Geetha H.K. Vs State of Karnataka — Contempt of Court | Karnataka HC (2026)

Geetha H.K. Vs State of Karnataka — Contempt of Court | Karnataka HC (2026)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Disposed

Issue for consideration

Whether contempt proceedings for wilful disobedience of the order dated 26.09.2024 passed by the learned Single Judge (WP No.4075/2024, batch of writ petitions, directing the competent authority to consider the writ petitioners' applications) should be initiated against the accused, the Assistant Commissioner/Competent Authority appointed under Section 5 of the Karnataka Protection of Interest of Depositors in Financial Establishment Act 2004.

Ratio / Principle

In view of the compliance steps taken (notice dated 10.02.2025 issuing claim-application calls; matter pending before the Special Court with implementation to follow on receipt of orders), the Court was unable to accept that any proceedings for wilful disobedience of the orders as alleged were required to be initiated against the accused; the complaint was closed.

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Civil contempt petition (CCC No. 1361 of 2025) filed under Sections 11 and 12 of the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971 before the High Court of Karnataka at Bengaluru (coram: Vibhu Bakhru, Chief Justice and C.M. Poonacha, J.; oral order per the Chief Justice), dated 21.02.2026. The complainant, Geetha H.K., alleged wilful disobedience by the accused, Sri Shanmuk.D, Assistant Commissioner/Competent Authority appointed under Section 5 of the Karnataka Protection of Interest of Depositors in Financial Establishment Act 2004, of the order dated 26.09.2024 passed by a learned Single Judge in a batch of writ petitions (WP No.4075/2024) directing the competent authority to consider the writ petitioners' applications. The accused filed an affidavit of compliance recording issuance of a notice dated 10.02.2025 calling upon various applicants to submit claim applications within the prescribed period; the Additional Government Advocate stated the matter was pending before the Special Court and steps would follow upon receipt of its orders. Held: no proceedings for wilful disobedience were required to be initiated; the complaint was closed. State of Karnataka (Revenue Department) was a pro forma respondent.

1 -

NC: 2026:KHC:10829-DB CCC No. 1361 of 2025

HC-KAR

IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU

DATED THIS THE 21^ST DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2026

PRESENT

THE HON'BLE MR. VIBHU BAKHRU, CHIEF JUSTICE

AND

THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE C.M. POONACHA CIVIL CONTEMPT PETITION NO. 1361 OF 2025

BETWEEN:

GEETHA H.K.

Digitally signed by VEERENDRA KUMAR K M Location: High Court of Karnataka

D/O KUNTEGOWDA AGED ABOUT 49 YEARS RESIDING AT NO.12 NISARGA RESIDENCIES, 1^ST CROSS, VENKAT GIRIYAPPA LAYOUT BASAVANNA NAGAR MAIN ROAD, HOODI BANGALORE - 560 048

(BY SMT. TEJASHWINI A, ADVOCATE FOR

SRI PRASANNA KUMAR V, ADVOCATE)

…COMPLAINANT

AND:

STATE OF KARNATAKA REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY REVENUE DEPARTMENT (SPECIAL CELL) M.S. BUILDING

2 -

NC: 2026:KHC:10829-DB CCC No. 1361 of 2025

HC-KAR

DR B.R.AMBEDKAR ROAD

BANGALORE - 560 001

…PRO FORMA RESPONDENT

SRI.SHANMUK.D

ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER/ COMPETENT AUTHORITY APPOINTMENT BY THE GOVT

UNDER SECTION 5 OF THE

KARNATAKA PROTECTION OF INTEREST OF DEPOSITORS IN

FINANCIAL ESTABLISHMENT ACT 2004 SHANTINAGAR, BMTC BUS STOP 2^ND FLOOR, BANGALORE - 560 027

…ACCUSED

(BY SRI S.H.RAGHAVENDRA, AGA FOR PRO-FORMA RESPONDENT AND SRI VEERESH R BUDIHAL, ADVOCATE FOR ACCUSED)

THIS CCC IS FILED UNDER SECTIONS 11 AND 12 THE CONTEMPT OF COURTS ACT, 1971 PRAYING TO INITIATE THE CONTEMPT PROCEEDINGS AGAINST ACCUSED NO.2 DISOBEY THE ORDER DATED 26.09.2024 PASSED BY THE HON'BLE HIGH COURT IN WP NO.4075/2024

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

3 -

NC: 2026:KHC:10829-DB CCC No. 1361 of 2025

HC-KAR

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 wilful disobedience of the order dated 26.09.2024 passed by the learned Single Judge of this Court in a batch of writ petitions, inter alia , directing the competent authority to consider the applications submitted by the writ petitioners.

The complainant alleges that the applications have not been considered.

The accused has filed an affidavit of compliance stating that a notice dated 10.02.2025 was issued to various applicants calling upon them to submit their claim applications within the prescribed period. Further, the applicants were informed that if the application is not furnished within the prescribed period, the application would be considered as per the Rules, if the Special Court issues an order for accepting the same.

4 -

NC: 2026:KHC:10829-DB CCC No. 1361 of 2025

HC-KAR

The learned Additional Government Advocate appearing for

the accused submits that the matter is pending before the Special Court and as soon as the orders are received, steps would be taken for implementing the same.

In view of the above, we are unable to accept that any proceedings for wilful disobedience of the orders as alleged are required to be initiated against the accused.

The complaint is, accordingly, closed.

Sd/(VIBHU BAKHRU) CHIEF JUSTICE

Sd/(C.M. POONACHA) JUDGE

KMV List No.: 2 Sl No.: 22