Sri. Srikanth Vs Sri. Rithesh Kumar Singh — Contempt of Court | Karnataka HC (2026)

Sri. Srikanth Vs Sri. Rithesh Kumar Singh — Contempt of Court | Karnataka HC (2026)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

No relief to the appellants: the writ appeal failed and was dismissed, leaving intact the Single Judge's order of 23.08.2023 quashing the salary-grant refusal conditions. The contempt case (CCC No.109/2024) was closed, with eight weeks' further time granted to the Government to comply with the judgment directions; the complainants may reopen the contempt case if the directions are not complied with. All pending interlocutory applications stand disposed of.

Issue for consideration

Whether craft teachers appointed after the Rules were amended in 2007 permitting craft-teacher posts are entitled to grant-in-aid / salary grant, notwithstanding the approval-order conditions refusing salary grant to such teachers (and relatedly, whether the Single Judge adequately considered admission of all craft teachers to grant-in-aid). +1 more

Court's answer

The Rules as amended in the year 2007 enable the institution to have craft teachers (the amendment permitting craft-teacher posts in the staff pattern).

Ratio / Principle

Since the Rules amended in 2007 enable the institution to have craft teachers and the writ petitioners (craft teachers) were appointed thereafter, they are entitled to the benefit of Note 3 of the Rules; the conditions refusing salary grant cannot stand.

Key takeaways

Having considered the contentions, pleadings and materials, the Court found no reason to depart from the judgment of the co-equal Bench in WA No.100053/2025 and held the matter squarely covered by that judgment.ratio¶118
With the writ appeal dismissed, the Contempt of Court case (CCC No.109/2024) is closed, and the Government is granted eight weeks' further time to comply with the directions contained in the judgment.ratio¶124

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Division Bench (Anu Sivaraman and Venkatesh Naik T, JJ.; oral judgment per Anu Sivaraman J.) dismissed the State of Karnataka's writ appeal (WA No.748/2024 (S-RES), filed under Section 4, Karnataka High Court Act) against the learned Single Judge's order dated 23.08.2023 in W.P.No.21310/2016, which had allowed the petition of four craft teachers of aided high schools in Chamarajanagar district challenging Annexures 'D'-‘G’ and the Government Order dated 11.10.2012, and had quashed condition No.3 in Annexures 'D' and 'G' and condition No.2 in Annexures 'E' and 'F' refusing salary grant. Finding the matter squarely covered, the Bench declined to depart from a co-equal Bench's judgment dated 10.02.2025 in WA No.100053/2025 (quoted at length): the notification/Rules amendment of 2007 introduced a staff pattern permitting Drawing/Music/Craft teachers for grant-in-aid; the 09.06.2016 schedule amendment restricted such posts to incumbents; and the writ petitioners, appointed after the 2007 amendment, were held entitled to the benefit of Note 3 of the Rules (2016 amendment protecting existing craft teachers). The accompanying civil contempt petition CCC No.109/2024 (under Sections 11-12, Contempt of Courts Act, 1971 r/w Article 215, alleging wilful disobedience of the 23.08.2023 order) was closed, with eight weeks' further time granted to the Government to comply with the judgment directions, failing which the complainants may reopen the contempt case; pending interlocutory applications were disposed of. No monetary quantum is stated in the judgment.

NC: 2026:KHC:28666-DB WA No. 748 of 2024 C/W CCC No. 109 of 2024

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IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 12^TH DAY OF JUNE, 2026

PRESENT

THE HON'BLE MRS. JUSTICE ANU SIVARAMAN AND

THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE VENKATESH NAIK T WRIT APPEAL NO. 748 OF 2024 (S-RES)

C/W

CIVIL CONTEMPT PETITION NO. 109 OF 2024

IN WA No. 748/2024

BETWEEN:

THE STATE OF KARNATAKA REPRESENTED BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION AND

LITERACY

Digitally signed by PAVITHRA N Location: High Court of Karnataka

(PRIMARY AND SECONDARY) M S BUILDING

BENGALURU 560001

THE COMMISSIONER

DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION NRUPATHUNGA ROAD BENGALURU 560001

THE DIRECTOR DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATON (SECONDARY EDUCATION) OFFICE OF COMMISSIONER FOR SCHOOL EDUCATION

