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Smt. Smitha. T. R. Vs Dr. Nataraj. J. R. — Contempt of Court | Karnataka HC (2026)

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Karnataka HC
2026
Smt. Smitha. T. R. Vs Dr. Nataraj. J. R.Smt. Smitha. T. R. v. Dr. Nataraj. J. R.

Disposed¶36

Smt. Smitha. T. R. v. Dr. Nataraj. J. R.

Karnataka HC23 Apr 2026CCC/208/2024

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

Karnataka High Court civil contempt case closed on cure of default: non-compliance with alimony-interest directions satisfied on the day of orders by Demand Draft No.662164 dated 22.04.2026 for Rs.1,68,750/- handed to the complainant in Court. Filed under Ss.11 and 12, Contempt of Courts Act, 1971 r/w Article 215, Constitution of India; concerns common judgment dated 03.07.2023 in MFA No.7103/2017 and MFA No.7104/2017 (permanent alimony, matrimonial dispute). Parties: Smt. Smitha T. R. (complainant) v. Dr. Nataraj J. R. (accused/husband). Bench: Anu Sivaraman J. (author) and Tara Vitasta Ganju J.; decided 23.04.2026; all other contentions left open. Search terms: civil contempt, willful disobedience, permanent alimony interest, demand draft, contempt case closed, matrimonial dispute, CCC.

What did the court decide?

Contempt of Court case closed upon handover to the complainant of Demand Draft No.662164 dated 22.04.2026 for Rs.1,68,750/- (interest on permanent alimony), with all other contentions of the parties left open.

Why is it important?

Having considered the contentions, and in view of the interest amount ordered by the Court having been paid by Demand Draft handed over to the complainant in Court, the Bench was of the opinion that the Contempt of Court case could be closed. ¶36

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Contempt of Court case closed upon handover to the complainant of Demand Draft No.662164 dated 22.04.2026 for Rs.1,68,750/- (interest on permanent alimony), with all other contentions of the parties left open.

Issue for consideration

Whether the accused committed willful disobedience of the directions in this Court's common judgment dated 03.07.2023 passed in MFA No.7103/2017 and MFA No.7104/2017 (non-payment of alimony interest), warranting a finding of contempt and six months' imprisonment.

Court's answer

Having considered the contentions, and in view of the interest amount ordered by the Court having been paid by Demand Draft handed over to the complainant in Court, the Bench was of the opinion that the Contempt of Court case could be closed.

Ratio / Principle

The Contempt of Court case was accordingly closed, recording the handing over of the Demand Draft of Rs.1,68,750/-, with all other contentions of the parties left open; no finding of guilt or sentence was pronounced.

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

CCC No. 208 of 2024 (High Court of Karnataka at Bengaluru; Division Bench of Anu Sivaraman and Tara Vitasta Ganju JJ.), decided 23.04.2026: civil contempt petition under Ss.11 and 12, Contempt of Courts Act, 1971 r/w Article 215 of the Constitution of India, alleging willful disobedience of the common judgment dated 03.07.2023 passed in MFA No.7103/2017 and MFA No.7104/2017 (matrimonial dispute; permanent alimony awarded with interest). The principal alimony stood already paid; interest was in arrears. At the hearing, counsel for the complainant tendered Demand Draft No.662164 dated 22.04.2026 for Rs.1,68,750/- towards the interest, which was handed over to the complainant in Court; the Bench (oral judgment per Anu Sivaraman J.) closed the Contempt of Court case recording the handover, expressly leaving open all other contentions of the parties. No guilt was found and no sentence was imposed.

A

1 -

NC: 2026:KHC:22194-DB CCC No. 208 of 2024

HC-KAR

IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 23^RD DAY OF APRIL, 2026

PRESENT

THE HON'BLE MRS. JUSTICE ANU SIVARAMAN

AND

THE HON'BLE MS. JUSTICE TARA VITASTA GANJU CIVIL CONTEMPT PETITION NO.208 OF 2024

BETWEEN:

SMT. SMITHA. T. R. W/O DR. NATARAJ J R D/O LATE M.C.RUDRARADYA, AGED ABOUT 40 YEARS R/AT NO.133,

PRAKRUTHI 2ND CROSS,

Digitally signed by RAKSHA Location: High Court of Karnataka

ITI LAYOUT, MALLATHAHALLI, BENGALURU-560056 PRESENTLY AT BESIDE DEEPTHI HOUSE, 5TH CROSS, ASHOKANAGARA, TUMAKURU-572101

…COMPLAINANT

(BY SRI. CHIRANTHA, ADV. FOR SRI. YESHU BABA R. MISHRA, ADVOCATE) AND:

DR. NATARAJ. J. R. S/O SRI RAJASHEKARAIAH, JDM

2 -

NC: 2026:KHC:22194-DB CCC No. 208 of 2024

HC-KAR

AGED ABOUT 43 YEARS, R/AT NO.133, 'PRAKRUTHI', 2ND CROSS, ITI LAYOUT, MALLATHAHALLI, BENGALURU-560058

…ACCUSED

(BY SRI. ANISH N.T., ADV. FOR SRI. CHANDRASHEKAR REDDY K. P., ADV.)

