L Shivamurthy Vs the State of Karnataka — Contempt of Court | Karnataka HC (2026)

L Shivamurthy Vs the State of Karnataka — Contempt of Court | Karnataka HC (2026)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

No punitive contempt action; the complaint was closed with the clarification that the directions of the order dated 19.08.2025 take effect from that date notwithstanding the delay in passing the compliance order dated 03.11.2025.

Issue for consideration

Whether the accused willfully disobeyed the order dated 19.08.2025 passed in Writ Petition No.24182/2025 (SKSAT) so as to attract action under Sections 11 and 12 of the Contempt of Courts Act. +1 more

Court's answer

The order dated 03.11.2025 passed by the Commissioner, Food and Drugs Administration, Bengaluru, directing the petitioners/complainants to continue as Food Safety Officers till disposal of the application before the Karnataka Appellate Tribunal was passed in compliance with the directions of this Court in the order dated 19.08.2025.

Ratio / Principle

The directions issued in the order dated 19.08.2025 take effect from that date notwithstanding the delay in passing any order in furtherance of them, addressing the complainants' grievance that the delay deprived them of salary.

Key takeaways

The contempt complaint is closed with the clarification that the directions of the order dated 19.08.2025 took effect from that date.ratio¶¶80
Paragraph Nos.7 and 8 of the learned Single Judge's order were inadvertently omitted from the final order dated 21.01.2026; the omitted extract is reproduced by the supplemental order dated 18.03.2026, which is to be read in conjunction with the final order dated 21.01.2026.ratio¶¶93

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Division Bench (Chief Justice Vibhu Bakhru and Justice C.M. Poonacha) closed Civil Contempt Petition No.1206 of 2025 filed by nineteen Food Safety Officers alleging willful disobedience of the order dated 19.08.2025 in Writ Petition No.24182/2025 (SKAT), which had directed their continuance as Food Safety Officers in the Commissionerate of Food Safety till disposal of their application pending before the Karnataka Appellate Tribunal. The Court noted a memo enclosing the Commissioner's order dated 03.11.2025 directing such continuance and held that it was passed in compliance with the directions dated 19.08.2025. It further clarified that the directions of 19.08.2025 would take effect from that date notwithstanding the delay in passing any order in furtherance of them, thereby addressing the complainants' grievance of salary loss due to the inordinate delay, and closed the complaint with that clarification. By a supplemental order dated 18.03.2026 the Court reproduced paragraph Nos.7 and 8 of the learned Single Judge's order that had been inadvertently omitted from the final order dated 21.01.2026 and directed that the supplemental order be read in conjunction with the final order.

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NC: 2026:KHC:3409-DB CCC No. 1206 of 2025

HC-KAR

IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU

DATED THIS THE 21^ST DAY OF JANUARY, 2026

PRESENT

THE HON'BLE MR. VIBHU BAKHRU, CHIEF JUSTICE

AND

THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE C.M. POONACHA CIVIL CONTEMPT PETITION NO. 1206 OF 2025

BETWEEN:

Digitally signed by NIRMALA DEVI

Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA

L SHIVAMURTY S/O SRI. LAKSHMINARASAIAH, AGED ABOUT 57 YEARS, WORKING AS SENIOR FOOD SAFETY OFFICER, OFFICE OF THE DESIGNATED OFFICER, (FOOD SAFETY AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION) DEPARTMENT, PUBLIC HEALTH INSTITUTE, BRUHATH BENGALURU MAHANAGARA PALIKE, EAST ZONE, BENGALURU-01.

K CHANDRASHEKHAR, S/O SRI. D C KALAIAH, AGED ABOUT 55 YEARS, (WRONGLY MENTIONED AS 53 BEFORE SKAT) WORKING AS SENIOR FOOD SAFETY OFFICER, BBMP WEST ZONE (FOOD SAFETY AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION) PUBLIC HEALTH INSTITUTE, SHESHADRI ROAD, KR CIRCLE,

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BENGALURU-01.