NRUPATHUNGA ROAD

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BENGALURU 560001

THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION CHAMARAJANAGAR DISTGRICT CHAMARAJANAGARA 571313

THE STATE OF KARNATAKA REPRESENTED BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE VIDHANA SOUDHA BENGALURU 560001

…APPELLANTS

(BY SRI. VIKASH ROJIPURA, AGA)

AND:

SRI SRIKANTH S/O J KALAPPA AGED ABOUT 46 YEARS WORKING AS CRAFT TEACHER

SRI GURUMALLESHWARA HIGH SCHOOL

BOGHAIAHNA HUNDI GUNDLUPET TLAUK CHAMARAJANAGAR DISTRICT

SRI K G MAHADEVASWAMY S/O K S GURUSIDDAPPA AGED ABOUT 48 YEARS WORKING AS CRAFT TEACHER SRI GURUMALLESHWARA HIGH SCHOOL HARAVE

CHAMARAJANAGAR TALUK AND DISTRICT

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SRI MANJUNATHA S S/O PRABHUSWAMY AGED ABOUT 41 YEARS

WORKING AS CRAFT TEACHER SRI GURUMALLESHWARA HIGH SCHOOL KOTTALAWADI CHAMARAJARANAGAR TALUK

SRI GURUMALLESHWARA HIGH SCHOOL

AND DISTRICT

SRI MAHADEVANAIKA S/O DASANAIKA

AGED ABOUT 41 YEARS

WORKING AS CRAFT TEACHER SRI GURUMALLESHWARA HIGH SCHOOL ARALIKATEE

CHAMARAJANAGAR TALUK AND DISTRICRT

SRI GURMALLESHWARA EDUCATION SOCIETY (R) DEVANURU NANJANGUD TALUK MYSURU DISTRICT 571301 REPRESENTD BY ITS SECRETARY

SRI GANGADARESHWARA EDUCATION SOCIETY (R) KOTTALAWADI 571313 CHAMARAJANAGAR TALUK AND DISTRICT

…RESPONDENTS

(BY SRI. PADMANABHA R. ADV. FOR R1 TO R4;

R5 TO R6 ARE SERVED AND UNREPRESENTED)

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THIS WRIT APPEAL IS FILED UNDER SECTION 4 OF THE

KARNATAKA HIGH COURT ACT PRAYING TO SET ASIDE THE

ORDER DATED 23/08/2023 PASSED IN WP NO.21310/2016.

IN CCC NO. 109/2024:

BETWEEN:

SRI. SRIKANTH S/O J KALAPPA AGED ABOUT 47 YEARS WORKING CRAFT TEACHER

SRI GURUMALLESHWARA HIGH SCHOOL

BOGHAIAHNA HUNDI GUNDLUPETE TALUK CHAMARAJANAGARA DISTRICT

SRI K G MAHADEVASWAMY S/O K S GURUSIDDAPPA AGED ABOUT 48 YEARS WORKING CRAFT TEACHER

SRI GURUMALLESHWARA HIGH SCHOOL HARAVE

CHAMARAJANGARA TALUK AND DISTRICT

SRI MANJUNATHA S S/O PRABHUSWAMY AGED ABOUT 40 YEARS WORKING CRAFT TEACHER SRI GANGADHARESHWARA HIGH SCHOOL, KOTTALAWADI CHAMARAJANAGAR TALUK AND DISTRICT

NC: 2026:KHC:28666-DB WA No. 748 of 2024 C/W CCC No. 109 of 2024

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SRI MAHADEVANAIKA

S/O DASANAIKA

AGED ABOUT 40 YEARS

WORKING CRAFT TEAHCER SRI GANGADHARESHWARA HIGH SCHOOL, ARALIKATTE,

CHAMARAJANAGAR DISTRICT

...COMPLAINANTS

(BY SRI. PADMANABHA R., ADVOCATE)

AND:

SRI. RITHESH KUMAR SINGH THE PRINCIPAL SECRETARY DEPT. OF SCHOOL EDUCATION AND LITERACY M S BUILDING

BANGALORE 560001

SMT CAUVERY B B COMMISSIONER FOR PUBLIC INSTURUCTIONS NRUPATHUNGA ROAD

BANGALORE 560001

SRI KRISHNAJI S KARICHANNAVARA THE DIRECTOR FOR PUBLIC INSTURCTIONS SCONDARY EDUCATION OFFICE AT COMMISSIONER FOR PUBLIC INSTURCIONS NRUPATHUNGA ROAD BANGALORE 560001

