M S Prashanth v. Prabhuling Kavalikatti, IAS

Karnataka HC18 Jun 2026CCC/1473/2025

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

CCC No. 1473 of 2025; High Court of Karnataka; civil contempt; wilful disobedience; regularization; Town Municipal Council K.R. Nagar; water supply assistants; endorsement 16.06.2026; W.A. No.385/2024; W.P. No.1205/2023 c/w W.P. No.6508/2023; Umadevi (2006) 4 SCC 1; M.L. Kesari (2010) 9 SCC 247; Article 215 Constitution; Sections 11 and 12 Contempt of Courts Act 1971; Vibhu Bakhru CJ; K.S. Hemalekha J; complaint closed; substantive remedies kept open.

What did the court decide?

Contempt complaint closed without punishment; clarification issued that the closure does not preclude the complainants from availing substantive remedies against the endorsement dated 16.06.2026, with all rights and contentions kept open. ¶¶86

M S Prashanth Vs Prabhuling Kavalikatti, IAS — Contempt of Court | Karnataka HC (2026)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

¶¶86

Issue for consideration

Whether the accused persons are guilty of wilful disobedience of the orders dated 25.02.2025 (W.A. No.385/2024) and 03.07.2023 (W.P. No.1205/2023 c/w W.P. No.6508/2023) and liable to be punished (imprisonment of six months sought). +1 more

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Court's answer

On the hearing of 21.04.2026 the Court was of the view that prima facie the accused had willfully disobeyed the orders of the Court, and the matter was listed for framing of charges.

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Ratio / Principle

The Court declined to examine the grounds of rejection set out in the endorsement dated 16.06.2026, the scope of the contempt proceedings being limited.

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Key takeaways

Since the complainants' case for regularization had been considered, it was not apposite to continue the proceedings under the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971; the complaint was accordingly closed.ratio¶¶86
Closure of the contempt complaint does not preclude the complainants from availing substantive remedies in respect of the endorsement dated 16.06.2026; all rights and contentions of the parties are kept open.ratio¶¶87

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Civil contempt (Art. 215 Constitution r/w Ss. 11-12, Contempt of Courts Act, 1971) — alleged wilful disobedience of orders dated 03.07.2023 in W.P. Nos. 1205/2023 c/w 6508/2023 and 25.02.2025 in W.A. No.385/2024 (S-RES) concerning regularization of Town Municipal Council, K.R. Nagar employees — writ court had set aside the rejecting endorsements and directed reconsideration after hearing, in light of The Secretary, State of Karnataka v. Umadevi, (2006) 4 SCC 1 and State of Karnataka and others v. M.L. Kesari and others, (2010) 9 SCC 247 — a further endorsement rejected claims for want of sanctioned posts; on 21.04.2026 the Division Bench (Vibhu Bakhru, CJ, authoring; K.S. Hemalekha, J) prima facie found wilful disobedience and listed the matter for framing of charges — before charges were framed, the Additional Advocate General produced a compliance affidavit with endorsement dated 16.06.2026 regularizing three complainants w.e.f. 16.06.2026 and rejecting the others on other grounds (educational qualifications) — Court declined to examine the grounds of rejection, held it not apposite to continue proceedings under the 1971 Act since the regularization claims stood considered, and closed the complaint — liberty expressly preserved to pursue substantive remedies against the endorsement; all rights and contentions kept open.

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NC: 2026:KHC:29949-DB CCC No. 1473 of 2025

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HC-KAR

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

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PRESENT

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THE HON'BLE MR. VIBHU BAKHRU, CHIEF JUSTICE

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AND

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THE HON'BLE MRS. JUSTICE K.S. HEMALEKHA CIVIL CONTEMPT PETITION NO. 1473 OF 2025

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BETWEEN:

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M.S. PRASHANTH S/O M.D. SOMASHEKHARAIAH AGED ABOUT 57 YEARS GARDENER, TOWN MUNICIPAL COUNCIL K.R. NAGAR MYSURU - 571 602

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V RAMESHA @ S RAMESHA SINCE DEAD REP BY HIS LEGAL REPRESENTATIVES

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Digitally signed by SRIDEVI S Location: High Court of Karnataka

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MEENA 2. W/O RAMESH S AGED ABOUT 46 YEARS R/AT No.18/251 18^TH WARD, K.R. NAGARA TOWN MUSLIM BLOCK N.G.O. KATTADA ROAD K.R. NAGARA POST MYSURU DISTRICT - 571 602

