Dismissed¶40

Dr. Prakash S Bilebal v. Sri. Gaurav Gupts, I.A.S

Karnataka HC14 Jan 2026CCC/973/2025

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

Karnataka HC Division Bench (Vibhu Bakhru CJ & CM Poonacha J), CCC No. 973 of 2025, order dt. 14.01.2026: civil contempt under Sections 11 & 12 Contempt of Courts Act for alleged willful disobedience of Single Judge order dt. 01.04.2025 in WP No. 4972/2024 (S-RES) concerning university recruitment/notification dt. 16.08.2023, roster points, fresh recruitment notification; no willful disobedience found; complaint closed/dismissed; no punishment, no costs awarded.

What did the court decide?

This Court found no willful disobedience of the order passed by it dated 01.04.2025 in WP.No.4972/2024 (S-RES); the contempt allegation was therefore rejected. ¶39

Dr. Prakash S Bilebal Vs Sri. Gaurav Gupts, I.A.S — Contempt of Court | Karnataka HC (2026)

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NC: 2026:KHC:2209-DB CCC No. 973 of 2025

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HC-KAR

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IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 14^TH DAY OF JANUARY, 2026

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PRESENT

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THE HON'BLE MR. VIBHU BAKHRU, CHIEF JUSTICE

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AND

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THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE C.M. POONACHA CIVIL CONTEMPT PETITION NO. 973 OF 2025

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BETWEEN:

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DR. PRAKASH S BILEBAL S/O LATE SHIVAPPA AGED ABOUT 37 YEARS R/AT C/O R.V. NAIDU NO.2222, KUMBAR ONI HUBBLI - 580 020

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Digitally signed by SRIDEVI S Location: High Court of Karnataka

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DR. K. SHANMUKHAPPA S/O K. NAVALAPPA AGED ABOUT 50 YEARS R/O SHRIDHARAFADDE (POST) BELLAI TQ & DT. - 583 103

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…COMPLAINANTS

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(BY SRI MALLIKARJUNA G. CONTRACTOR., ADVOCATE)

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AND:

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SRI. GAURAV GUPTS, I.A.S., ADDL. CHIEF SECRETARY STATE OF KARNATAKA DEPT. OF PERSONAL & ADMINISTRATIVE REFORMS VIDHANASOUDHA BANGALORE - 560 001

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2 - NC: 2026:KHC:2209-DB CCC No. 973 of 2025

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HC-KAR

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SRI DR. K. G. JAGADEESHA, I.A.S. PRINCIPAL SECRETARY DEPT., OF HIGHER EDUCATION M. S. BUILDING BANGALORE - 560 001

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PROF. NAVEEN KUMAR S.K. REGISTRAR KARNATAKA STATE OPEN UNIVERSITY MUKTHAGANGOTHRI MYSORE - 570 006

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…ACCUSED

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THE STATE OF KARNATAKA REP. BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY DEPARTMENT OF PERSONAL AND ADMIN VIDHANA SOUDHA BENGALURU

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…PRO FORMA RESPONDENT

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(BY SRI S.H. RAGHAVENDRA, AGA FOR ACCUSED No.-1, 2 & 4 SRI B.R. MANJUNATH, ADVOCATE FOR ACCUSED No.3)

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THIS CCC IS FILED UNDER SECTIONS 11 AND 12 OF THE CONTEMPT OF COURTS ACT, PRAYING TO SECURE THE PERSONAL APPEARANCE OF THE ACCUSED NO.1 TO 3 BEFORE THIS HON'BLE COURT ON ALL THE DATE OF HEARING AND PUNISH THEM IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONTEMPT OF COURT ACT, FOR HAVING BEEN SHOWN WILLFUL AND DELIBERATE DISOBEDIENCE OF THE ORDER DATE 01.04.2025 PASSED IN W.P.NO.4972/2024 (S-RES) PASSED BY THE LEARNED SINGLE JUDGE OF THIS HON'BLE COURT AT ANNEXUR-A AND AWARD THE COST OF THIS PROCEEDING & ETC.

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3 - NC: 2026:KHC:2209-DB CCC No. 973 of 2025

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HC-KAR

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THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR ORDERS, THIS DAY,

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ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER:

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CORAM: HON'BLE MR. VIBHU BAKHRU, CHIEF JUSTICE and HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE C.M. POONACHA

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ORAL ORDER

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(PER: HON'BLE MR. VIBHU BAKHRU, CHIEF JUSTICE)

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The complainant has filed the present complaint alleging willful disobedience of the order dated 01.04.2025 passed by the learned Single Judge of this Court in WP.No.4972/2024 (S-RES). The complainant had filed the said with petition challenging the notification dated 16.08.2023.

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The respondent had contended that the petition had become infructuous as the notification dated 16.08.2023 had spent itself. However, the respondent had also sought permission to conclude the recruitment process and was granted three (03) months time to issue a fresh notification and conclude the recruitment process. Apparently, the fresh notification has not been issued and therefore the respondent is unable to conclude the recruitment process.

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NC: 2026:KHC:2209-DB CCC No. 973 of 2025

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HC-KAR

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The learned counsel for the accused has stated that a proposal has been sent to the Principal Secretary to identify the roster points for the posts sanctioned for the University and, a fresh recruitment shall take place after determining the roster points.

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We are unable to accept that there is any willful disobedience to the order passed by this Court.

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Complaint is accordingly closed.

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Sd/(VIBHU BAKHRU) CHIEF JUSTICE

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Sd/(C.M. POONACHA) JUDGE

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SD List No.: 2 Sl No.: 11

Dr. Prakash S Bilebal v. Sri. Gaurav Gupts, I.A.S

Case brief

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Dr. Prakash S Bilebal v. Sri. Gaurav Gupts, I.A.S

Case brief

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