Sri M C Srinivas Vs Smt Shmala Iqbal — Contempt of Court | Karnataka HC (2026)

Sri M C Srinivas Vs Smt Shmala Iqbal — Contempt of Court | Karnataka HC (2026)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

No contempt proceedings initiated; the complaint is closed, with liberty reserved to the complainants to take further steps as they may be advised; the pending application is disposed of.

Issue for consideration

Whether contempt proceedings should be initiated against Accused Nos. 1 to 4 for willful disobedience of the order dated 15.12.2022 passed in WP.No.21028/22 (S-RES), which directed KSIC to consider the complainants' representations dated 06.09.2022 claiming pensionary benefits.

Court's answer

In view of the compliance affidavits and related material, the Division Bench is unable to accept that proceedings for willful disobedience of the order are required to be initiated; hence the complaint is closed.

Ratio / Principle

Liberty is reserved to the complainants to take further steps, as they may be advised.

Key takeaways

The pending application stands disposed of.ratio¶56

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Civil Contempt Petition No. 930 of 2025, filed under Sections 11 and 12 of the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971 by nine complainants (several since deceased, represented by legal representatives), alleging willful disobedience by Accused Nos. 1 to 4 (Principal Secretary Horticulture and Sericulture; Commissioner/Director of Sericulture; Managing Director, Karnataka Silk Industries Corporation; Accountant General (A & E)) of the Single Judge's order dated 15.12.2022 in WP.No.21028/22 (S-RES) directing KSIC to consider their representations dated 06.09.2022 claiming pensionary benefits. Compliance affidavits disclosed that pensionary benefits for complainants 1 to 7 and 9 had been processed with payment steps taken, supported by orders of the Office of the Accountant General (A & B), Karnataka placed on record; for complainant No.8, an endorsement dated 22.09.2025 stated that processing was withheld owing to a dispute between the legal heirs of late Hanumaiah. The Bench (per Justice C.M. Poonacha, with Chief Justice Vibhu Bakhru) held that proceedings for willful disobedience were not required to be initiated, closed the complaint, reserved liberty to the complainants to take further steps as advised, and disposed of the pending application. (Per order of Justice C.M. Poonacha.)

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NC: 2026:KHC:4528-DB CCC No. 930 of 2025

HC-KAR

IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 28^TH DAY OF JANUARY, 2026

PRESENT

THE HON'BLE MR. VIBHU BAKHRU, CHIEF JUSTICE

AND

THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE C.M. POONACHA CIVIL CONTEMPT PETITION NO. 930 OF 2025

BETWEEN:

SRI M.C. SRINIVAS S/O LATE CHANNEGOWDA AGED ABOUT 63 YEARS R/AT NO.34, GSSM QUARTERS MANGALAVARAPET WARD NO.1 CHANNAPATNA - 562 160 RAMANAGARA DISTRICT

Digitally signed by SRIDEVI S Location: High Court of Karnataka

SRI MALAVAIAH S/O LATE MOTAIAH AGED ABOUT 76 YEARS R/AT NO.32, LALGHATTA LALGHATTA POST CHANNAPATNA - 562 160 RAMANAGARA DISTRICT

SRI B. SHIVALINGAIAH SINCE DECEASED REPRESENTED BY HIS WIFE LEGAL REPRESENTATIVE SMT. VENKATALAKSHMAMMA AGED ABOUT 77 YEARS R/AT BYRAPATNA VILLAGE MARALUR HOBLI CHANNAPATNA - 562 160 RAMANAGARA DISTRICT.

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4. SRI ANDANAIAH

SINCE DECEASED REPRESENTED BY HIS WIFE AND LEGAL REPRESENTATIVE SMT. CHANNAMMA W/O LATE ANDANAIAH AGED ABOUT 67 YEARS R/AT NO.380, M.G. BADAVANE MATALUHOLA, CHANNAPATNA - 562 160 RAMANAGARA DISTRICT

SRI KEMPEGOWDA SINCE DECEASED REPRESENTED BY HIS WIFE AND LEGAL REPRESENTATIVE SMT. PUTTALINGAMMA AGED ABOUT 75 YEARS R/AT NO.168/1, MYLANAYAKANAHALLI MYLANAYAKANAHALLI POST CHANNAPATNA - 562 160 RAMANAGARA DISTRICT

SRI GURUSIDDAIAH SINCE DECEASED REPRESENTATIVE BY HIS WIFE AND

LEGAL REPRESENTATIVE SMT. LAKSHMAMMA AGED ABOUT 72 YEARS R/AT NO.85, SRI RAMAMANDIRA STREET YELEKERI WARD NO.14 CHANNAPATNA - 562 160 RAMANAGARA DISTRICT