K T SRINIVASA MURTHY S/O THIMMAIAHA K T AGED ABOUT 57 YEARS WORKING AS FOOD SAFETY OFFICER OFFICE OF THE DESIGNATED OFFICER (FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION) DHO PREMISES, MANDYA DIST., R/AT, ANKANAHALLI VILLAGE, HABTOOR POST, PERIYAPATNA TALUK, MYSORE DIST. 571107

H M HADBASAVE GOWDA S/O LATE MANCHAIAH AGED ABOUT 54 YEARS WORKING AS FOOD SAFETY OFFICER OFFICE OF THE DESIGNATED OFFICER (FOOD SAFETY AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION) DHO OFFICE COMPOUND, HASSAN 573202

K V SRINIDHI S/O LATE VENKATADESHIKAR AGED ABOUT 57 YEARS WORKING AS FOOD SAFETY OFFICER OFFICE OF THE DESIGNATED OFFICER, (FOOD SAFETY AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION) BBMP WEST ZONE, SESHADRI ROAD, K.R. CIRCLE, BANGALORE -01 R/AT, NO. 27/1, SHAMANTHA, WEST ANJANEYA TEMPLE STREET, BASAVANAGUDI, BANGALORE-04

D S NAGARAJA S/O SUBRAMANYA SHASTRY AGED ABOUT 57 YEARS WORKING AS FOOD SAFETY OFFICER OFFICE OF THE DESIGNATED OFFICER (FOOD SAFETY AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION)

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BBMP, NORTH ZONE SHESHADRI ROAD, K.R. CIRCLE, BANGALORE R/AT NO.42, 10TH A MAIN, NISARGA LAYOUT, ANANTHPURA, YELAHANKA, BANGALORE 64.

MAHENDRAIAHA H.O S/O OMKARAIAH AGED ABOUT 57 YEARS WORKING AS FOOD SAFETY OFFICER OFFICE OF THE DESIGNATED OFFICER, (FOOD SAFETY AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION) DFSO MALLE GOWDA, HOSPITAL PREMISE, DIST. LABORATORY, CHIKMAGALUR-05 R/AT, B N BADAVANE, CHOWLAHIRIYUR KADUR TALUK, CHIKMAGALUR DIST-577180

HARAPPANAHALLI KOTRESHAPPA S/O LATE H PARAMESHWARAPPA AGED ABOUT 55 YEARS WORKING AS FOOD SAFETY OFFICER DAVANAGERE CMC OFFICE OF THE DESIGNATED OFFICER (FOOD SAFETY AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION) C.G. HOSPITAL COMPOUND, DAVANGERE 577004 R/AT, HARAPPANAHALLI KOTRESHAPPA, 4061/25, 11TH CROSS, MAHALAKSHMI LAYOUT, KUNDU WADU ROAD, DAVANGERE-01.

SRINIVASA S/O LATE SIDDAPPA WORKING AS FOOD SAFETY OFFICER AGED ABOUT 53 YEARS OFFICE OF THE DESIGNATED OFFICER,

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(FOOD SAFETY AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION) BEHIND DIST., HOSPITAL, DOUBLE ROAD, CHAMARAJANAGAR-571313.

S. NARAYANAPPA S/O SUBBARAYAPPA AGED ABOUT 56 YEARS WORKING AS FOOD SAFETY OFFICER OFFICE OF THE DESIGNATED OFFICER (FOOD SAFETY AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION) OPP. TO DNB ACADEMIC CENTRE, DIST HOSPITAL COMPOUND, TUMKUR-561201 R/AT, KADAMALAKUNTE KODAMOLAGU POST, PAVAGADA TALUK, TUMKUR DIST. 561202.

H N SATHISHA S/O LATE H N NEELASHEKAR, AGED ABOUT 56 YEARS WORKING AS FOOD SAFETY OFFICER BANGALORE SOUTH TALUK OFFICE OF THE DESIGNATED OFFICER (FOOD SAFETY AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION) BANGALORE URBAN DIST, KR CIRCLE, SESHADRI ROAD, BANGALORE 1 R/AT, ANEGOODU POST AND VILLAGE, HUNSUR TALUK, MYSORE DISTRICT-571105

K RAVI KUMAR S/O LATE KUMBAIAHA N. AGED ABOUT 56 YEARS WORKING AS FOOD SAFETY OFFICER OFFICE OF THE DESIGNATED OFFICER (FOOD SAFETY AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION) BBMP NORTH ZONE, KR CIRCLE,

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SESHADRI ROAD, BANGALORE 1 R/AT, SRI KARIGIRI NILAYA, 3RD CROSS, PRASHANTH NAGAR, NEAR VIDYA SCHOOL NEW EXTENSION, DEVARAYAPATNA, TUMKUR-572104.

