Disposed¶75

Smt Yellamma v. Sri K Nanjappa

Karnataka HC7 Jul 2026CRL.CCC/5/2024

Case brief

AI extract

What is this about?

NC: 2026:KHC:34636-DB; Karnataka High Court, Bengaluru; CRL.CCC No. 5 of 2024; decided 07-07-2026; Bench: Anu Sivaraman & Venkatesh Naik T (per Anu Sivaraman); criminal contempt under S.15 Contempt of Courts Act 1971 r/w Article 215 Constitution; disobedience of order dated 21.03.2013 in FDP No.2/1993; compromise attempts excluding complainant-purchaser of properties under Sale Deeds dated 05.05.1988 and 25.05.1988; finality of final decree proceedings; gross contempt found; unconditional apology accepted; contempt case closed.

What did the court decide?

Unconditional apology of the accused accepted (deemed completely unconditional); no punishment imposed; the Contempt of Court Case is closed. ¶75

Smt Yellamma Vs Sri K Nanjappa — Contempt of Court | Karnataka HC (2026)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Unconditional apology of the accused accepted (deemed completely unconditional); no punishment imposed; the Contempt of Court Case is closed.

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Issue for consideration

Whether the respondents/accused committed gross contempt of the orders and authority of the Court by attempting to enter into compromises in respect of properties allotted to Smt. Gangulamma and Sri Nanjappa (predecessors-in-interest of the complainant) in proceedings that had attained finality, without making the complainant-purchaser a party. +1 more

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Court's answer

The Final Decree Proceedings had attained finality in respect of the properties assigned to Smt. Gangulamma and Sri Nanjappa, and the respondents/accused cannot seek to reopen those proceedings.

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Ratio / Principle

The respondents' attempt to enter into compromises in respect of the properties allotted to Smt. Gangulamma and Sri Nanjappa, which were thereafter sold to the complainant, amounted to gross contempt of the orders and authority of this Court.

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Key takeaways

No conditional apology with regard to the Final Decree Proceedings can be accepted by this Court.ratio¶71
In view of the submissions at the Bar and the unconditional apology in paragraph No.7 of the affidavit, the Court accepted the apology, deeming it completely unconditional and without any condition attached, and closed the Contempt of Court Case.ratio¶75

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Criminal Contempt (S.15 Contempt of Courts Act, 1971 r/w Art.215 Constitution) - disobedience of order dated 21.03.2013 in FDP No.2/1993 - accused attempted to enter into compromises in respect of properties allotted to Smt. Gangulamma and Sri Nanjappa, predecessors-in-interest of the complainant, under Sale Deeds dated 05.05.1988 and 25.05.1988, without making the complainant-purchaser a party - Final Decree Proceedings had attained finality and could not be reopened - conduct amounted to gross contempt of the orders and authority of the Court - no conditional apology acceptable - unconditional apology in affidavit accepted, deemed completely unconditional - Contempt of Court Case closed.

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NC: 2026:KHC:34636-DB CRL.CCC No. 5 of 2024

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HC-KAR

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IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU

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DATED THIS THE 7^TH DAY OF JULY, 2026

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PRESENT

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THE HON'BLE MRS. JUSTICE ANU SIVARAMAN

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AND

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THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE VENKATESH NAIK T CRIMINAL CONTEMPT PETITION NO. 5 OF 2024

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BETWEEN:

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SMT. YELLAMMA W/O LATE C. YANGAPPA AGED ABOUT 94 YEARS, R/AT SRI KRISHNANUGRAHA DHAMA BEHIND SILK CACOON MARKET VAPASANDRA CHIKKABALLAPURA-562 101.

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Digitally signed by RAKSHA Location: High Court of Karnataka

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SINCE DEAD BY LR SHRI. VENKATACHALPHATHI S/O C. YANGAPPA AGED ABOUT 68 YEARS AND THE DECEASED COMPLAINANT SMT. YALLAMMA R/AT SHRI. KRISHNANUGRAHA DHAMA BEHIND GOVT. SLIK COCOON MARKET HARE KRISHNA ROAD, WARD NO.2 VAPASANDRA, CHIKKABALLAPURA-562101.

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…COMPLAINANT

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(BY SRI. KIRAN B., ADVOCATE)

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AND:

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SRI K. NANJAPPA DEAD BY LRS

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(A) SRI. NARASIMHAMURTHY

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NC: 2026:KHC:34636-DB CRL.CCC No. 5 of 2024

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HC-KAR

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S/O K.N. VENKATESH AGED MAJOR

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(B) SRI. MANJUNATH S/O DEVARAJA AGED MAJOR

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(D) SMT. K.N. ANUSUYAMMA D/O LATE K. NANJAPPA AGED ABOUT 58 YEARS

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(E) (DELETED AS PER ORDER DATED 29-11-2022)

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(F) (DELETED AS PER ORDER DATED 29-11-2022)

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ALL ARE R/AT DOOR NO.222 HOOVINA APPANNAPPA STREET CHIKKABALLAPUR-562 101.

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SMT. GANGULAMMA W/O KALLOLU NARAYANAPPA DEAD BY LRS

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(A) (DELETED AS PER ORDER DATED 29-11-2022)

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SRI K NANJUNDAPPA S/O KALLOLU NARAYANAPPA DEAD BY LRS

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(A) SRI. K.N. LAKSHMINARASIMHAPPA S/O LATE K. NANJUNDAPPA, (DEAD)

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A(I) SRI K.N. SRIRAMAIAH S/O LATE K. NANJUNDAPPA AGED ABOUT 78 YEARS

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3 - NC: 2026:KHC:34636-DB CRL.CCC No. 5 of 2024

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HC-KAR

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NOW R/AT NO.1521 DWARAKAMAYI

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7^TH MAIN ROAD, 10^TH CROSS 2^ND STAGE, BTM LAYOUT BENGALURU-560076.