RAMACHANDRARAJE URS

THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC INSTURCITONS

CHAMAJANAGARA DISTRICT

CHARAMARAJANGARA 571313

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NC: 2026:KHC:28666-DB WA No. 748 of 2024 C/W CCC No. 109 of 2024

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DR P C JAFFER THE PRINCIPAL SECRETARY DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE VIDHANA SOUDHA BENGALURU 560001

...ACCUSED

THE STATE OF KARNATAKA REP BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY DEPT OF HIGH SCHOOL EDUCATION AND LITERACY M S BUILDING, BANGALORE 560001

...PROFORMA RESPONDENT

(BY SRI. VIKASH ROJIPURA, AGA FOR R6; A1 TO A5 ARE SERVED AND UNREPRESENTED)

THIS CCC IS FILED UNDER SECTIONS 11 AND 12 OF THE CONTEMPT OF COURTS ACT, 1971, R/W ARTICLE 215 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA, PRAYING TO INITIATE CONTEMPT PROCEEDINGS AGAINST THE ACCUSED FOR HAVING DELIBERATELY AND WILLFULLY DISOBEYED THE ORDER PASSED BY THIS COURT IN W.P.NO.21310/2016 DATED 23.08.2023 AS PER ANNEXURE - C AND TO PUNISH THE ACCUSED IN ACCORDANCE WITH LAW BY ALLOWING THIS CONTEMPT PETITION WITH EXEMPLARY COSTS AND TO PASS APPROPRIATE AND SUITABLE ORDERS.

THIS APPEAL AND CCC, COMING ON FOR ORDERS, THIS DAY, JUDGMENT WAS DELIVERED THEREIN AS UNDER:

CORAM: HON'BLE MRS. JUSTICE ANU SIVARAMAN and HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE VENKATESH NAIK T

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ORAL JUDGMENT

(PER: HON'BLE MRS. JUSTICE ANU SIVARAMAN)

This writ appeal is filed as against the Order dated 23.08.2023 passed by the learned Single Judge in Writ Petition No.21310/2016(S-RES).

We have heard the learned Additional Government Advocate appearing for the appellant as well as the learned counsel appearing for the respondents.

The writ petition which had been filed challenging Annexures 'D', 'E', 'F' and 'G' insofar as it relates to the writ petitioner as well as challenging the conditions in the Government Order dated 11.10.2012 was allowed and condition No.3 in Annexures 'D' and 'G' and condition No.2 in Annexures - 'E' and 'F' in the orders of approval for grant-in-aid in respect of the writ petitioners refusing salary grant, were quashed.

Learned Additional Government Advocate appearing for the appellants would submit that the learned Single Judge has only considered the fact that the post of craft teachers was included in the staff pattern of the school. However, the question whether all the craft teachers appointed in the schools in question were liable

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to be admitted to grant-in-aid, had not been considered by the learned Single Judge.

Learned counsel appearing for the respondents would, on the other hand, contend that the only reason for imposition of the condition was that the Rules did not permit the approval or the payment of salary to craft, drawing or music teachers for the period in question.

The learned Single Judge had specifically found that the Rules had been amended in the year 2007, permitting a craft teacher to be recruited and it was thereafter that the writ petitioners had been recruited. Further, it was found that in the Rules amended in the year 2016, Note 3 of the amendment specifically provided that the craft teacher existing as on the date of commencement of these amendment rules would be eligible to continue.

A co-equal Bench of this Court by its judgment dated 10.02.2025 passed in WA No.100053/2025 (S-RES) has considered an identical question and has held as follows:-

"2. The writ Court in the light of these admitted facts has opined that the appellants have refused the grant-in-aid to the first respondent without noticing the amendment vide notification dated 06.06.2017. Sri. G.K. Hiregoudar, the learned Government Advocate for the appellants, proposes to canvas that the combined reading of the notification dated

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16.06.2007 and 09.06.2016 will be that only those teachers who were on the rolls of an institution which is admitted to grant-in-aid prior to 16.06.2007 will be entitled for grant-in-aid.

3. This Court is not persuaded to accept the submission because the amendment vide the notification dated 16.06.2007 has introduced staff in pattern permitting the appointment of a teacher in either Drawing, or Music or Craft for grant-in-aid and this is continued until 09.06.2016 when the schedule is amended to read that the post of a teacher for Drawing or Craft or Music shall be only so long as the incumbent occupies the post and that shall cease once the incumbent vacates the post. While stipulating this, the amendment also admits grant-in-aid to those who were appointed prior to 02.02.2000 in the aided institutions."