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DIVYA.R D/O RAMESHA.S W/O RAJU AGED ABOUT 32 YEARS R/AT NO.111, 3^RD CROSS

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2 - NC: 2026:KHC:29949-DB CCC No. 1473 of 2025

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HC-KAR

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6^TH WARD, KATENAHALLI K.R. NAGARA TOWN MYSURU DISTRICT - 571 602

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VARUNA R

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S/O RAMESHA S

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AGED ABOUT 29 YEARS R/AT NO.18/251 18^TH WARD, K.R. NAGARA TOWN MUSLIM BLOCK N.G.O. KATTADA ROAD K.R. NAGARA POST MYSURU DISTRICT - 571 602

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H.R. KESHAVA S/O RANGASWAMY

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AGED ABOUT 53 YEARS WATER SUPPLY ASSISTANT TOWN MUNICIPAL COUNCIL K.R. NAGAR, MYSURU - 571 602

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K.S. LINGARAJU S/O SIDDAIAH AGED ABOUT 59 YEARS WATER SUPPLY ASSISTANT TOWN MUNICIPAL COUNCIL K.R. NAGAR MYSURU - 571 602

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K RACHAIAH S/O KUPPAIAH AGED ABOUT 59 YEARS WATER SUPPLY ASSISTANT TOWN MUNICIPAL COUNCIL K.R. NAGAR MYSURU - 571 602

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3 - NC: 2026:KHC:29949-DB CCC No. 1473 of 2025

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HC-KAR

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K. SWAMY

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S/O KARIYAIAH AGED ABOUT 51 YEARS WATER SUPPLY ASSISTANT TOWN MUNICIPAL COUNCIL K.R. NAGAR

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MYSURU - 571 602

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MANJUNATHA S/O KASTURI SETTY AGED ABOUT 59 YEARS WATCHMAN TOWN MUNICIPAL COUNCIL K.R. NAGAR MYSURU - 571 602

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K LOKESHA S/O KUPPAIAH AGED ABOUT 53 YEARS TOWN MUNICIPAL COUNCIL K.R. NAGAR MYSURU - 571 602

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11. NARAYANA

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S/O KEMPAIAH AGED ABOUT 50 YEARS WATER SUPPLY ASSISTANT TOWN MUNICIPAL COUNCIL K.R. NAGAR MYSURU - 571 602

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12. KRISHNA

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S/O NINGAIAH AGED ABOUT 58 YEARS WATER SUPPLY ASSISTANT TOWN MUNICIPAL COUNCIL K.R. NAGAR, MYSURU - 571 602

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NC: 2026:KHC:29949-DB CCC No. 1473 of 2025

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HC-KAR

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MEENAVATHI BAI

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S/O LATE SRINIVASA RAO KATE AGED ABOUT 51 YEARS SECOND DIVISION ASSISTANT OFFICE ASSISTANT TOWN MUNICIPAL COUNCIL

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K.R. NAGAR MYSURU - 571 602

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B.M. ANNAPURNA

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W/O J.V. RAJU

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AGED ABOUT 58 YEARS SECOND DIVISION ASSISTANT OFFICE ASSISTANT TOWN MUNICIPAL COUNCIL K.R. NAGAR MYSURU - 571 602

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S LALITHAMMA D/O LATE S.N. SUBBARAYA AGED ABOUT 58 YEARS SECOND DIVISION ASSISTANT OFFICE ASSISTANT TOWN MUNICIPAL COUNCIL K.R. NAGAR MYSURU - 571 602

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…COMPLAINANTS

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(BY SRI SHARATH S. GOWDA, ADVOCATE)

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AND:

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PRABHULING KAVALIKATTI, IAS THE DIRECTORATE OF MUNICIPAL ADMINISTRATION DR B.R. AMBEDKAR VEEDHI 9^TH AND 10^TH FLOOR VISHVESHWARAIAH TOWER BENGALURU - 560 001

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NC: 2026:KHC:29949-DB CCC No. 1473 of 2025

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HC-KAR

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LAKSHMIKANTH REDDY G, IAS THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER KRISHNARAJA BOULVARD ROAD MYSURU DISTRICT

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MYSURU - 570 001

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…ACCUSED

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THE STATE OF KARNATAKA REP. BY ITS CHIEF SECRETARY VIDHANA SOUDHA DR B.R. AMBEDKAR VEEDHI BENGALURU - 560 001

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…PRO FORMA RESPONDENT

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THE STATE OF KARNATAKA REP. BY THE PRINCIPAL SECRETARY DEPARTMENT OF URBAN DEVELOPMENT VIKASA SUODHA