S UDAYA KUMAR S/O LATE SHIVASHANKARAPPA AGED ABOUT 55 YEARS WORKING AS FOOD SAFETY OFFICER OFFICE OF THE DESIGNATED OFFICER (FOOD SAFETY AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION) BBMP WEST ZONE, K R CIRCLE, SESHADRI ROAD, BANGALORE 1 R/AT, NO. 63, SAI SAMRUDHI NILAYA, 4TH CROSS, KSRTC LAYOUT, MAHADESHWARA NAGAR, BANGALORE 91.

D SUBRAMANYA, S/O LATE DODDAMUNIYAPPA, AGED ABOUT 54 YEARS, WORKING AS FOOD SAFETY OFFICER, OFFICE OF THE DESIGNATED OFFICER (FOOD SAFETY AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION), BBMP EAST ZONE, K R CIRCLE, SESHADRI ROAD, BANGALORE 1 R/AT, BUDIGERE VILLAGE, NEAR KARNATAKA BANK, DEVANAHALLI TALUK, BANGALORE RURAL DISTRICT-562129.

SOMESH OLEKAR S/O LAKSHMAPPA OLEKAR AGED ABOUT 45 YEARS WORKING AS FOOD SAFETY OFFICER OFFICE OF THE DESIGNATED OFFICER

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(FOOD SAFETY AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION) COUNTRY CLUB ROAD, VIDYANAGAR, SHIMOGA-01 R/AT, ASHIRVAD RESIDENCY, A BLOCK, No. A1, CHAMARAJAPETE, SORABA, SHIMOGA DISTRICT-577429.

K K SURESH S/O K.R KRISHNAPPA AGED ABOUT 53 YEARS WORKING AS FOOD SAFETY OFFICER OFFICE OF THE DESIGNATED OFFICER (FOOD SAFETY AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION) MALELGOWDA GENERAL HOSPITAL COMPOUND, CHIKMANGLUR-577101 R/AT, KOTE, CHIKMANGLUR-577101.

A SRINIVASULU S/O LATE VENKATARAMAPPA AGED ABOUT 51 YEARS WORKING AS FOOD SAFETY OFFICER OFFICE OF THE DESIGNATED OFFICER FOOD SAFETY AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION) BBMP NORTH ZONE, KR CIRCLE, SHESHADRI ROAD, BANGALORE-1 R/AT, NO. 16, SRI NILAYA MARUTHI LAYOUT, NEAR SHANIMAHATHMA TEMPLE, THARABANAHALLI, HURALI CHIKKANAHALLI, GRAMA PANCHAYATI, HESARGHATTA ROAD, YELAHANKA, BANGALORE URBAN DISTRICT-560090.

D. ANUSUYA AGED ABOUT 57 YEARS W/O G SHIVAKUMAR WORKING AS FOOD SAFETY OFFICER

NC: 2026:KHC:3409-DB CCC No. 1206 of 2025

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HC-KAR

ANEKAL TALUK OFFICE OF THE DESIGNATED OFFICER (FOOD SAFETY AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION) BANGALORE URBAN DISTRICT, KR CIRCLE, SHESHADRI ROAD, BANGALORE 1 R/AT NO.112, 6TH MAIN, 60 FT ROAD, D GROUP LAYOUT, SRIGANDHAKAVAL, BANGALORE 91

DAKSHAYINI BADIGER W/O MANJUNATH AGED ABOUT 55 YEARS WORKING AS FOOD SAFETY OFFICER MYSORE CIRCLE-3 OFFICE OF THE DESIGNATED OFFICER (FOOD SAFETY AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION) COMPOUND OF THE DIVISIONAL FOOD LABORATORY, TILAK NAGAR, MYSORE R/AT, NO. 3442/1A, 5TH MAIN, 6TH CROSS, TILAK NAGAR, MYSORE 21. (BY SRI. SUBRAHMANYA BHAT M, ADVOCATE)

…COMPLAINANTS

AND:

THE STATE OF KARNATAKA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE SERVICES, BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY, VIKAS SOUDHA, BANGALORE-01.

