with no order as to costs, and pending miscellaneous petitions (including IA No.1 of 2024 seeking discharge of respondent no.1 from the array) stand closed as a sequel.

Issue for consideration

Whether the respondents committed willful disobedience / non-implementation of the order dated 13.06.2023 in W.P.No.10015 of 2023, attracting punishment under Sections 10 to 12 of the Contempt of Courts Act 1971. +1 more

Court's answer

The respondents complied with the writ direction: they considered the petitioner's case and passed an order rejecting it on the stated ground that she had not come up in the zone of consideration.

Ratio / Principle

The writ order had only directed the respondents to consider the petitioner's candidature, and the Court had made no observations with regard to merits; hence the December 2023 rejection did not constitute disobedience of the order's substance.

Key takeaways

There is no willful disobedience on the part of the respondents; accordingly the contempt case does not lie.ratio¶42
If the petitioner has any grievance with regard to the orders passed by the contemnors in December 2023, her remedy is to initiate fresh proceedings by filing a Writ Petition, not through the contempt route.ratio¶42

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Contempt of Courts Act 1971, Ss.10-12 — alleged non-implementation of order dated 13.06.2023 in W.P.No.10015 of 2023, whereby respondents 2-4 were directed to consider the petitioner's candidature for Anganwadi appointment along with the Additional Chief Secretary's recommendation dated 28.10.2020 relaxing the marriage guideline, if otherwise eligible, within four weeks. Respondents produced December 2023 proceedings rejecting the petitioner as ineligible (fewer marks; Worker post at Centre Code No.77 already filled). Holding: the writ order required only consideration of the candidature, without observations on merits; the respondents having so considered and rejected the claim, there was no willful disobedience. Grievance against the December 2023 order must be pursued by way of a fresh Writ Petition. Contempt Case closed; no costs; miscellaneous petitions closed.

[3208]

APHC010641842023

IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI

(Special Original Jurisdiction)

TUESDAY,THE TENTH DAY OF FEBRUARY TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY SIX

PRESENT

THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE D RAMESH

CONTEMPT CASE NO: 6770/2023

Between:

ISUKAPATI BHRAGAVI, D/O LATE NAGABHUSHANAM, D.NO CHINANINDRAKOLANU VILLAGE AND POST, NIDAMARRU MANDAL, ELURU DISTRICT,A.P, PIN 534406

...PETITIONER

AND

SMT G JAYA LAKSHMI, THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, WOMEN AND CHILD WELFARE DEPARTMENT , REP BY ITS PRINCIPLE SECRETARY.SECRETARIAT BUILDING, VELAGAPUDI, AMARAVATI, GUNTUR DISTRICT.

SRI PRASANNA VENKATESH, THE DISTRICT COLLECTOR, ELURU DISTRICT, ELURU,

SMT K A V L PADMAVATHI, THE PROJECT DIRECTOR, INTEGRATED CHILD DEVELOPMENT SCHEME, ELURU, ELURU DISTRICT

SMT K V A S VIJAYALAKSHMI, THE CHILD DEVELOPMENT PROJECT OFFICER, ICDS, PEDANINDRAKOLANU, ELURU DISTRICT.

...CONTEMNOR(S):

Petition under Sections 10 to 12 of Contempt of Courts Act 1971 praying that in the circumstances stated in the affidavit file herein the High Court may be pleased to punish the respondents under Section 10 to 12 of Contempt of Courts Act 1971, for intentional and deliberate violation of the orders dated

13.06.2023 passed by this Honourable Court in W.P No 10015 of 2023 and pass

IA NO: 1 OF 2023

Petition under Section 151 CPC praying that in the circumstances stated in the affidavit filed in support of the petition, the High Court may be pleased to Dispense with the filing of certified copy of the order in Writ Petition No. 10015 of 2023 dated 13-06-2023 and pass

IA NO: 1 OF 2024

Petition under Section 151 CPC praying that in the circumstances stated in the affidavit filed in support of the petition, the High Court may be pleased to discharge the Respondent No.l from the array of respondents in the Contempt Case No. 6770 of 2023 and close the contempt case against this Respondent and pass

Counsel for the Petitioner:

1.TAMMANA ANUP KUMAR

Counsel for the Contemnor(S):

1.NARASIMHA REDDY. G . L

2.S PRANATHI

THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE D.RAMESH

ORDER:

This Contempt Case is filed for non-implementation of the orders of this Court dated 13.06.2023 in W.P.No.10015 of 2023, wherein this Court has passed the following order:

<5. After rejection of the petitioner’s case, she has made a request to all concerned. Considering the request made by the petitioner, the Additional Chief Secretary to the Chief Minister of A.P has directed the Principal Secretary to Government, Women and Child Welfare Department to consider the case of the petitioner by giving relaxation to G.O.Ms.No.21, if the petitioner is otherwise eligible, vide proceedings dated 28.10.2020. Despite receipt of the said letter, the respondents have not considered the case of the petitioner. Hence the writ petition.

Though time granted, the respondents have not filed counter.

In view of the above said circumstances, the respondents particularly respondent nos.2 to 4 are directed to consider the request of the petitioner along with recommendation made by the Additional Chief Secretary dated 28.10.2020 by relaxing the guidelines with regard to marriage and take appropriate action, within a period of four (04) weeks, if the petitioner is otherwise eligible.=

In the above said orders, this Court categorically directed to consider the case of the petitioner by taking the relaxation granted by the Additional Chief Secretary to Government, Women and Child Welfare Department, in his proceedings dated 20.08.2020 with regard to the marriage, if she is otherwise eligible.

In the reply filed by the 3^rd respondent, he also placed proceedings issued by the 2^nd respondent on December, 2023, which reads as follows:

<Kum.Isukapati Bhargavi is ineligible to appoint her as Anganwadi Helper in Anganwadi Centre Code No.76, as she

secured less marks among four candidates and the post of Anganwadi Worker in Chinanindrakolanu village, Code No.77 was filled with eligible candidate from the feeder category as per Govt. Memo No.5771/K3/2006, dated 03.12.2010 & 05.01.2012 and cannot be reverted after a time lapse of above two years which may be contrary to natural justice.

On perusal of the above orders, the respondents have considered the case of the petitioner and passed an order stating that the petitioner has not come up in the zone of consideration and accordingly rejected.

The contention of the petitioner herein is that the respondents have not considered case of the petitioner in perspective manner. In fact, the centre No.77 is to be reserved for appointment for only S.C. category but contrary to the notification, the respondents have appointed O.C. candidates, deviating the notification. Hence, the order passed in December, 2023 is not in accordance with the orders passed by this Court.

On perusal of the orders of this Court, this Court has only directed the respondents to consider the candidature of the petitioner without referring to the state of marriage except that the Court has not made any observations with regard to the merits.

In the said circumstances, if the petitioner has any grievance with regard to the orders passed by the contemnors on December, 2023, it is for her to seek appropriate relief by initiating proceedings through filing a Writ Petition. Hence, this Court is of the opinion that there is no willful disobedience on part of the respondents.

Accordingly, this Contempt Case is closed. There shall be no order as to

costs.

As a sequel, miscellaneous petitions, if any, pending shall stand closed.

________________________ JUSTICE D.RAMESH

Date: 10.02.2026 M K K

217

THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE D.RAMESH

Contempt Case No.6770 of 2023

Dated: 10.02.2026

M K K