Mr. Subbanna Vs Vijay Kumar — Contempt of Court | Karnataka HC (2026)

Mr. Subbanna Vs Vijay Kumar — Contempt of Court | Karnataka HC (2026)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

None under the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971; the contempt complaint was closed without initiating proceedings, and the complainant was left free to pursue substantive remedies, if any, in accordance with law.

Issue for consideration

Whether the accused committed wilful disobedience of the order dated 17.03.2025 of the learned Single Judge in W.P.No.21374/2024 (LR), warranting initiation of proceedings under the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971 against the accused.

Court's answer

Taking into account the accused's counter-affidavit dated 07.04.2026 reciting the Government Order dated 22.06.2010 position under Rule 27, Karnataka Land Grant Rules, 1969, the court was unable to accept that any proceedings under the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971 were required to be initiated against the accused, and the complaint was closed.

Key takeaways

The complainant is not precluded from availing substantive remedies, if any, in accordance with law.obiter¶¶43

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Contempt of Courts Act, 1971, Sections 11 and 12 - Civil Contempt Petition (CCC) No. 939 of 2025, High Court of Karnataka (DB), decided 17 July 2026 - Complainant Subbanna alleged wilful disobedience by the Tahsildar of the order dated 17.03.2025 of the learned Single Judge in W.P. No. 21374/2024 (LR), whereby the Tahsildar, Bengaluru South Taluk was directed to consider the complainant's representations and verify Annexure-G khata/Kathedar registrations for 2010 land grants in Survey No. 46, Kagalipura Village, Uttarahalli-2 Hobli, and to register khata in the complainant's favour if he was also a grantee. Accused's counter-affidavit dated 07.04.2026 showed that the Government Order dated 22.06.2010 directed khata registration for six persons only, as a special case under Rule 27 of the Karnataka Land Grant Rules, 1969, with no order for khata registration in the complainant's name, i.e., the complainant was not among the six grantees. Held: no proceedings under the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971 were required to be initiated against the accused; complaint closed; complainant not precluded from availing substantive remedies, if any, in accordance with law. Order per Chief Justice Vibhu Bakhru; bench comprised Chief Justice Vibhu Bakhru and Justice K.S. Hemalekha.

HC-KAR

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NC: 2026:KHC:36709-DB CCC No. 939 of 2025

CNR: KAHC010483122025

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. 939 OF 2025

BETWEEN:

MR. SUBBANNA SON OF LATE VENKATA REDDY AGED ABOUT 84 YEARS RESIDING AT NO.83 DINNEPALYA, KAGALIPURA UTTARAHALLI, KANAKAPURA BENGALURU - 560 100

…COMPLAINANT

(BY SRI SRINIVAS KALYAN P.V., ADVOCATE FOR SRI N.S. SRIRAJ GOWDA, ADVOCATE)

AND:

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

VIJAY KUMAR THE TAHSILDHAR BENGALURU URBAN DISTRICT KANDAYA BHAVAN K.G. ROAD, BENGALURU - 560 009

…ACCUSED

STATE OF KARNATAKA REVENUE DEPARTMENT VIDHANA SOUDHA DR. AMBEDKAR VEEDHI BENGALURU - 560 001 REPRESENTED BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY

…PRO FORMA RESPONDENT (BY SMT. B. SUKANYA BALIGA, AGA)

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HC-KAR

NC: 2026:KHC:36709-DB CCC No. 939 of 2025

CNR: KAHC010483122025

THIS CCC IS FILED UNDER SECTIONS 11 AND 12 OF THE CONTEMPT OF COURTS ACT, 1971 AND RULE 3 OF THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA (CONTEPT OF COURT PROCEEDINGS) RULES, 1981 PRAYING TO ORDER THAT, ACCUSED NO. 1 IS GUILTY OF CONTEMPT OF THE ORDER DATED 17.03.2025 PASSED BY THIS HON'BLE COURT IN W.P. NO.21374/2024 (LR) PRODUCED AT 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 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 17.03.2025 passed by the learned Single Judge of this court in W.P.No.21374/2024 (LR).

2. The complainant states that in the year 2010, grants were made in favour of six persons including him over the lands comprising in Survey No.46 of Kagalipura Village, Uttarahalli-2 Hobli, Bengaluru South Taluk. The complainant claimed that the

3 - NC: 2026:KHC:36709-DB CCC No. 939 of 2025

HC-KAR

CNR: KAHC010483122025

khata was registered in favour of five persons but his name was left out. The khata has not been registered in respect of the grant in his favour. In view of the above, the petition was disposed of with a direction to Tahsildar, Bengaluru South Taluk to consider the representations made by the complainant and to verify from the records whether the persons as mentioned in Annexure-G annexed to the writ petition were registered as Kathedars in respect of lands granted to them. It was further directed that by virtue of AnnexureG, if the complainant is also granted land, he shall also be considered for registration of khata in accordance with law.

3. Accused No.4 has filed a counter-affidavit dated 07.04.2026, inter alia , stating that in terms of the Government Order dated 22.06.2010, directions were issued for registration of khata in favour of six persons by treating the same as a special case under Rule 27 of the Karnataka Land Grant Rules, 1969 and there is no order in the said Government Order for registering a khata in the name of the complainant. Thus, according to the accused, the complainant is not amongst the six grantees.

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NC: 2026:KHC:36709-DB CCC No. 939 of 2025

HC-KAR

CNR: KAHC010483122025

4. In view of the above, we are unable to accept that any proceedings under the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971 are required to be initiated against the accused. The complaint is accordingly closed. The complainant is not precluded from availing substantive remedies if any, in accordance with law.

Sd/(VIBHU BAKHRU) CHIEF JUSTICE

Sd/(K.S. HEMALEKHA) JUDGE

KPS, List No.: 1 Sl No.: 9