Sri. Sudhakar Shankar Kamate Vs the State of Karnataka — Contempt of Court | Karnataka HC (2026)

Sri. Sudhakar Shankar Kamate Vs the State of Karnataka — Contempt of Court | Karnataka HC (2026)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

No punitive relief: the Contempt of Court case was closed (¶52), the complainants' contentions on merits were expressly left open to be agitated in appropriate proceedings, and notice issued to the accused, if any, was ordered to stand discharged (¶53-¶54).

Issue for consideration

Whether the respondents/accused committed contempt of court by wilfully disobeying the order dated 22-10-2019 in Writ Petition No. 8113-8131 of 2015 c/w Writ Petition No. 9056-9065 of 2015 (S-RES), warranting cognizance and punishment. +1 more

Court's answer

Notice issued to the accused, if any, was directed to stand discharged upon closure of the contempt case.

Ratio / Principle

Having considered the contentions advanced, the Bench held that in light of the directions issued by the Court, the exercise directed by the Court has now been carried out by the respondents/accused and appropriate orders have been passed.

Key takeaways

Accordingly, the Contempt of Court case was closed, with the contentions of the complainants on merits expressly left open to be agitated in appropriate proceedings; no punishment for contempt was imposed.ratio¶¶52

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Civil Contempt Petition No. 958 of 2023, High Court of Karnataka at Bengaluru (Division Bench: Anu Sivaraman and Venkatesh Naik T JJ.; judgment delivered per Anu Sivaraman J.), dated 04-06-2026. Filed under Sections 11 and 12 of the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971 by three teachers (two Hindi, one English) at MDRS schools alleging wilful disobedience of the learned Single Judge's judgment dated 22.10.2019 in W.P. No. 8113-8131 of 2015 c/w W.P. No. 9056-9065 of 2015 (S-RES) (Annexure-A). Respondents/accused: State of Karnataka, the Secretary (Social Welfare), the Secretary (Minorities), and the Executive Director, Karnataka Residential Educational Institutions Society. Counsel for respondents placed on record a compliance affidavit dated 11.03.2026 stating full compliance with the specific directions; it was submitted that service weightage had been provided for all complainants, but an endorsement (Annexure-R2) recorded that complainant No. 2, even with 15% service plus 1% proportionate weightage (16% total), obtained marks below the Centralized Admission Cell cut-off for Category-3B Hindi Teacher under the Society's Cadre and Recruitment Rules-2011 (reference also made to Supreme Court orders in SLP No. 24994-24998/2023 and SLP No. 24767/2023). Held: the exercise directed by the Court has been carried out and appropriate orders passed; the Contempt of Court case was closed, notice to the accused discharged, and the complainants' contentions on merits left open to be agitated in appropriate proceedings.

1 -

NC: 2026:KHC:26670-DB CCC No. 958 of 2023

HC-KAR

IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU

DATED THIS THE 4^TH DAY OF JUNE, 2026

PRESENT

THE HON'BLE MRS. JUSTICE ANU SIVARAMAN AND

THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE VENKATESH NAIK T CIVIL CONTEMPT PETITION NO.958 OF 2023

BETWEEN:

SRI SUDHAKAR SHANKAR KAMATE S/O. SHANKAR AGED ABOUT 43 YEARS WORKING AS HINDI TEACHER AT MDRS, HOOLIKATTI BAILHONGAL BELGAUM-591 102.

SRI NAGARAJ R. SURYAVANSHI S/O. RAMACHANDRA AGED ABOUT 40 YEARS WORKING AS HINDI TEACHER AT MDRS

Digitally signed by ANJALI M Location: High Court of Karnataka

NAGANUR VILLAGE AND POST GOKAK TALUK BELGAUM DISTRICT-591 306.

SRI SUDHAKAR S/O. MAHADEVA MUJAGOND AGED ABOUT 37 YEARS

WORKING AS ENGLISH TEACHERS AT MDRS KOPPAL DISTRICT-583 231.

…COMPLAINANTS

(BY SMT. MANJANNA M.S., ADVOCATE)

AND:

THE STATE OF KARNATAKA REPRESENTED BY ITS CHIEF SECRETARY VIDHANA SOUDHA

2 -

NC: 2026:KHC:26670-DB CCC No. 958 of 2023

HC-KAR

BENGALURU-560 001.