Having considered the contentions advanced and in the light of the pleading and the materials on record, we find no reason to depart from the judgment of the co-equal Bench of this Court. We are of the opinion that since the Rules as amended in the year 2007 enable the Institution to have craft teachers and since the writ petitioners had been appointed thereafter, they are entitled to the benefit of Note: 3 of the Rules as well.

In the above view of the matter, we are of the opinion that the matter stands squarely covered by the judgment of the co-equal Bench of this Court passed in WA No.100053/2025.

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In the result:-

1. The Writ Appeal fails and the same is accordingly dismissed .

1. The Contempt of Court case is closed , and the Government is granted eight weeks further time to comply with the directions contained in the judgment.

1. In case, the directions are not complied with, it will be open to the complainants to reopen the Contempt of Court case.

All pending interlocutory applications shall stand disposed of.

Sd/(ANU SIVARAMAN) JUDGE

Sd/(VENKATESH NAIK T) JUDGE

RAK List No.: 3 Sl No.: 4

Procedural history

How this case reached the court

AI extract

Order under challenge
Order dated 23.08.2023 of the learned Single Judge in Writ Petition No.21310/2016(S-RES) allowing the writ petition and quashing the salary-grant refusal conditions in the grant-in-aid approval orders (condition No.3 in Annexures 'D' and 'G'; condition No.2 in Annexures 'E' and 'F'), which the State appellants sought to set aside.¶100
High Court of Karnataka (learned Single Judge) · 23.08.2023
Prior proceeding
Writ Petition No.21310/2016(S-RES) was filed challenging Annexures 'D', 'E', 'F' and 'G' insofar as they related to the writ petitioner, and the conditions in the Government Order dated 11.10.2012; it was allowed and the salary-refusal conditions in the grant-in-aid approval orders were quashed.¶102
Prior proceeding
Learned Single Judge specifically found that the Rules had been amended in 2007 permitting a craft teacher to be recruited, and that the writ petitioners were recruited thereafter.¶109
Prior proceeding
Learned Single Judge further found that the Rules amended in 2016 contained Note 3 making craft teachers existing at commencement of the amendment rules eligible to continue.¶109
Prior proceeding
Complainants filed CCC No.109/2024 under Sections 11 and 12 of the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971 r/w Article 215 of the Constitution, praying for initiation of contempt proceedings against the accused for deliberately and wilfully disobeying the order in W.P.No.21310/2016 dated 23.08.2023 (Annexure-C) and for punishment with exemplary costs.¶92
Prior proceeding
A co-equal Bench of this Court decided an identical question by judgment dated 10.02.2025 in WA No.100053/2025 (S-RES), on whose reasoning the present Bench relies.¶110
Prior proceeding
Substance of the co-equal Bench's quoted reasoning: the notification dated 16.06.2007 introduced a staff pattern permitting appointment of a Drawing, Music or Craft teacher for grant-in-aid; this continued until the schedule amendment of 09.06.2016 limiting such posts to incumbents; the amendment also admitted grant-in-aid to those appointed prior to 02.02.2000, and the writ Court there had noted refusal of grant-in-aid without noticing the amendment vide notification dated 06.06.2017.¶116

