Case Note & Summary
The complainant, Sri B.R. Srinivas, filed a contempt petition under Article 215 of the Constitution of India read with Sections 11 and 12 of the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971, alleging that the accused, Sri Sachin Narayan, Managing Director of Dollars Hotel & Resorts Pvt. Ltd., had willfully disobeyed an interim order dated 13.11.2019 passed by a co-ordinate bench of the Karnataka High Court in W.A.Nos.2883-85/2019 (LA-KIADB). The complainant sought to hold the accused guilty of contempt and punish him with imprisonment of six months. The court, after hearing through video conferencing, noted that it had already passed a detailed order on 03.07.2020 holding that the accused had prima facie violated the interim order. Based on the submission made by the learned counsel for the accused, the court imposed a fine of Rs.5 lakhs in order to maintain the propriety and majesty of the order passed by this Court. The court did not impose imprisonment but instead levied a fine as a deterrent measure. The judgment emphasizes the importance of upholding the dignity and authority of court orders and that willful disobedience cannot be tolerated.
Headnote
A) Contempt of Court - Willful Disobedience - Interim Order - The accused was found to have prima facie violated the interim order dated 13.11.2019 passed by the co-ordinate bench in W.A.Nos.2883-85/2019 - Based on submissions of the accused's counsel, the court imposed a fine of Rs.5 lakhs to maintain the propriety and majesty of the order - Held that the accused had willfully disobeyed the court order (Para 1).
Issue of Consideration
Whether the accused is guilty of contempt of court for willful disobedience of the interim order dated 13.11.2019 passed by this Court in W.A.Nos.2883-85/2019 (LA-KIADB).
Final Decision
The court imposed a fine of Rs.5 lakhs on the accused in order to maintain the propriety and majesty of the order passed by this Court. The contempt petition was disposed of accordingly.
Law Points
- Contempt of Court
- Willful Disobedience
- Interim Order
- Fine
- Propriety and Majesty of Court
