Karnataka High Court
High Court Of Karnataka vs K. L. Lingaraju on 4 April, 2024
Bench: Chief Justice, Krishna S Dixit
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NC: 2024:KHC:14191-DB
CRL.CCC No. 3 of 2024
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU
DATED THIS THE 4TH DAY OF APRIL, 2024
PRESENT
THE HON'BLE MR N. V. ANJARIA, CHIEF JUSTICE
AND
THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE KRISHNA S DIXIT
CRIMINAL CONTEMPT PETITION NO. 3 OF 2024
BETWEEN:
1. HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA
REPRESENTED BY THE
REGISTRAR GENERAL
BENGALURU - 560 001
...COMPLAINANT
(BY SRI ANOOP KUMAR, HCGP)
AND:
1. K. L. LINGARAJU
S/O LINGANAYAKA
AGED ABOUT 50 YEARS
R/AT KUNAGALLI VILLAGE
Digitally signed KOLLEGALA TALUK
by AMBIKA H B CHAMARAJANAGARA DISTRICT - 571 442
Location: High ...ACCUSED
Court of (BY SRI K.L.LINGARAJU - ACCUSED-IN-PERSON)
Karnataka
THIS CRL.CCC FILED UNDER SECTION 15 OF THE
CONTEMPT OF COURTS ACT, 1971 R/W ARTICLE 215 OF THE
CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO INITIATE (SUO-MOTU)
CRIMINAL CONTEMPT OF COURT PROCEEDINGS AGAINST THE
ACCUSED HEREIN - K.L.LINGARAJU S/O LINGANAYAKA, R/AT
KUNAGALLI VILLAGE, KOLLEGALA TALUK, CHAMARAJANAGARA
DISTRICT-571442 UNDER THE CONTEMPT OF COURTS ACT, 1971
AND TO PUNISH HIM IN ACCORDANCE WITH LAW.
THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY HEARING,
THIS DAY, CHIEF JUSTICE MADE THE FOLLOWING:
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NC: 2024:KHC:14191-DB
CRL.CCC No. 3 of 2024
ORDER
The present is a suo motu contempt proceedings came to
be initiated pursuant to an incident communicated by learned
Civil Judge and JMFC, Yelandur, Chamarajanagara District, to
the Registrar General of this Court requesting to initiate
proceedings of criminal contempt against the respondent-alleged
contemnor-K.L Lingaraju S/o Linganayaka.
2. It was in respect of an incident, briefly stated, where the
respondent had given an interview to a news channel after learned
Civil Judge rendered judgment in Criminal Appeal No.5003 of
2023, whereby the accused was acquitted. In the interview, the
respondent is stated to have made certain comments in respect of
the judgment and criticised it, and made certain disrespectful
statements.
3. Today, when the criminal contempt came up for
consideration, the respondent party-in-person was personally
present. He stated before the Court that his was never the
intention to downgrade in any manner, the authority and majesty of
the court nor he wanted to malign the judge or the judgment.
NC: 2024:KHC:14191-DB
4. When the Court asked the respondent whether he is ready to
submit apology, stating in black and white what he submitted
before the Court, he tendered unconditional apology dated
04.04.2024 in writing. The same is duly signed by him. Therein, as
explained, it is stated that he has not only expressed and offered
unconditional apology but, also gave assurance that will not repeat
the conduct.
4.1 The apology letter dated 04.04.2024 reads as under,
" ೆ:
ಾನ ೌರ ಾ ತ ಮುಖ ಾ ಯಮೂ ಗಳ ಇವರ ಸ ಾನ ೆ ,
ಘನ ಕ ಾ ಟಕ ಉಚ% ಾ &ಾಲಯ- ೋಟ )ಾ* ನಂ.-1
,ೆಂಗಳ-ರು-560 001
ಇಂದ:
ೆ.ಎ*. 0ಂಗ1ಾಜು
34 5ೇ6 0ಂಗ ಾಯಕ,
ವಯಸು7 49 ವಷ ,
ಾಸ ಕುಣಗ:; ಾ<ಮ,
ೊ=ೆ;ೕ ಾಲ >ಾಲೂ?ಕು,
@ಾಮ1ಾಜನಗರ A5ೆ?.
Bಷಯ:- C.ಆE.ಅE. C.C.C ನಂಬE 3/2024 ೇ Hಾಲು
ಇದ ೆ ನನ ,ೇಷರತು IJ ೋK ಪತ<.
-----
ಸ ಾMನ 1ೆ,
ಈ Jೕಲ ಂಡ B=ಾಸದ ವ PQ ಆದ ಾನು ೌರ ಾ ತರುಗಳ0? ಈ
ಮೂಲಕ Rಾ<S C ೊಳ ;ವTUೇ ೆಂದ1ೆ, ಈ Jೕಲ ಂಡ ಪ<ಕರಣದ0? ನನ ನು
ಆ1ೋV&ಾWರು>ೆQೕ ೆ. ಈ ಪ<ಕರಣದ0? ನನ ನು UೋಷಮುಕQನ ಾ W
NC: 2024:KHC:14191-DB
ಾX ೊಡ,ೇ ೆಂದು ತಮM0? ೌರ ಾ ತರ0? ಈ ಮೂಲಕ ಾನು
,ೇಷರತು IJ &ಾYC ೊಳ ;>ೆQೕ ೆ. )ಾಗೂ ಇನು ಮುಂUೆ ಾನು
&ಾವTUೇ ಕZೇKಗ: ೆ ಮತುQ ಾ &ಾಲಯಗ: ೆ &ಾವTUೇ B ಾದ ಾದ
ಪತ< ಮತುQ ಅA ಗಳನು ಬ1ೆಯುವT[5ಾ? ಎಂದು ೌರ ಾ ತರುಗಳ0? ಈ
,ೇಷರತು IJ ಪತ<ದ ಮು\ಾಂತರ ೌರ ಾ ತರುಗಳ0? ಮ>ೊQJM
Rಾ<S C ೊಳ ;>ೆQೕ ೆ. ಆದ ಾರಣ ನನ Jೕ0ನ C.ಅE.ಅE. C.C.C.
ನಂಬE 3/2024 ೇ Hಾಲು - ಕಲಂ 15 ಾ &ಾಲಯದ ಂದ ೆ
ಅ] ಯಮ-1971 ಸಹ ಾಚಕ ಆ_ ಕ* 215 ರXಯ0? )ೊKCರುವ
ಪ<ಕರಣ[ಂದ ಆ1ೋಪ[ಂದ ನನ ನು UೋಷಮುಕQ ಾ W
ಾX ೊಡ,ೇ ೆಂದು ತಮM0? ೌರ ಾ ತರುಗಳ0? ಈ ಮೂಲಕ
Rಾ<S C ೊಳ ;>ೆQೕ ೆ.
[ ಾಂಕ:4-4-2024 ಇಂ ತಮM ಆbಾRಾಲಕ
ಸcಳ: ,ೆಂಗಳ-ರು
( ೆ.ಎ*.0ಂಗ1ಾಜು)"
5. In the circumstances and in the totality of facts obtained, the
Court is satisfied with the unconditional apology given as above.
The apology is accepted. The same shall remain on record.
6. Learned advocate Mr.Anoop Kumar appearing for the High
Court expressed his no objection to close the criminal contempt
proceedings in view of tendering of the unconditional apology as
above, by the alleged contemnor.
NC: 2024:KHC:14191-DB
7. In view of the unconditional apology tendered by the
respondent, the criminal contempt petition is closed and disposed
of.
Sd/-
CHIEF JUSTICE
Sd/-
JUDGE
AHB
