Chandra Naika Vs Leelavathi — Contempt of Court | Karnataka HC (2026)

Chandra Naika Vs Leelavathi — Contempt of Court | Karnataka HC (2026)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Unconditional apology of the accused's husband accepted and his affidavit taken on record; the accused and her husband Sri N. Shamanna interdicted from transferring, encumbering or dealing with the subject property in any manner, subject to further orders in the pending proceedings; complaint closed.

Issue for consideration

Whether the accused committed willful disobedience (civil contempt) of the order dated 22.02.2023 passed in Writ Petition No.3883/2023 (GM-CPC) directing maintenance of status quo over the subject property, and whether action against the accused and costs of the complaint should follow.

Court's answer

Concededly, the accused failed to comply with the order dated 22.02.2023 and conveyed the subject property in favour of her husband by a registered gift deed dated 10.07.2024.

Ratio / Principle

There is merit in the complainant's contention that there has been willful disobedience of the order dated 22.02.2023 passed by this Court.

Key takeaways

After hearing the parties, the court considered it apposite to accept the unconditional apology tendered by the accused's husband, Sri N. Shamanna s/o Narayanappa, and his affidavit was taken on record.ratio¶5
The accused as well as her husband Sri N. Shamanna are interdicted from transferring, encumbering or dealing with the subject property in any manner, subject to any further orders that may be passed in the pending proceedings.ratio¶5

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Civil Contempt Petition No. 234 of 2025, High Court of Karnataka (Division Bench: Vibhu Bakhru, Chief Justice and K.S. Hemalekha, Judge; oral order dated 17.07.2026, per the Chief Justice). Filed under Sections 11 and 12 of the Contempt of Courts Act, the complaint alleged willful disobedience of the order dated 22.02.2023 of the learned Single Judge in W.P. No. 3883/2023 (GM-CPC) directing the accused to maintain status quo over land in Survey No.47/1 (old Survey No.47), 20 guntas out of 2 acres, Melinanaykandarahalli Village, Tubagere Hobli, Doddaballapura Taluk, Bengaluru Rural District. The court recorded that the accused had, concededly, conveyed the subject property to her husband by registered gift deed dated 10.07.2024, and held there was merit in the contention of willful disobedience. Upon the husband (Sri N. Shamanna) tendering an affidavit unconditionally apologising for the transfer, citing the accused's ill-health, and undertaking not to transfer the property to any third party or violate the order, the court accepted the apology, took the affidavit on record, and directed that the accused and her husband stand interdicted from transferring, encumbering or dealing with the subject property in any manner, subject to any further orders in the pending proceedings. The complaint was accordingly closed; no punitive action was imposed and no costs were awarded.

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HC-KAR

NC: 2026:KHC:36703-DB CCC No. 234 of 2025

CNR: KAHC010122532025

IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU

DATED THIS THE 17^TH DAY OF JULY, 2026 PRESENT

THE HON'BLE MR. VIBHU BAKHRU, CHIEF JUSTICE

AND

THE HON'BLE MRS. JUSTICE K.S. HEMALEKHA

CIVIL CONTEMPT PETITION NO. 234 OF 2025

BETWEEN:

CHANDRA NAIKA S/O MUNIYA NAIKA AGED ABOUT 51 YEARS R/AT MELINA NAYAKANDARAHALLI VILLAGE THUBAGERE HOBLI DODDABALLAPURA TALUK BENGALURU RURAL DISTRICT - 561 203

…COMPLAINANT

(BY MS. PRUTHVI G.R, ADVOCATE FOR SRI KRISHNA NAIK, ADVOCATE)

Digitally signed by AMBIKA H B Location: High Court of Karnataka

AND:

LEELAVATHI S/O N. SHAMANNA D/O MUNISHAMI @ MUNISHAMAPPA AGED ABOUT 45 YEARS No.138, 4^TH CROSS 1^ST MAIN, SHAMPURA MAIN ROAD R.T. NAGAR BENGALURU - 560 032

…ACCUSED

(BY SMT. GOWHAR UNNISA, ADVOCATE FOR SRI V. VISWANATH SETTY, ADVOCATE)

2 - NC: 2026:KHC:36703-DB CCC No. 234 of 2025

HC-KAR

CNR: KAHC010122532025

THIS CCC IS FILED UNDER SECTION 11 AND 12 OF THE CONTEMPT OF COURT ACT PRAYING TO TAKE ACTION AGAINST THE ACCUSED FOR HAVING DISOBEYED THE ORDERS PASSED BY THIS HON'BLE COURT IN W.P.NO.3883/2023 (GM-CPC) DATED 22.02.2023 AND TO PASS SUCH OTHER ORDER OR ORDERS AND TO AWARD COSTS OF THIS COMPLAINT.

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 22.02.2023 passed by the learned Single Judge of this Court in Writ Petition No.3883/2023 (GM-CPC). In terms of the said order, the accused was directed to maintain status quo as to the subject property [land comprised in Survey No.47/1 (old Survey No.47) measuring 20 guntas out of 2 acres of Melinanaykandarahalli Village, Tubagere Hobli, Doddaballapura Taluk, Bengaluru Rural District].

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HC-KAR

NC: 2026:KHC:36703-DB CCC No. 234 of 2025

CNR: KAHC010122532025

Concededly, the accused has failed to comply with the said order and has conveyed the subject property in favour of her husband by a registered gift deed dated 10.07.2024.

There is merit in the complainant's contention that there has been willful disobedience of the order dated 22.02.2023 passed by this Court.

The husband of the accused has tendered an affidavit unconditionally apologising for having transferred the subject property in his name. He states that the accused is suffering from ill-health and is thus, not moving outside. He also undertakes that he shall not transfer the subject property to any third party or violate the order passed by the court.

After hearing the parties, we consider it apposite to accept the said apology. The affidavit filed by the husband of the accused Sri N. Shamanna, son of the Narayanappa is taken on record. We further direct that the accused as well as her husband Sri N.Shamanna are interdicted from transferring, encumbering or

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HC-KAR

NC: 2026:KHC:36703-DB CCC No. 234 of 2025

CNR: KAHC010122532025

dealing with the subject property in any manner. This is subject to

any further orders that may be passed in the pending proceedings.

The complaint is, accordingly, closed.

Sd/(VIBHU BAKHRU) CHIEF JUSTICE

Sd/(K.S. HEMALEKHA) JUDGE

AHB List No.: 1 Sl No.: 7