SRI HARSHA GUPTHA IAS, PRINCIPAL SECRETARY, THE STATE OF KARNATAKA

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NC: 2026:KHC:3409-DB CCC No. 1206 of 2025

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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE SERVICES, VIKAS SOUDHA, BANGALORE-01.

SRI K SRINIVASA IAS, COMMISSIONER, FOOD SAFETY AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION DEPARTMENT, PUBLIC HEALTH INSTITUTE'S PREMISES, SHESHADRI ROAD, K R CIRCLE, BANGALORE-01.

…ACCUSED

(BY SRI. S.H. RAGHAVENDRA, AGA)

THIS CCC IS FILED UNDER SECTIONS 11 AND 12 OF THE CONTEMPT OF COURTS ACT, BY THE COMPLAINANT, PRAYING TO TAKE SUITABLE ACTION AGAINST THE ACCUSED FOR HAVING DELIBERATELY DISOBEYED THE ORDER DATED 19.08.2025 PASSED IN WP NO.24182/2025, CERTIFIED COPY OF THE SAME HE IS PRODUCED AS ANNEXURE-A AND PROCEED AGAINST THE, UNDER THE PROVISION OF SECTIONS 11 AND 12 OF THE CONTEMPT OF COURT ACT BY PU7NISHING THEM FOR THE ACT OF CONTEMPT.

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

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ORAL ORDER

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

The complainants have filed the present complaint alleging willful disobedience of the order dated 19.08.2025 passed by a Coordinate Bench of this Court in Writ Petition No.24182/2025 (SKSAT). In terms of the said order, this Court, inter alia, directed as under:

We request the Tribunal to dispose of the application as early as possible, as the learned counsels appearing for the parties have assured that they would co-operate in disposal of the application.

In view of disposal of the petition, pending interlocutory application would not survive and it stands disposed of accordingly.

The complainants allege that the said order was not complied with as the necessary directions for continuance of the complainants as Food Safety Officers was not immediately passed.

Apparently, a memo has been filed enclosing therewith an order dated 03.11.2025, whereby the Commissioner, Food and Drugs Administration, Bengaluru, has passed an order directing the

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HC-KAR

petitioners/complainants to continue as Food Safety Officers in the Commissionerate of Food Safety, till the disposal of the application pending before the Hon'ble Karnataka Appellate Tribunal. The said order has been passed in compliance with the directions passed by this Court in the order dated 19.08.2025.

It is the complainants case that there is an inordinate delay in passing the order, which has effectively deprived them of the salary. The respondents/accused were directed to continue the complainants/petitioners as Food Safety Officers by the order dated 19.08.2025. Clearly, the said directions would take effect from that date notwithstanding the delay in passing any order in furtherance of the directions in the order dated 19.08.2025.

The complaint is closed with the aforesaid clarification.

Sd/(VIBHU BAKHRU) CHIEF JUSTICE

Sd/(C.M. POONACHA) JUDGE

ND List No.: 1 Sl No.: 41

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NC: 2026:KHC:3409-DB CCC No. 1206 of 2025

HC-KAR

IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU

[L SHIVAMURTHY AND OTHERS VS. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA AND OTHERS]

18.03.2026 (VIDEO CONFERENCING / PHYSICAL HEARING)

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

ORAL ORDER

(PER: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE C.M. POONACHA)

As there is an omission in the final order dated 21.01.2026 passed in this contempt petition, at page No.9, paragraph No.1- whereby, while extracting the relevant portion of the learned Single Judge's order, paragraph Nos.7 and 8 thereof were inadvertently omitted. Hence, the said

extract is reproduced hereunder:

“ 7. Taking note of the above assurances by the counsels appearing for the parties and also taking note of the fact that the petitioners are working as Food Safety Officers for the last 14 years in the Commissionerate of Food Safety, we deem it appropriate to direct the respondents to continue the petitioners as Food Safety Officers in the Commissionerate of Food Safety at the places where the petitioners are working for the present till disposal of the application.

8. With the above observations, writ petition stands disposed of.”

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This order is to be read in conjunction with the final

order dated 21.01.2026.

Sd/(VIBHU BAKHRU) CHIEF JUSTICE

Sd/(C.M. POONACHA) JUDGE

AHB List No.:2 Sl No.:1