Disposed¶56

Manjunatha K v. Ritesh Kumar Singh

Karnataka HC9 Apr 2026CCC/1372/2024

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

CCC 1372/2024, Karnataka High Court DB, Anu Sivaraman J and Tara Vitasta Ganju J, contempt of courts act 1971 sections 11 12, civil contempt, wilful disobedience, non-compliance, WP 17689/2022 dated 10.03.2023, WP 14652/2022, KSAT, dismissal from service, reinstatement, liberty reserved to State, entrustment order, charge memo, Application Nos. 5702-5708/2021 order dated 25.01.2022, review petition, contentions left open, contempt case closed, no contempt made out.

What did the court decide?

None - contempt proceedings not initiated; the Contempt of Court case was closed with contentions left open to the review petition. ¶56

Manjunatha K Vs Ritesh Kumar Singh — Contempt of Court | Karnataka HC (2026)

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NC: 2026:KHC:19722-DB CCC No. 1372 of 2024

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HC-KAR

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IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 9^TH DAY OF APRIL, 2026

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PRESENT

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THE HON'BLE MRS. JUSTICE ANU SIVARAMAN

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AND

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THE HON'BLE MS. JUSTICE TARA VITASTA GANJU CIVIL CONTEMPT PETITION NO. 1372 OF 2024

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BETWEEN:

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MANJUNATHA K S/O KALAPPA AGED ABOUT 45 YEAWRS

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WORKED AS ASSISTANT HIGHER PRIMARY SCHOOL

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TEACHER

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KOCHANAHALLI VARUNA HOBLI, R/AT NO.81/1 JANAHITHA 1ST CROSS LIG-2 BOGADI 2ND STAGE MYSORE 570 026

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…COMPLAINANT

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Digitally signed by RAKSHA Location: High Court of Karnataka

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(BY SRI. PRATHEEP K. C., ADVOCATE)

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AND:

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RITESH KUMAR SINGH THE PRINCIPAL SECRETARY THE STATE OF KARNATAKA DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION M S BUILDING BENGALURU 560 001

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NC: 2026:KHC:19722-DB CCC No. 1372 of 2024

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HC-KAR

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R KRISHNAPPA

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BLOCK EDUCATION OFFICER DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION

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TALUK ZONE, MYSORE 01

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S T JAVAREGOWDA

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DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTI (ADMN) AND DISCIPLINARY AUTHORITY DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION

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MYSORE 01

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…ACCUSED

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THE STATE OF KARNATAKA DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION M.S.BUILDING BENGALURU-560 001 REP. BY ITS SECRETARY.

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…PROFORMA RESPONDENT

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(BY SRI. KAMROZ KHAN, AGA)

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THIS CCC IS FILED UNDER SECTIONS 11 AND 12 OF THE CONTEMPT OF COURTS ACT, 1971, PRAYING TO INITIATE CONTEMPT OF COURT PROCEEDINGS AGAINST THE ACCUSED FOR WILFUL DISOBEDIENCE OF THE ORDER PASSED BY THIS COURT IN WP NO.17689/2022 DATED 10.03.2023 VIDE ANNEXURE-A.

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THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY HEARING, THIS DAY, JUDGMENT WAS DELIVERED THEREIN AS UNDER:

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CORAM: HON'BLE MRS. JUSTICE ANU SIVARAMAN and HON'BLE MS. JUSTICE TARA VITASTA GANJU

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NC: 2026:KHC:19722-DB CCC No. 1372 of 2024

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HC-KAR

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ORAL JUDGMENT

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

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We have heard the learned counsel appearing for the complainant.

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The learned counsel for the complainant submits that the complainant had been dismissed from service. He had challenged the dismissal before the Karnataka State Administrative Tribunal (KSAT). Looking to the nature and gravity of the charge proved against the applicants, the KSAT held that the penalty of dismissal from service was reasonable, proper and proportionate. The applications were dismissed holding that there was no merit.

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The writ petition filed by the complainant had been allowed and the order passed by the Tribunal was set-aside, however, reserving similar liberty to the State as stated in the Writ Petition No.14652/2022 and connected matters. The liberty granted therein was to the Government to conduct an enquiry insofar as the persons against whom allegations had been made were concerned.

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It is submitted by the learned counsel appearing for the complainant that the complainant is a person against whom no such specific allegations were made and that therefore, he ought to have been reinstated in service. The direction of the Division Bench of this Court in Writ Petition No.17689/2022 (SKSAT) and connected cases, reads as follows:-

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NC: 2026:KHC:19722-DB CCC No. 1372 of 2024

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HC-KAR

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"3. In view of the order passed by this Court in W.P No.14652/2022 and connected matters and the observations made therein, the writ petitions are allowed. The orders passed by this Tribunal is set-aside by reserving similar liberty to the State as stated in W.P.No.14652/2022 and connected matters.”

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Writ Petition No.14652/2022 was disposed of as

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follows:

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"18. We are unable to appreciate the conduct of the petitioners/State. The action is contrary to its own Notification noted supra. Without going into the legality of both the entrustment order and the charge memo, we proceed to uphold the order of the Tribunal in W.P.Nos.14652/2022, 135/2023 and 24830/2022 quashing the impugned orders of the Government and the writ petitions are hereby rejected.

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19. Liberty is reserved to the State to re-do the exercise in consonance with the observations made by the Tribunal in paragraph No.7 of its order dated 25.01.2022 in Application Nos.5702-5708/2021 and as re-iterated and upheld by this Court in paragraph No.17 of this order."

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In the above view of the matter, we are of the opinion that the contention that there is non compliance of the directions of the Division Bench passed in Writ Petition No.17689/2022, cannot be accepted.

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NC: 2026:KHC:19722-DB CCC No. 1372 of 2024

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HC-KAR

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The learned counsel for the complainant submits that he intends to file a review petition in the writ petition. Leaving open the contentions of the parties to be decided in the review petition but without expressing any view on such contentions, the Contempt of Court case is closed .

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Sd/(ANU SIVARAMAN) JUDGE

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Sd/(TARA VITASTA GANJU) JUDGE

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RAK

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List No.: 3 Sl No.: 4

Manjunatha K v. Ritesh Kumar Singh

Case brief

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What did the court decide?

Manjunatha K v. Ritesh Kumar Singh

Case brief

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