Sri. Rangaiah Shetty Vs Sri. K Eakesh Babu — Contempt of Court | Karnataka HC (2025)

Sri. Rangaiah Shetty Vs Sri. K Eakesh Babu — Contempt of Court | Karnataka HC (2025)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

No punishment imposed; the contempt petition was closed and notice discharged, with liberty reserved to the complainant to challenge the endorsement Annexure-R1 as per law if aggrieved; all contentions left open.

Issue for consideration

Whether the accused committed wilful disobedience of the High Court's order dated 19.03.2018 made in W.P.No.54794-54802/2017 (directing consideration of the complainant's representation for payment of salary) so as to warrant punishment for civil contempt under Article 215 of the Constitution r/w Sections 10 and 11 of the Contempt of Courts Act, 1974.

Court's answer

On perusal of the compliance affidavit and Annexure-R1, the representation of the complainant-petitioner No.9 has been considered by respondent No.2 as directed by the learned Single Judge in W.P No.54794-54802/2017, in the light of the decision in W.P. No.50574/2012 dated 30.04.2014; compliance with the writ order stands effected.

Ratio / Principle

Though the complainant claimed the endorsement was contrary to the Single Judge's order, in view of the limited scope of contempt proceedings, and placing reliance on Annexure-R1 and the affidavit of the learned Additional Government Advocate, the contempt petition does not survive for further consideration; however, liberty is reserved to the complainant to challenge the endorsement Annexure-R1 as per law, if aggrieved.

Key takeaways

All the contentions of the parties were left open, the contempt petition was closed, and notice was discharged.ratio¶45

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Civil Contempt Petition (CCC No. 120 of 2022) filed under Article 215 of the Constitution of India r/w Sections 10 and 11 of the Contempt of Courts Act, 1974 by a retired Physical Education Teacher against education-department officials, alleging wilful disobedience of the order dated 19.03.2018 in W.P.No.54794-54802/2017, whereby the learned Single Judge directed respondent No.2 to consider the complainant's representation for payment of his unpaid salary. The Division Bench (per Hon'ble Mr. Justice Rajesh Rai K) found, on perusal of the compliance affidavit and Annexure-R1, that the representation had been considered by respondent No.2 as directed, by endorsement dated 21.05.2019. Holding that, given the limited scope of contempt proceedings, the petition did not survive for further consideration, the Court closed the contempt petition, discharged notice, expressly left all contentions open, and reserved liberty to the complainant to challenge the endorsement Annexure-R1 as per law if aggrieved.

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NC: 2025:KHC:30280-DB CCC No. 120 of 2022

HC-KAR

IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU

DATED THIS THE 5^TH DAY OF AUGUST, 2025

PRESENT

THE HON'BLE MRS. JUSTICE ANU SIVARAMAN

AND

THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE RAJESH RAI K

CIVIL CONTEMPT PETITION NO. 120 OF 2022

BETWEEN:

SRI. RANGAIAH SHETTY S/O PUTTA SHETTY AGED ABOUT 62 YEARS RET AS PHYSICAL EDUCATION TEACHER GOVERNMENT HIGHER PRIMARY SCHOOL DODDA NAGAMANGALA BENGALURU R/A NO. 32, 4^TH ROSS HONGASANDRA, BENGALURU-560 068

…COMPLAINANT

Digitally signed by PANKAJA S Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA

(BY SRI. CHANDRAKANTH R GOULAY, ADVOCATE)

AND:

SRI. K EAKESH BABU SECRETARY DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION THE STATE OF KARNATAKA M.S. BUILDING BENGALURU-560 001

SRI P BAILANJINAPPA DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTIONS

BENGALURU SOUTH DISTRICT BENGALUR-560 023

2 - NC: 2025:KHC:30280-DB CCC No. 120 of 2022

HC-KAR

SRI. PANKAJA G C BLOCK EDUCATION OFFICER SOUTH RANGE III BMTM LAYOUT BENGALUR 560 029

SRI. K PRAKASH BLOCK EDUCATION OFFICER SOUTH RANGE I, BASAVANAGUDI BENGALURU-560 004

THE STATE OF KARNATAKA REP BY ITS SECRETARY DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION BENGALURU-560 001

…ACCUSED

(BY SMT. MAMATHA SHETTY, AGA)

THIS CCC IS FILED UNDER ARTICLE 215 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA R/W SECTION 10 AND 11 OF CONTEMPT OF COURTS ACT, 1974, PRAYING TO PUNISH THEM FOR HIS WILLFUL DISOBEDIENCE TO THE ORDER OF THIS HON'BLE HIGH COURT DATED 19.03.2018 MADE IN WP NO.54794-57802/2017 (ANNEXURE-A).

THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR ORDERS, THIS DAY, JUDGMENT WAS DELIVERED THEREIN AS UNDER:

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HC-KAR

CORAM: HON'BLE MRS. JUSTICE ANU SIVARAMAN and HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE RAJESH RAI K

ORAL JUDGMENT

(PER: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE RAJESH RAI K)

This contempt petition is initiated for the wilful disobedience of the order dated 19.03.2018 passed in W.P.No.54794-54802/2017, whereby the learned Single Judge has directed respondent No.2 to consider the representation submitted by the complainant-petitioner No.9 for payment of his salary for the period for which he has not been paid as detailed at Annexure-A to the writ petition in accordance with law and in the light of the decision of this Court in W.P.No.50754/2012 disposed on 30.04.2024, within three months from the date of receipt of copy of the said order.

The learned Additional Government Advocate submits that the impugned order has been complied with and the representation of the complainant has been

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HC-KAR

considered by issuing endorsement as per Annexure-R1 dated 21.05.2019.

We have perused the compliance affidavit and also Annexure-R1.

On perusal, it could be gathered that the

representation of the complainant-petitioner No.9 has been considered by respondent No.2 as directed by the learned Single Judge in W.P No.54794-54802/2017 in the light of the decision passed in W.P. No.50574/2012 dated 30.04.2014. Though the complainant claimed that the said endorsement is contrary to the order passed by the learned Single Judge, in view of limited scope of this proceedings, placing reliance on Annexure-R1 and the affidavit filed by the learned Additional Government Advocate, we are of the view that, this contempt petition does not survive for further consideration. However, liberty is reserved to him to challenge the endorsementAnnexure-R1 as per law, if he is aggrieved by the same.

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NC: 2025:KHC:30280-DB CCC No. 120 of 2022

HC-KAR

All the contentions left open. Accordingly, the contempt

petition is closed .

6. Notice is discharged.

SD/(ANU SIVARAMAN) JUDGE

SD/(RAJESH RAI K) JUDGE

CR

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