Mr S N Ravichandra Vs Sri. Ramesh Dev — Contempt of Court | Karnataka HC (2025)

Mr S N Ravichandra Vs Sri. Ramesh Dev — Contempt of Court | Karnataka HC (2025)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Liberty to the complainant to revive the contempt complaint if a cause persists; complainant and accused directed to be present at the site at 11.00 a.m. on 23.12.2025, the complainant to carry all necessary documents.

Issue for consideration

Whether the accused committed wilful disobedience of, and contempt of, the order dated 27.09.2024 passed in W.P. No.54908/2017, whereby they were directed to decide on issuing TDR or initiating acquisition proceedings for four guntas of land in Survey No.20/4 used for road widening. +1 more

Court's answer

The complaint is closed, with liberty reserved to the complainant to revive it if a cause persists; the substantive allegation of wilful disobedience was not adjudicated.

Key takeaways

It is directed that the complainant and the accused shall be present at the site at 11.00 a.m. on 23.12.2025, the complainant to carry all necessary documents on that date notwithstanding earlier submission.¶38

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Civil contempt (CCC No. 73 of 2025, HC-KAR, order dated 10.12.2025; per Vibhu Bakhru, CJ, with C.M. Poonacha, J) filed by S.N. Ravichandra under Sections 11 and 12 of the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971 read with Article 215 of the Constitution of India against BBMP/BDA officers (Ramesh Dev, Tushar Giri Nath, N. Jayaram), alleging wilful disobedience of the High Court's order dated 27.09.2024 in W.P. No.54908/2017, which required the accused to decide on issuing Transferable Development Rights (TDR) or initiating acquisition proceedings in respect of four guntas of land in Survey No.20/4 used for road widening. Counsel for the accused produced a memo showing the complainant had been asked to submit documents and enquiry notices issued; complainant's counsel said the notices were answered but the order remained uncomplied. On both sides' joint request, the Court fixed a site meeting at 11.00 a.m. on 23.12.2025 (complainant to carry all necessary documents) and closed the complaint with liberty to revive it if a cause persists. No finding of contempt was made; no precedent was cited.

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NC: 2025:KHC:52109-DB CCC No. 73 of 2025

HC-KAR

IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 10^TH DAY OF DECEMBER, 2025

PRESENT

THE HON'BLE MR. VIBHU BAKHRU, CHIEF JUSTICE

AND

THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE C.M. POONACHA CIVIL CONTEMPT PETITION NO. 73 OF 2025

BETWEEN:

MR. S.N. RAVICHANDRA

S/O LATE S. NAGASUBRAMANIAN AGED ABOUT 58 YEARS R/AT NO. 609, 11^TH CROSS 5^TH MAIN, J.P. NAGAR 3^RD PHASE BANGALORE - 560 078

…COMPLAINANT

(BY SRI H.S. VIVEKANANDA, ADVOCATE)

AND:

Digitally signed by SUMATHY KANNAN Location: High Court of Karnataka

SRI RAMESH DEV ASST. EXECUTIVE ENGINEER BRUHATH BENGALURU MAHANAGARA PALIKE (BBMP) BOMMANAHALLI SUB-DIVISION 9^TH FLOOR, JAYANAGAR 4^TH BLOCK BANGALORE - 560 011

SRI TUSHAR GIRI NATH CHIEF COMMISSIONER, BBMP M/S BRUHATH BENGALURU MAHANAGRA PALIKE N.R.ROAD

BANGALORE - 560 002

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NC: 2025:KHC:52109-DB CCC No. 73 of 2025

HC-KAR

SRI N. JAYARAM COMMISSIONER BANGALORE DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY T. CHOWDIAH ROAD KUMARA PARK WEST BENGALURU - 560 020

…ACCUSED

(BY SRI B.S. KARTHIKEYAN, ADVOCATE FOR ACCUSED No.2 & 3)

THIS CCC IS FILED UNDER SECTIONS 11 AND 12 OF THE CONTEMPT OF COURTS ACT, 1971 A/W ARTICLE 215 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO CONDUCT AN ENQUIRY INTO THE WILFUL DISOBEDIENCE COMMITTED BY THE ACCUSED AND CONSEQUENTLY CONVICT AND PUNISH THE ACCUSED FOR COMMITTING CONTEMPT OF THE ORDER OF THIS HON'BLE COURT DATED 27.09.2024 PASSED IN W.P. NO.54908/2017 VIDE ANNEXURE-C & ETC.

THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR ORDERS, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER:

CORAM: HON'BLE MR. VIBHU BAKHRU, CHIEF JUSTICE and HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE C.M. POONACHA

ORAL ORDER

(PER: HON'BLE MR. VIBHU BAKHRU, CHIEF JUSTICE)

The complainant has filed the present complaint alleging willful disobedience of the order dated 27.09.2024, whereby the accused were directed to take a decision whether they are willing

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NC: 2025:KHC:52109-DB CCC No. 73 of 2025

HC-KAR

to issue Transferable Development Rights (TDR) or initiate acquisition proceedings in respect of four guntas in land falling in Survey No.20/4, which is being used for the purpose of road widening.

The learned counsel for the accused has handed over a memo indicating that the complainant was called upon to submit all documents and enquiry notices had been issued.

The learned counsel appearing for the complainant submits that the notices were responded to. However, the order has not being complied with.

After some arguments, both the learned counsel for the parties state that the hearing date and time be fixed, on which date the complainant would be present along with all relevant documents and necessary action shall be taken by the accused.

In view of the above, it is directed that the complainant and accused shall be present at the site at 11.00 a.m. on 23.12.2025. The complainant shall carry all necessary documents on the said

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NC: 2025:KHC:52109-DB CCC No. 73 of 2025

HC-KAR

date, notwithstanding that the same may have been submitted

earlier.

The complaint is closed with liberty to the complainant to revive the same, if a cause persists.

Sd/(VIBHU BAKHRU) CHIEF JUSTICE

Sd/(C.M. POONACHA) JUDGE

KS

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