THIS CCC IS FILED UNDER SECTION 11 AND 12 OF THE CONTEMPT OF COURTS ACT, 1971, R/W ARTICLE 215 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA, 1950 , PRAYING TO a) HOLD THE ACCUSED GUILTY OF CONTEMPT OF COURT FOR WILLFUL DISOBEDIENCE OF THE JUDGMENT DATED 03.07.2023 PASSED IN MFA NO.7103/2017 AND MFA NO.7104/2017 BY THIS COURT. b) SENTENCE THE ACCUSED WITH IMPRISONMENT OF SIX MONTHS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THE CONTEMPT OF COURTS ACT, 1971 AND ETC.

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

CORAM: HON'BLE MRS. JUSTICE ANU SIVARAMAN and

HON'BLE MS. JUSTICE TARA VITASTA GANJU

3 -

NC: 2026:KHC:22194-DB CCC No. 208 of 2024

HC-KAR

ORAL JUDGMENT

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

This Contempt of Court case is filed alleging noncompliance of the directions issued by this Court in a matrimonial dispute between the parties which was decided by a common judgment dated 03.07.2023. It is submitted that the principal amount which was awarded towards permanent alimony had already been paid. However, interest as ordered by this Court was not paid.

The learned counsel appearing for the complainant submits that as ordered by this Court, the interest amount due for payment is paid today, by way of a Demand Draft bearing No.662164 dated 22.04.2026 for an amount of Rs.1,68,750/-. It is further submitted that by recording the same, this Contempt of Court case may be closed.

The Demand Draft is handed over to the

complainant in the Court today.

Having considered the contentions advanced, we are of the opinion that the Contempt of Court case can be closed. Accordingly, the Contempt of Court is closed , recording

4 -

NC: 2026:KHC:22194-DB CCC No. 208 of 2024

HC-KAR

the handing over of the Demand Draft of Rs.1,68,750/-, leaving

open all other contentions of the parties.

Sd/(ANU SIVARAMAN) JUDGE

Sd/-

(TARA VITASTA GANJU) JUDGE

RAK,

List No.: 3 Sl No.: 13

Issues for consideration

1 issue framed by the court

AI extract

1.
Whether the accused committed willful disobedience of the directions in this Court's common judgment dated 03.07.2023 passed in MFA No.7103/2017 and MFA No.7104/2017 (non-payment of alimony interest), warranting a finding of contempt and six months' imprisonment.¶23
The court held
Having considered the contentions, and in view of the interest amount ordered by the Court having been paid by Demand Draft handed over to the complainant in Court, the Bench was of the opinion that the Contempt of Court case could be closed.ratio¶36

Statutes considered

3 provisions across 2 enactments

AI extract

Contempt of Courts Act, 1971Sections 11 and 12¶23 THE CONTEMPT OF COURTS ACT, 1971¶23
Constitution of India, 1950Article 215¶23

Procedural history

How this case reached the court

AI extract

Order under challenge
Common judgment dated 03.07.2023 passed by this Court in MFA No.7103/2017 and MFA No.7104/2017 (matrimonial dispute; permanent alimony with interest), willful disobedience of which is alleged in this CCC.¶23
High Court of Karnataka · 03.07.2023
Prior proceeding
The Court's directions in a matrimonial dispute were contained in a common judgment dated 03.07.2023; permanent alimony (with interest) had been awarded therein.¶32
Prior proceeding
By the time of this CCC, the principal permanent-alimony amount had already been paid; the interest as ordered remained unpaid.¶32

Parties & counsel

AI extract

petitioner
SMT. SMITHA. T. R.¶10
SRI. CHIRANTHA, SRI. YESHU BABA R. MISHRA
respondent
DR. NATARAJ. J. R.¶16
SRI. ANISH N.T., SRI. CHANDRASHEKAR REDDY K. P.

Coram

AI extract

Anu Sivaramanauthor¶31
Tara Vitasta Ganjumember¶26

Case details

As recorded by the court registry

Court: Karnataka HC
Decided on: 23 Apr 2026 · April
Registered: 19 Feb 2024
Case no.: CCC/208/2024
CNR: KAHC010104992024
Topic: Contempt of Court
Bench: Anu Sivaraman Tara Vitasta Ganju
Disposal: DROPPED
Case type: CCC (Civil Contempt Petition)

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Cite this judgement

Smt. Smitha. T. R. v. Dr. Nataraj. J. R., CCC/208/2024 (KA), decided on 23 April 2026.

The High Court of Karnataka publishes no neutral citation for this judgement — cite it by case number and date of decision.

Statutes3

Contempt of Courts Act, 1971Sections 11 and 12 · THE CONTEMPT OF COURTS ACT, 1971
Constitution of India, 1950Article 215

View all statutes

Procedural history3

Common judgment dated 03.07.2023 passed by this Court in MFA No.7103/2017 and MFA No.7104/2017 (matrimonial dispute; permanent alimony with interest), willful disobedience of which is alleged in this CCC.High Court of Karnataka · 03.07.2023
The Court's directions in a matrimonial dispute were contained in a common judgment dated 03.07.2023; permanent alimony (with interest) had been awarded therein.
By the time of this CCC, the principal permanent-alimony amount had already been paid; the interest as ordered remained unpaid.

View full history

Bench / Coram

Anu Sivaraman and Tara Vitasta Ganju

Parties & counsel