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A(II) (DELETED AS PER ORDER DATED 29-11-2022)

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B SMT. SEETHAMMA W/O LATE K.NANJUNDAPPA DEAD BY LRS

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B(I) SRI. K.L. JAYACHANDRA S/O LATE K.N. LAKSHMINARASIMHAPPA AGED ABOUT 67 YEARS

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B(II) SRI. K.L. LAKSHMINARAYANA S/O LATE K.N. LAKSHMINARASIMHAPPA AGED ABOUT 62 YEARS

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B(III) SRI. K.L. JAGANNATH S/O LATE K.N. LAKSHMINARASIMHAPPA AGED ABOUT 55 YEARS

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B(IV) SMT. JAYALAKSHMI W/O LATE K.L. GANGADHAR AGED ABOUT 42 YEARS

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B(V) SRI K.L. SURESH BABU S/O LATE K.N. LAKSHMINARASIMHAPPA AGED ABOUT 50 YEARS

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B(VI) SMT. K.L. LAKSHMIDEVI D/O LATE K.N. LAKSHMINARASIMHAPPA AGED ABOUT 56 YEARS

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3.2. SMT. K.L. ANURADHA D/O LATE K.N. LAKSHMINARASIMHAPPA AGED ABOUT 53 YEARS

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NC: 2026:KHC:34636-DB CRL.CCC No. 5 of 2024

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HC-KAR

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RESPONDENTS B(I) TO B(VII) ARE R/AT VAPASANDRA, B.B.ROAD, CHIKKABALLAPUR-562 101.

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(DELETED AS PER ORDER DATED 29-11-2022)

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…ACCUSED

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(BY SRI. D.M. MANJUNATH, ADVOCATE FOR A3(AI); SRI. M. SHIVAPRAKASH, ADVOCATE FOR A1 (A & B), 3B (I TO VII) ; V/C/O DATED 29.11.2022 A1 (C, E, F), 2A, 3(AII), A4, A5 ARE DELETED; SRI BHASKAR GOWDA N.M., ADVOCATE, FOR A1(D))

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THIS CRIMINAL CONTEMPT PETITION IS FILED U/S 15 OF THE CONTEMPT OF COURTS ACT, 1971 R/W ARTICLE 215 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO INITIATE CONTEMPT OF COURT, PROCEEDINGS AGAINST THE ACCUSED FOR THEIR DELIBERATE, INTENTIONAL, WILFUL AND CALCULATED CONDUCT FOR DISOBEDIENCE OF THE ORDER DATED 21.03.2013 MADE IN FDP NO.2/1993, VIDE ANNEXURED AND ETC.

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

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

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NC: 2026:KHC:34636-DB CRL.CCC No. 5 of 2024

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HC-KAR

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ORAL JUDGMENT

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

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We have heard the learned counsel appearing for the complainant as well as the learned counsel appearing for the respondents/accused. The respondents/accused are also present before this Court today.

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Learned counsel for the complainant has brought to our notice that there were repeated attempts to enter into compromises without making the complainant, who was purchaser of properties for valuable consideration, as a party in the said proceedings.

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An affidavit has been filed by the accused, expressing unconditional apology for their actions and specifically stating that there will be no repetition of such acts in future. However, we notice that, in the affidavit, the accused persons have also stated that the Sale Deeds executed in the year 1988 in favour of the complainant do not contain the details of the extent and boundaries and that the identification

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of the properties is to be carried out in the Final Decree Proceedings. It is also stated that the accused have undertaken

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NC: 2026:KHC:34636-DB CRL.CCC No. 5 of 2024

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HC-KAR

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to extend all cooperation in the Final Decree Proceedings for the division of the properties by metes and bounds.

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However, we notice that, in respect of the properties of Smt. Gangulamma and Sri Nanjappa, who are the predecessors-in-interest of the complainant, covered under two Sale Deeds dated 05.05.1988 and 25.05.1988, the Final Decree Proceedings had been concluded. The respondents/accused herein cannot seek to reopen the proceedings which have attained finality in respect of the properties assigned to Smt. Gangulamma and Sri Nanjappa. It is from the said two persons that the complainant had purchased their properties. Therefore, the action of the respondents in having attempted to enter into compromises in respect of the properties which were allotted to Smt. Gangulamma and Sri Nanjappa, and which properties were thereafter sold to the complainant herein, amounted to gross contempt of the orders and authority of this Court.

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No conditional apology with regard to the Final Decree Proceedings can be accepted by this Court. However, in view of the submissions made at the Bar on behalf of the

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NC: 2026:KHC:34636-DB CRL.CCC No. 5 of 2024

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HC-KAR

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accused and the unconditional apology expressed in paragraph No.7 of the affidavit, we accept the unconditional apology, deeming it to be completely unconditional apology for their acts and without any condition attached thereto whatsoever. The unconditional apology is accepted. Accordingly, the Contempt of Court Case is closed .

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Sd/(ANU SIVARAMAN) JUDGE

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Sd/(VENKATESH NAIK T) JUDGE

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List No.: 2 Sl No.: 4

Smt Yellamma v. Sri K Nanjappa

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

Smt Yellamma v. Sri K Nanjappa

Case brief

What is this about?

What did the court decide?

Why is it important?

What the court decided

Issues for consideration

Statutes considered

Procedural history

Parties & counsel

Coram

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