SRI RAKESH KUMAR K. I.A.S. OFFICER (SECRETARY) DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL WELFARE M.S. BUILDING BENGALURU-560 001.

SRI MANOJ JAIN I.A.S. OFFICER (SECRETARY) DEPARTMENT OF MINORITIES M.S. BUILDING BENGALURU-560 001.

NAVEEN KUMAR RAJU S. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR THE KARNATAKA RESIDENTIAL EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS SOCIETY NO.179, RUPA COMPLEX 2ND AND 3RD FLOOR IST MAIN ROAD SESHADRIPURAM BENGALURU-560 020 AND ALSO AT 8, M.SB-1, 6TH AND 7TH FLOOR CUNNINGHAM ROAD BENGALURU-560 052. …ACCUSED

(BY SMT. SAVITHRAMMA, AGA FOR PROFORMA R-1; SRI SHRIDHAR PRABHU, ADVOCATE FOR A-4)

THIS CIVIL CONTEMPT PETITION IS FILED UNDER SECTIONS 11 AND 12 OF THE CONTEMPT OF COURTS ACT, 1971, PRAYING TO TAKE COGNIZANCE OF THE CONTEMPT COMMITTED BY ACCUSED AND WILFUL DISOBEYING THE ORDER PASSED BY THIS HON'BLE COURT IN WRIT PETITION NO.8113-8131 OF 2015 C/W WRIT PETITION NO.9056-9065 OF 2015(S-RES) DATED 22-10-2019 AND PUNISH THEM FOR COMMITTING OF CONTEMPT OF COURT.

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

3 -

NC: 2026:KHC:26670-DB CCC No. 958 of 2023

HC-KAR

CORAM: HON'BLE MRS. JUSTICE ANU SIVARAMAN and HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE VENKATESH NAIK T

ORAL JUDGMENT

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

This Contempt of Court case is filed alleging non-compliance with the judgment (Annexure-A) dated 22.10.2019 passed by the learned Single Judge.

The learned counsel for the complainants submits that the directions have been complied with in respect of complainant Nos.1 and 3, but in respect of complainant No.2, the directions are yet to be complied with.

The learned counsel appearing for the respondents/accused has placed on record a compliance affidavit dated 11.03.2026, wherein it is stated that the specific directions issued in the judgment (Annexure-A) have been complied with in full.

It is submitted that the service weightage, as directed by this Court, has been provided in respect of all the complainants. However, it is further submitted that, in respect

4 -

NC: 2026:KHC:26670-DB CCC No. 958 of 2023

HC-KAR

of complainant No.2 alone, even if the service weightage is granted in full, she would not meet the eligibility criteria. The endorsement in this regard is produced as Annexure-R2, wherein it is stated as follows:

"Therefore, as the marks obtained by the concerned individual are lower than the cut-off marks fixed by the Centralized Admission Cell for the post of Hindi Language Assistant Teacher, the candidate is not eligible for the post of Hindi Language Assistant Teacher.

In light of all the above factors, as per the Society's Cadre and Recruitment Rules-2011, the High Court Order in W.P. No 8113-8131/2015 (S-RES) and other connected cases, and the Hon'ble Supreme Court Order in SLP No. 24994-24998/2023 and SLP No. 24767/2023, and the directions in Letter No: SWD/224/MDS/2025 dated: 20.09.2025; even after granting 15% service weightage and 1% proportionate weightage (Totaling 16 service weightage/proportionate service weightage), since you have obtained marks lower than the cut-off marks fixed for the Category-3B reservation for the subject of Hindi Teacher, it is hereby informed that there is no provision as per rules to select you for the post of Hindi Teacher."

5. Having considered the contentions advanced, we

are of the opinion that, in light of the directions issued by this

5 - NC: 2026:KHC:26670-DB CCC No. 958 of 2023

HC-KAR

Court, the exercise directed by this Court has now been carried out by the respondents/accused and appropriate orders have been passed. The learned counsel for the complainants raises contentions against the said orders as well.

In the above view of the matter, the Contempt of Court case is closed , leaving open the contentions of the complainant on merits to be agitated in appropriate proceedings.

Notice issued to accused, if any, shall stand

discharged.

Sd/(ANU SIVARAMAN) JUDGE

Sd/(VENKATESH NAIK T) JUDGE

AM

List No.: 3 Sl No.: 23