Parties & counsel

AI extract

appellant
The State of Karnataka, represented by its Principal Secretary, Department of School Education and Literacy (Primary and Secondary), M.S. Building, Bengaluru 560001 (appellant no. 1)¶12
Sri Vikash Rojipura (Additional Government Advocate)
appellant
The Commissioner, Department of School Education, Nrupathunga Road, Bengaluru 560001 (appellant no. 2)¶17-18
Sri Vikash Rojipura (Additional Government Advocate)
appellant
The Director, Department of School Education (Secondary Education), Office of Commissioner for School Education, Nrupathunga Road, Bengaluru 560001 (appellant no. 3)¶19
Sri Vikash Rojipura (Additional Government Advocate)
appellant
The Deputy Director, Department of School Education, Chamarajanagar District, Chamarajanagara 571313 (appellant no. 4)¶24
Sri Vikash Rojipura (Additional Government Advocate)
appellant
The State of Karnataka, represented by its Principal Secretary, Department of Finance, Vidhana Soudha, Bengaluru 560001 (appellant no. 5)¶25
Sri Vikash Rojipura (Additional Government Advocate)
respondent
Sri Srikanth, s/o J Kalappa, aged about 46 years, Craft Teacher, Sri Gurumalleshwara High School, Boghaiahna Hundi, Gundlupet Taluk, Chamarajanagar District (respondent no. 1 in the writ appeal)¶29
Sri Padmanabha R., Advocate
respondent
Sri K G Mahadevaswamy, s/o K S Gurusiddappa, aged about 48 years, Craft Teacher, Sri Gurumalleshwara High School, Harave, Chamarajanagar Taluk and District (respondent no. 2 in the writ appeal)¶32
Sri Padmanabha R., Advocate
respondent
Sri Manjunatha S, s/o Prabhuswamy, aged about 41 years, Craft Teacher, Sri Gurumalleshwara High School, Kottalawadi, Chamarajanagar Taluk (respondent no. 3 in the writ appeal)¶37
Sri Padmanabha R., Advocate
respondent
Sri Mahadevanaika, s/o Dasanaika, aged about 41 years, Craft Teacher, Sri Gurumalleshwara High School, Aralikatee, Chamarajanagar Taluk and District (respondent no. 4 in the writ appeal)¶41
Sri Padmanabha R., Advocate
respondent
Sri Gurmalleshwara Education Society (R), Devanuru, Nanjangud Taluk, Mysuru District 571301, represented by its Secretary (respondent no. 5; served and unrepresented)¶45
respondent
Sri Gangadareshwara Education Society (R), Kottalawadi 571313, Chamarajanagar Taluk and District (respondent no. 6; served and unrepresented)¶46
applicant
Sri Srikanth, s/o J Kalappa, aged about 47 years, working Craft Teacher, Sri Gurumalleshwara High School, Boghaiahna Hundi, Gundlupete Taluk, Chamarajanagara District (complainant no. 1 in CCC No. 109/2024)¶57
Sri Padmanabha R., Advocate
applicant
Sri K G Mahadevaswamy, s/o K S Gurusiddappa, aged about 48 years, working Craft Teacher, Sri Gurumalleshwara High School, Harave, Chamarajangara Taluk and District (complainant no. 2 in CCC No. 109/2024)¶60
Sri Padmanabha R., Advocate
applicant
Sri Manjunatha S, s/o Prabhuswamy, aged about 40 years, working Craft Teacher, Sri Gangadhareshwara High School, Kottalawadi, Chamarajanagar Taluk and District (complainant no. 3 in CCC No. 109/2024)¶63
Sri Padmanabha R., Advocate
applicant
Sri Mahadevanaika, s/o Dasanaika, aged about 40 years, working Craft Teacher, Sri Gangadhareshwara High School, Aralikatte, Chamarajanagar District (complainant no. 4 in CCC No. 109/2024)¶67-69
Sri Padmanabha R., Advocate
other
Sri Rithesh Kumar Singh, Principal Secretary, Dept. of School Education and Literacy, M.S. Building, Bangalore 560001 (accused no. 1 in CCC; served and unrepresented)¶75
other
Smt Cauvery B B, Commissioner for Public Instructions, Nrupathunga Road, Bangalore 560001 (accused no. 2 in CCC; served and unrepresented)¶77
other
Sri Krishnaji S Karichannavara, Director for Public Instructions (Secondary Education), Office at Commissioner for Public Instructions, Nrupathunga Road, Bangalore 560001 (accused no. 3 in CCC; served and unrepresented)¶79
other
Ramachandraraje Urs, Deputy Director of Public Instructions, Chamajanagara District, Charamarajangara 571313 (accused no. 4 in CCC; served and unrepresented)¶80
other
Dr P C Jaffer, Principal Secretary, Department of Finance, Vidhana Soudha, Bengaluru 560001 (accused no. 5 in CCC; served and unrepresented)¶87
respondent
The State of Karnataka, rep. by its Principal Secretary, Dept of High School Education and Literacy, M.S. Building, Bangalore 560001 (pro forma respondent no. 6 in CCC No. 109/2024)¶89
Sri Vikash Rojipura (Additional Government Advocate)

Coram

AI extract

Hon'ble Mrs. Justice Anu Sivaramanauthor¶99
Hon'ble Mr. Justice Venkatesh Naik Tmember¶94