[Cites 3, Cited by 0]
Karnataka High Court
Shri Dodda Aswathanarayana Swamy vs Mr. Tanmay Kumar on 6 February, 2026
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NC: 2026:KHC:7076-DB
CCC No. 1130 of 2025
HC-KAR
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU
DATED THIS THE 6TH DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2026
PRESENT
THE HON'BLE MR. VIBHU BAKHRU, CHIEF JUSTICE
AND
THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE C.M. POONACHA
CIVIL CONTEMPT PETITION NO. 1130 OF 2025
BETWEEN:
1. SHRI DODDA ASWATHANARAYANA SWAMY
S/O. MUNIYAPPA
AGED ABOUT 65 YEARS
RESIDING AT NO. 15/1
1ST FLOOR, HAL 2ND STAGE
DOOPANAHALLI
BENGALURU - 560 008.
...COMPLAINANT
(BY SRI DORE RAJ B.H., ADVOCATE)
Digitally AND:
signed by 1. MR. TANMAY KUMAR
AMBIKA H B
SECRETARY
Location: THE UNION OF INDIA
High Court
of Karnataka MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT
FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
INDIRA PARYAVARA BHAWAN
JHOR BHAG ROAD
NEW DELHI - 110 003
REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY
2. MR. SRINIVASULU
PRINCIPAL SECRETARY
STATE OF KARNATAKA
DEPARTMENT OF FOREST, ECOLOGY
AND ENVIRONMENT
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NC: 2026:KHC:7076-DB
CCC No. 1130 of 2025
HC-KAR
(ECOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENT)
NO. 709, 7TH FLOOR, 4TH STAGE
M.S. BUILDINGS
DR. B. R. AMBEDKAR VEEDHI
BENGALURU - 560 001
3. SHRI B. GURUPRASAD
S/O. B. K. BASAPPA
AGED ABOUT MAJOR
ENGINEER IN CHIEF (RETD.) AND
FORMER SECRETARY TO
GOVERNMENT OF KARNATAKA
R/AT NO. 213, 'G' BLOCK
10TH CROSS, SAHAKARANAGARA
BENGALURU - 560 092
4. SHRI LAKSHMIKANTH H.M.
SRISHTI INTERNATIONAL
(APPLIED RESEARCH AND ENVIRONMENT)
NO.1294, VAJRAKAYA, 5TH BLOCK
SIR M. VISVESWARAIAH LAYOUT
ULLALU, BENGALURU - 560 056
5. SHRI MAHESH A.N.
S/O. NINGE GOWDA
ARUNODHAYA NILAYA
NETHRAVATHI STREET
RAMESHWARANAGAR
CHIKKAMAGALURU - 577 101
6. SHRI. RAVI KUMAR YADAV B.V.
NO.1326, 1ST CROSS
BEHIND MAHALAXMI TEMPLE
KSRTC COLONY
M.P. PRAKASH NAGAR
HOSPETE - 583 201
7. DR. BALAKRISHNA S. MADDODI
S/O. SRINIVAS MADDODI
AGED ABOUT 53 YEARS
NO.109, ANANTHNAGAR
MANIPAL, UDUPI DISTRICT
KARNATAKA - 576 104
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NC: 2026:KHC:7076-DB
CCC No. 1130 of 2025
HC-KAR
8. SHRI DRUVA KUMARA. B.Y.
NO.329, BETTADAHALLI POST
TARIKERE TALUK
CHIKKAMAGALURU DISTRICT
KARNATAKA - 577 228
9. DR. SANGAMESH KOLLIYAR
AGED ABOUT MAJOR
MEDICAL DIRECTOR
ASHRAYA HOSPITAL
SUNKADAKATTE, MAGADI ROAD
BENGALURU - 560 091
...ACCUSED
10. STATE OF KARNATAKA
DEPARTMENT OF FOREST, ECOLOGY
AND ENVIRONMENT
(ECOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENT)
NO.709, 7TH FLOOR, 4TH STAGE
M.S. BUILDINGS
DR. B. R. AMBEDKAR VEEDHI
BENGALURU - 560 001
REPRESENTED BY ITS
PRINCIPAL SECRETARY
...PRO FORMA RESPONDENT
(BY SRI UNNIKRISHNAN M., CGSC FOR ACCUSED No.1,
SRI S.H. RAGHAVENDRA, AGA FOR ACCUSED Nos.2 & 10
SRI SHIVARAJ N. ARALI, ADVOCATE FOR ACCUSED Nos.3 & 4,
SRI ADIT CHANDRANGOUAR, ADVOCATE FOR ACCUSED NOS. 5, 7 & 9
SRI YASHODHAR HEGDE, ADVOCATE FOR ACCUSED No.6 & 8)
THIS CCC IS FILED UNDER ARTICLE 215 OF THE
CONSTITUTION OF INDIA R/W SECTION 11 AND 12 OF THE
CONTEMPT OF COURT ACT, 1971, PRAYING TO ADJUDGE AND
HOLD THAT THE ACCUSED HAS COMMITTED CONTEMPT OF THIS
HON'BLE COURT'S INTERIM ORDER DATED 17.01.2025 IN
W.P.NO.15267/2024 (ANNEXURE-A) & ETC.
THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR ORDERS, THIS DAY,
ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER:
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NC: 2026:KHC:7076-DB
CCC No. 1130 of 2025
HC-KAR
CORAM: HON'BLE MR. VIBHU BAKHRU, CHIEF JUSTICE
and
HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE C.M. POONACHA
ORAL ORDER
(PER: HON'BLE MR. VIBHU BAKHRU, CHIEF JUSTICE)
1. The complainant has filed the present complaint alleging
willful disobedience of the interim order dated 17.01.2025 passed
by a Coordinate Bench of this Court in Writ Petition No.15267/2024
(GM-RES). In terms of the said order, this Court had directed, "the
matter under impugned notification shall not be precipitated till the
next date of hearing."
2. It is to be noted that the challenge under the writ petition was
to a notification dated 08.03.2024 issued by the Central
Government in exercise of powers under Section 3 of the
Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, whereby the Central
Government had constituted the State Level Environment Impact
Assessment Authority for the State of Karnataka. In terms of the
said notification, the Central Government had also constituted the
State Level Expert Appraisal Committee for the State of Karnataka.
3. There is a serious dispute between the parties as to the
interpretation of the interim order. Whilst, the complainant claims
that by virtue of the interim order, the committees/authorities
NC: 2026:KHC:7076-DB
HC-KAR
constituted by the notification cannot take any decision, the
accused stoutly dispute the same.
4. We are unable to accept that the interim order, the
disobedience of which is alleged, contains any unequivocal
direction restraining the functioning of the committees/authorities
constituted under the impugned notification.
5. Given the issues regarding interpretation of the said order,
we are unable to accept that any proceeding for willful
disobedience of the interim order is required to be initiated against
the accused under the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971.
6. We, accordingly, close the present complaint.
7. However, we leave it open for the complainant to seek
appropriate clarification in the pending writ petition.
Sd/-
(VIBHU BAKHRU)
CHIEF JUSTICE
Sd/-
(C.M. POONACHA)
JUDGE
AHB, List No.: 2 Sl No.: 20
