Karnataka High Court
CCC/1612/2025 of THARANATH S Vs MANOJ KUMAR, IFS on 24 September 2026
CNR: KAHC010819442025 NC: 2026:KHC:52878-DB CCC No. 1612 of 2025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 24TH DAY OF SEPTEMBER, 2026 PRESENT THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE JAYANT BANERJI AND THE HON'BLE MS. JUSTICE TARA VITASTA GANJU CIVIL CONTEMPT PETITION NO. 1612 OF 2025
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IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU
DATED THIS THE 24TH DAY OF SEPTEMBER, 2026
PRESENT
THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE JAYANT BANERJI
AND
THE HON'BLE MS. JUSTICE TARA VITASTA GANJU
CIVIL CONTEMPT PETITION NO. 1612 OF 2025
BETWEEN:
1.
THARANATH S
S/O SUBBASHETTY,
AGED ABOUT 49 YEARS,
DEPUTY RANGE OFFICER,
OFFICE OF THE DEPUTY
CONSERVATOR OF FOREST,
BRUHATH BENGALURU PALIKE,
N.R.CIRCLE, BANGALORE - 560 052.
PRESENTLY WORKING AT:
DEPUTY RANGE FOREST OFFICER
CUM-SURVEYOR,
FOREST DEPARTMENT,
YELANAKA RANGE OFFICE,
BENGALURU.
2.
HALESH KUMAR,
S/O M.HALASWAMY
AGED ABOUT 50 YEARS,
OCC: DEPUTY RANGE OFFICER,
OFFICE OF THE DEPUTY
CONSERVATOR OF FOREST,
THIRTHAHALLI,
SHIVAMOGGA - 577 432.
PRESENTLY WORKING AT:
DEPUTY RANGE FOREST OFFICER
CUM-SURVEYOR,
CHIEF CONSERVATOR OF FORESTS,
WORKING PLAN AND SURVEY,
Digitally signed by
SUMATHY KANNAN
Location: HIGH
COURT OF
KARNATAKA
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ALKOLA, SHIVAMOGGA-577 204.
…COMPLAINANTS
(BY SRI.NATARAJ G., ADVOCATE)
AND:
1.
MANOJ KUMAR, IFS,
PRINCIPAL SECRETARY (FORESTS),
OFFICE OF THE PRINCIPAL SECRETARY
TO GOVERNMENT (FOREST),
FOREST ENVIRONMENT AND
ECOLOGY DEPARTMENT,
4TH FLOOR, M.S.BUILDING,
BENGALURU-560 001.
2.
YASHPAL KSHIRSAGAR, IFS,
THE CHIEF CONSERVATOR OF FORESTS,
CHIKKAMAGALUR CIRCLE,
D.DEVARAJ ARASU BHAVAN,
AIT COLLEGE ROAD,
CHIKKAMAGALUR-577 102.
…ACCUSED
3.
THE STATE OF KARNATAKA,
DEPARTMENT OF FOREST
ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY,
REP. BY ITS ADDL. CHIEF SECRETARY,
GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT,
ROOM NO.448, 4TH FLOOR,
GATE NO.2, M.S.BUILDING,
BENGALURU-560 001.
…PROFORMA RESPONDENT NO.3
(BY SMT.B.SUKANYA BALIGA, AGA FOR PROFORMA R3
AND ACCUSED)
THIS CIVIL CONTEMPT PETITION IS FILED UNDER SECTIONS
11 AND 12 OF THE CONTEMPT OF COURTS ACT, 1971 BY THE
COMPLAINANT, PRAYING TO INITIATE ACTION AGAINST THE
ACCUSED NO.1 AND 2 FOR CONTEMPT OF THIS HON’BLE COURT FOR
DISOBEYING THE ORDERS PASSED IN W.P.NO.17336/2021 (S-KSAT)
DATED 04.04.2022 VIDE ANNEXURE-A.
THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR ORDERS, THIS DAY, ORDER
WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER:
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CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE JAYANT BANERJI
and
HON'BLE MS. JUSTICE TARA VITASTA GANJU
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ORAL ORDER
(PER: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE JAYANT BANERJI)
Heard the learned counsel for the complainants.
2. This contempt petition is filed alleging disobedience of the order dated 04.04.2022 passed by this Court in Writ Petition No.17336/2021. The operative part of the order of the writ Court, reads as follows:
"5. In that view of the matter, we do not find any error in the order impugned, the petition is devoid of merits and is accordingly dismissed. In the event the petitioners/employers come to the conclusion that there has been an error in the matter of working and operating the seniority list and any eligible candidate has been left out, it is open to the petitioners to issue notice to the applicants and other interested parties, hear them and thereafter, pass appropriate orders.
Writ petition stands ordered accordingly.
In view of disposal of the appeal, pending I.A. if any, does not survive for consideration and is accordingly, disposed off."
3. The contention of the learned counsel for the complainants is that after the order of the writ Court was passed, a contempt case was filed before the Karnataka State
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Administrative Tribunal alleging contempt of the order dated 31.03.2021 passed in Application Nos.4415-4417/2017. The order of the contempt case in KSAT dated 12.08.2022 reflects that noting compliance of its order, giving eligibility date ordered by KSAT, the case was closed.
4. The reply affidavit is filed by Yashpal Kshirsagar, Conservator of Forests, Chikkamagaluru Circle, Chikkamagaluru. In paragraph No.6 of which, it has been stated as follows: "6. I submit that in the meantime, the complainants initiated contempt proceeding before the Hon'ble Tribunal in CTA No.367-368/2021 against the order dated 31.03.2021 passed in A.No.4415- 4417/2021. During pendency of the contempt proceedings and pursuant to the order of this Hon'ble Court, in W.P.No.17336/2021, the respondent no.2 issued a notice dated 01.06.2022 to all the affected parties including the complainants to file their objections. After considering the objections, the Respondent no.2 vide order dated 18.07.2022 has restored the date of eligibility granted to the complainants as per Order dated 12.6.2012, i.e., 30.10.2008, 31.10.2008 and 02.12.2010 respectively subject to certain conditions. One of the conditions is that the complainants are not entitled for seeking change in the seniority as fixed in the Seniority List dated 29.8.2020. Copy of the said order dated 18/07/2022 along with translation is herewith produced and marked as ANNEXURE-R1. In view of compliance of the order of this Hon'ble Court and Hon'ble Tribunal, the contempt proceedings initiated by the complainants were dropped by the Hon'ble
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Tribunal in C.T.A. No.367-368 of 2021 vide order dated 12.08.2022.
Copy of the order dated 12.08.2022 is herewith produced and marked as ANNEXURE-R2."
5. In our opinion, the order of the writ Court has been complied with. This contempt petition is therefore consigned.
Sd/- (JAYANT BANERJI) JUDGE
Sd/- (TARA VITASTA GANJU) JUDGE
KG List No.: 1 Sl No.: 11