SRI GUNDAIAH SINCE DECEASED REPRESENTATED BY HIS S/O LEGAL REPRESENTATIVE SRI G. NAGARAJU AGED ABOUT 65 YEARS

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R/AT NO.170/1, YELEKERI MANTAPADA STREET WARD NO.15 CHANNAPATNA - 562 160 RAMANAGARA DISTRICT

SRI HANUMAIAH SINCE DECEASED REPRESENTED BY HIS SON/LEGAL REPRESENTATIVE SRI H. RAMASANJEEVAIAH AGED ABOUT 65 YEARS R/AT NO.180, RAMPURA POST CHANNAPATNA - 562 160 RAMANAGARA DISTRICT

SRI B.H. MAGI SINCE DECEASED REPRESENTED BY HIS WIFE/LEGAL REPRESENTATIVE SMT. YALLAVVA AGED ABOUT 71 YEARS R/AT NO.180, RAMPURA POST CHANNAPATNA - 562 160 RAMANAGARA DISTRICT

…COMPLAINANTS

(BY SRI RAMESHA H.E., ADVOCATE)

AND:

SMT. SHMALA IQBAL THE PRINCIPAL SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT OF KARNATAKA HORTICULTURE AND SERICULTURE DEPARTMENT 4^TH FLOOR, 3^RD GATE, M.S.BUILDING DR. AMBEDKAR VEEDHI BENGALURU - 560 001

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NC: 2026:KHC:4528-DB CCC No. 930 of 2025

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SMT. VINOOTH PRIYA COMMISSIONER FOR SERICULTURE DEVELOPMENT AND DIRECTOR OF SERICULTURE 5^TH FLOOR, 1^ST GATE M.S. BUILDING DR. AMBEDKAR VEEDHI BENGALURU - 560 001

SMT. ZEHERA NASEEM THE MANAGING DIRECTOR KARNATAKA SILK INDUSTRIES CORPORATION (GOVERNMENT OF KARNATAKA ENTERPRISES) III AND IV FLOOR PUBLIC UTILITY BUILDING M.G. ROAD BENGALURU - 560 001

SRI RAJIV KUMAR SINGH THE ACCOUNTANT GENERAL IN KARNATAKA (A & E) PALACE ROAD BENGALURU - 560 001

…ACCUSED

THE STATE OF KARNATAKA REP BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY HORTICULTURE AND SERICULTURE DEPARTMENT M.S.BUILDING BENGALURU - 560 001

…PRO FORMA RESPONDENT

(BY SRI S.H. RAGHAVENDRA, AGA FOR RESPONDENTS/ACCUSED No.1, 2, 4 & 5, SRI T.P. MUTHANNA, ADVOCATE FOR ACCUSED No.3 & SRI H.P. GANESH GOWDA, ADVOCATE FOR SRI N. AMARESH, CGSC., FOR ACCUSED No.4)

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THIS CCC IS FILED UNDER SECTIONS 11 AND 12 OF THE CONTEMPT OF COURTS ACT, 1971, PRAYING TO INITIATE CONTEMPT PROCEEDINGS AGAINST THE ACCUSED NO.1 TO 4 AND PUNISH THEM IN ACCORDANCE WITH LAW FOR HAVING WILLFULLY DISOBEYED THE ORDER PASSED BY THIS HON'BLE COURT IN WRIT PETITION NO.21028/2022 (S-RES) DATED 15.12.2022 (ANNEXURE-A) & 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 MR. JUSTICE C.M. POONACHA

ORAL ORDER

(PER: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE C.M. POONACHA)

The present complaint is filed alleging willful disobedience of the order dated 15.12.2022 passed in WP.No.21028/22 (S-RES). By the said order, the learned Single Judge of this Court has directed the Karnataka Silk Industries Corporation Limited [ KSIC ] to consider the representations of the petitioners dated 06.09.2022, which was made claiming pensionary benefits.

The accused have filed the compliance affidavits. The same discloses that the pensionary benefits insofar as complainants 1 to 7 and 9, have been processed and steps have been taken for

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payment of the same. The relevant orders issued by the Office of the Accountant General (A & B), Karnataka have been placed on record along with the compliance affidavits.

With regard to complainant No.8, an endorsement dated 22.09.2025 has been issued, whereunder, it is stated that having regard to the dispute between the legal heirs of late Hanumaiah, the same has not been processed.

In view of the aforementioned, we are unable to accept that proceedings for willful disobedience of the order are required to be initiated. Hence, the complaint is closed.

Liberty is reserved to the complainants to take further steps, as they may be advised.

Pending application stands disposed of.

Sd/(VIBHU BAKHRU) CHIEF JUSTICE

Sd/(C.M. POONACHA) JUDGE

SD