Smt. Honnamma Vs the State of Karnataka — Contempt of Court | Karnataka HC (2026)

Smt. Honnamma Vs the State of Karnataka — Contempt of Court | Karnataka HC (2026)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

No prosecution initiated and no sentence imposed; the contempt complaint was closed upon the accused's compliance affidavit, with a clarification that the complainant remains free to pursue substantive remedies regarding the manner of phodi and durasti in accordance with law.

Issue for consideration

Whether the accused committed willful disobedience of the order dated 04.07.2025 passed in W.P.No.36469/2024 (KLR-RES), so as to warrant initiation of prosecution and sentence for contempt.

Court's answer

The accused filed a compliance affidavit affirming that phodi and durasti were conducted on 27.12.2025 in respect of Survey No.21/1, measuring 5 acres 38 guntas and 4 acres 08 guntas.

Ratio / Principle

In view of the compliance so effected (including entry of the complainant's name in RTC records), the complaint alleging willful disobedience was closed, without initiating prosecution or imposing sentence.

Key takeaways

The Court clarified that closure of the complaint will not preclude the complainant from availing substantive remedies, in accordance with law, in regard to the grievance over the manner in which phodi and durasti were conducted.obiter¶33

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Civil contempt petition under Sections 11 and 12 of the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971 alleging willful disobedience of the order dated 04.07.2025 in W.P.No.36469/2024 (KLR-RES), whereby the Single Judge had directed the Assistant Director of Land Records to pursue survey and phodi on the subject land and conclude it within four months. The accused filed a compliance affidavit affirming that phodi and durasti were conducted on 27.12.2025 in respect of Survey No.21/1 (5 acres 38 guntas and 4 acres 08 guntas) and that the complainant's name was entered in RTC records for Survey No.21. On that compliance being shown, the Division Bench (per Vibhu Bakhru, Chief Justice, with K.S. Hemalekha,J.) closed the complaint, clarifying that closure does not preclude the complainant from availing substantive remedies against the manner in which phodi and durasti were conducted.

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NC: 2026:KHC:32075-DB CCC No. 1633 of 2025

HC-KAR

IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 29^TH DAY OF JUNE, 2026

PRESENT

THE HON'BLE MR. VIBHU BAKHRU, CHIEF JUSTICE

AND

THE HON'BLE MRS. JUSTICE K.S. HEMALEKHA CIVIL CONTEMPT PETITION NO. 1633 OF 2025

BETWEEN:

SMT. HONNAMMA W/O. LATE PURVACHARI AGED ABOUT 82 YEARS R/AT. THODRANAL VILLAGE

T. NULENUR POST HOLALAKERE TALUK CHITRADURGA DISTRICT - 577 557

…COMPLAINANT

(BY SRI. BHAT GANAPATHI NARAYANA, ADVOCATE)

AND:

Digitally signed by K P SWETHA Location: High Court of Karnataka

THE STATE OF KARNATAKA DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE M.S. BUILDING DR. B.R. AMBEDKAR VEEDHI BENGALURU - 560 001 REPRESENTED BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY

…PRO-FORMA RESPONDENT

SRI. K.V. NARAYANASWAMY THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF LAND RECORDS HOLALAKERE TALUK, HOLALAKERE CHITRADURGA DISTRICT - 577 598

…ACCUSED

(BY SMT. SUKANYA BALIGA, AGA)

2 - NC: 2026:KHC:32075-DB CCC No. 1633 of 2025

HC-KAR

THIS CCC IS FILED UNDER SECTIONS 11 AND 12 OF THE CONTEMPT OF COURTS ACT, 1971, PRAYING TO INITIATE A PROSECUTION AGAINST THE ACCUSED FOR WILLFUL DISOBEDIENCE OF THE DIRECTION AND ORDER DATED 04.07.2025 IN WP NO.36469/2024 (KLR-RES) PASSED BY HON'BLE COURT AS PER ANNEXURE-B AND SENTENCE HIM FOR IMPRISONMENT, ETC.

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 MRS. JUSTICE K.S. HEMALEKHA

ORAL ORDER

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

The complainant has filed the present complaint alleging willful disobedience of the order dated 04.07.2025 passed by the learned Single Judge of this Court in W.P.No.36469/2024 (KLRRES).

In terms of the said order, the accused was directed to pursue survey and phodi in respect of the subject land and conclude the same within a period of four (4) months.

3 - NC: 2026:KHC:32075-DB CCC No. 1633 of 2025

HC-KAR

The accused has filed a compliance affidavit affirming that they have conducted the phodi and durasti on 27.12.2025 in respect of Survey No.21/1, measuring 5 acres 38 guntas and 4 acres 08 guntas. It is also stated that the name of the complainant has been entered in the RTC records in respect of Survey No.21 measuring 5 acres 38 guntas and 4 acres 02 guntas. In view of the above, the complaint is, closed.

The learned counsel for the complainant submits that the complainant has a grievance in regard to the manner in which phodi and durasti has been conducted. Therefore, we clarify that this order will not preclude the complainant from availing of its substantive remedies, albeit in accordance with law.

Sd/(VIBHU BAKHRU) CHIEF JUSTICE

Sd/(K.S. HEMALEKHA) JUDGE

KMV List No.: 1 Sl No.: 8