Sri N Muniyappa Vs the State of Karnataka — Contempt of Court | Karnataka HC (2026)

Sri N Muniyappa Vs the State of Karnataka — Contempt of Court | Karnataka HC (2026)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

No punishment initiated and no relief granted to the complainant; the contempt complaint was closed, with an express clarification that the closure does not preclude recourse to substantive remedies in respect of the endorsement dated 24.09.2025 or for obtaining phodi and durast of Survey No.87, Kallandur Village, Kolar Taluk.

Issue for consideration

Whether proceedings for wilful disobedience (civil contempt) of the Single Judge's order dated 18.01.2024 in W.P.No.17935/2023 (KLR-RR/SUR) are maintainable against the Thasildar, given that she has since issued an endorsement dated 24.09.2025 in response to the representation.

Ratio / Principle

Since an endorsement has been issued in response to the representation, the Division Bench was unable to accept that any proceedings for wilful disobedience of the order dated 18.01.2024 would be maintainable; the contempt complaint was accordingly closed.

Key takeaways

Clarification accompanying the closure: the closure order does not preclude the complainant from availing substantive remedies in respect of the endorsement dated 24.09.2025 or for obtaining the phodi and durast of his property.ratio¶36

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Civil contempt (CCC No. 1075 of 2025, HC-Karnataka, DB, per Vibhu Bakhru, CJ) under Sections 11 and 12 of the Contempt of Courts Act r/w Article 215 of the Constitution, alleging wilful disobedience by the Thasildar, Kolar Taluk, of the Single Judge's order dated 18.01.2024 in W.P.No.17935/2023 (KLR-RR/SUR), which directed expeditious consideration of the complainant's online application for phodi and durast of his land in Survey No.87 (2 acres), Kallandur Village, Kasaba Hobli, Kolar Taluk. On preliminary hearing, counsel for the accused handed over a reply affidavit showing that the accused considered the representation and issued an endorsement dated 24.09.2025 stating that the claimed land falls in the list of lands suspected of being unauthorised grants in Kolar Taluk. Held: since an endorsement had been issued, proceedings for wilful disobedience of the order dated 18.01.2024 were not maintainable; the complaint was closed, with clarification that the complainant remains free to avail substantive remedies against the endorsement or for obtaining phodi and durast of his property.

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NC: 2026:KHC:16035-DB CCC No. 1075 of 2025

HC-KAR

IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 18^TH DAY OF MARCH, 2026

PRESENT

THE HON'BLE MR. VIBHU BAKHRU, CHIEF JUSTICE AND

THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE C.M. POONACHA CIVIL CONTEMPT PETITION NO. 1075 OF 2025

BETWEEN:

SRI N. MUNIYAPPA

S/O LATE NALLAPPA AGED ABOUT 67 YEARS R/AT KALLANDUR VILLAGE KASABA HOBLI KOLAR TALUK - 563 101 KOLAR DISTRICT - 563 101

…COMPLAINANT

(BY SRI A. LOURDU MARIYAPPA, ADVOCATE FOR SRI DEVARAJA S.N., ADVOCATE)

AND:

Digitally signed by K P SWETHA Location: High Court of Karnataka

THE STATE OF KARNATAKA REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE M.S. BUILDING

DR. AMBEDKAR VEEDHI BENGALURU - 560 001

…PRO FORMA RESPONDENT

MS. SHOBHITA THE THASILDAR

KOLAR TALUK, KOLAR DISTRICT - 563 101

…ACCUSED

(BY SMT. NAMITHA MAHESH B.G., AGA FOR PROFORMA R-1 & A-2)

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NC: 2026:KHC:16035-DB CCC No. 1075 of 2025

HC-KAR

THIS CCC IS FILED UNDER SECTIONS 11 AND 12 OF THE CONTEMPT OF COURTS ACT R/W ARTICLE 215 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO INITIATE CONTEMPT PROCEEDINGS AGAINST THE ACCUSED/RESPONDENT FOR DISOBEYING THE ORDER OF THIS HON'BLE COURT PASSED IN ORDER AT ANNEXURE - A DATED 18.01.2024 IN W.P.NO.17935/2023 (KLR-RR/SUR) AND PUNISH THE RESPONDENTS/ACCUSED IN ACCORDANCE WITH LAW UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF THE CONTEMPT OF COURT ACT.

THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY HEARING, 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 petition alleging wilful disobedience of the order dated 18.01.2024 passed by the learned Single Judge of this Court in W.P.No.17935/2023 (KLR-RR/SUR).

The said petition was disposed of with liberty to the complainant to file an application online for phodi and durast in respect of the complainant's land falling in Survey No.87 measuring 2 acres situated at Kallandur Village, Kasaba Hobli, Kolar Taluk, Kolar District. The accused was directed to consider the application and do the needful as expeditiously as possible.

3 - NC: 2026:KHC:16035-DB CCC No. 1075 of 2025

HC-KAR

The learned counsel for the accused has handed over a reply affidavit stating that the accused has considered the representation and has issued an endorsement dated 24.09.2025. It is stated that the land claimed by the complainant falls in the list of lands which are suspected of being unauthorised grants in Kolar Taluk.

Since an endorsement has been issued, we are unable to accept that any proceedings for wilful disobedience of the order dated 18.01.2024 would be maintainable.

The complaint is accordingly closed. However, we clarify that this order would not preclude the complainant from availing substantive remedies in respect of the endorsement or for getting the phodi and durast of his property.

Sd/(VIBHU BAKHRU) CHIEF JUSTICE

Sd/(C.M. POONACHA) JUDGE

KPS List No.: 1 Sl No.: 15