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DR B.R. AMBEDKAR VEEDHI

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BENGALURU - 560 001

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…PRO FORMA RESPONDENT

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(BY SRI RUBEN JACOB, AAG A/W SMT. NAMITHA MAHESH B.G., AGA)

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THIS CCC IS FILED UNDER ARTICLE 215 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA READ WITH SECTION 11 AND 12 OF THE CONTEMPT OF COURT ACT, 1971 PRAYING TO HOLD THE ACCUSED PERSONS GUILTY OF CONTEMPT OF COURT FOR WILFUL DISOBEDIENCE OF THE ORDER DATED 25.02.2025 PASSED IN W.A. NO.385/2024 AS WELL AS THE ORDER DATED 03.07.2023 PASSED IN W.P. NO.1205/2023 C/W W.P. NO.6508/2023, VIDE ANNEXURE-A & B AND FURTHER BE PLEASED TO PUNISH THE ACCUSED PERSONS WITH IMPRISONMENT OF SIX MONTHS IN ACCORDANCE WITH LAW.

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THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR FRAMING OF CHARGES, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER:

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NC: 2026:KHC:29949-DB CCC No. 1473 of 2025

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HC-KAR

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CORAM: HON'BLE MR. VIBHU BAKHRU, CHIEF JUSTICE and HON'BLE MRS. JUSTICE K.S. HEMALEKHA

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ORAL ORDER

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

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The complainants have filed the present complaint alleging

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willful disobedience of the order dated 25.02.2025 passed in WA.No.385/2024 (S-RES) as well as the order dated 03.07.2023 passed in WP.No.1205/2023 c/w WP.No.6508/2023. The writ petitions W.P.No.1205/2023 c/w W.P.No.6508/2023 were allowed and the endorsements rejecting the claim of the complainants for regularization, were set aside. The court issued specific directions to respondent No.4 (Deputy Commissioner, Mysuru) to reconsider the case of the complainants and take a decision after affording the writ petitioners, an opportunity to be heard. The court, further directed that the Deputy Commissioner shall take a decision in light of the judgment rendered by the Supreme Court in the case of The Secretary, State of Karnataka v. Umadevi¹ and State of Karnataka and others v. M.L. Kesari and others² . The accused

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had once again passed an endorsement rejecting the claim for

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1 (2006) 4 SCC 1

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2 ( 2010) 9 SCC 247

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7 - NC: 2026:KHC:29949-DB CCC No. 1473 of 2025

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HC-KAR

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regularization on the ground that there were no sanctioned posts, although the said issue had been considered by the court as is apparent from the order dated 25.02.2025

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The present petition was heard on 21.04.2026 and this Court was of the view that prima facie the accused has willfully disobeyed the orders of the Court. Accordingly, the matter was listed today for framing of charges. The accused, Sri. Ravindra P.N., IAS, The Directorate of Municipal Administration (Accused No.1) and Sri. Lakshmikanth Reddy G, IAS, Deputy Commissioner, Mysuru (Accused No.2) are present in Court today.

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The learned Additional Advocate General appearing for the accused has handed over another compliance affidavit enclosing therewith an endorsement dated 16.06.2026, whereby the case of three of the complainants for being regularized has been accepted, albeit with effect from 16.06.2026. The case of other complainants

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has been rejected on other grounds, such as their educational qualifications.

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The learned counsel appearing for the complainants submits that the endorsement is a subterfuge and this amounts to denying

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8 - NC: 2026:KHC:29949-DB CCC No. 1473 of 2025

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HC-KAR

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the complainants' rights of regularization. He submits that the grounds on which the regularization has been rejected are untenable.

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We do not consider it apposite to examine the grounds of rejection as set out in the endorsement dated 16.06.2026 in the present proceedings. The scope of the present proceedings is limited. Since the complainants' case for regularization has been considered, it would not be apposite to continue the proceedings under the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971. The complaint is accordingly, closed.

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However, we clarify that this order would not preclude the complainants from availing the substantive remedies in respect of the endorsement dated 16.06.2026. All rights and contentions of the parties in this regard are kept open.

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Sd/(VIBHU BAKHRU) CHIEF JUSTICE

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Sd/(K.S. HEMALEKHA) JUDGE

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SD, List No.: 1 Sl No.: 1

M S Prashanth v. Prabhuling Kavalikatti, IAS

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

M S Prashanth v. Prabhuling Kavalikatti, IAS

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

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What the court decided

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