- 1 - NC: 2025:KHC:229-DB CCC No. 1104 of 2023 C/W CCC No. 1140 of 2023 CCC No. 1141 of 2023 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 7TH DAY OF JANUARY, 2025 PRESENT THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE K.SOMASHEKAR AND THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE VENKATESH NAIK T CIVIL CONTEMPT PETITION NO. 1104 OF 2023 CONNECTED WITH CIVIL CONTEMPT PETITION NO. 1140 OF 2023 CIVIL CONTEMPT PETITION NO. 1141 OF 2023 IN CCC No. 1104/2023 BETWEEN: M PRAKASH AGED ABOUT 63 YEARS S/O C B MARIBASAPPA CHANNASHETTIHALLI HERUR POST, GUBBI TALUK TUMAKURU DISTRICT-572101. …COMPLAINANT (BY SRI. VINAYA KEERTHY M - ADVOCATE) AND: 1. PANKAJ GUPTA CHAIRMAN AND MANAGING DIRECTOR HINDUSTAN MACHINE TOOLS LTD (A GOVT OF INDIA UNDERTAKING) HMT BHAVAN, NO.59 BALLARI ROAD BENGALURU-560032. 2. PANKAJ GUPTA MANAGING DIRECTOR (WATCHES) HMT WATCHES LTD HMT BHAVAN Digitally signed by SUMATHY KANNAN Location: High Court of Karnataka - 2 - NC: 2025:KHC:229-DB CCC No. 1104 of 2023 C/W CCC No. 1140 of 2023 CCC No. 1141 of 2023 NO.59 BALLARI ROAD BENGALURU-560032. …ACCUSED (BY SRI. B S SHRINIVAS - ADVOCATE) THIS CCC IS FILED UNDER SECTIONS 11 AND 12 OF THE CONTEMPT OF COURTS ACT, PRAYING TO TAKE COGNIZANCE OF DISOBEDIENCE OF THE ORDER DATED 30.03.2023 PASSED BY THIS HON'BLE COURT IN W.P.NO.26921/2016 BY THE ACCUSED AND INITIATE CONTEMPT PROCEEDINGS AGAINST ACCUSED AND PUNISH THEM IN ACCORDANCE WITH LAW. IN CCC NO. 1140/2023 BETWEEN: K C RAMALINGAIAH AGED ABOUT 68 YEARS S/O CHIKKIDEGOWDA SOMESHWARA KRUPA KUVEMPU ROAD RAGHAVENDRA NAGAR SHETTIHALLI MAIN ROAD TUMAKURU-572102. ...COMPLAINANT (BY SRI. VINAYA KEERTHY M - ADVOCATE) AND: 1. PANKAJ GUPTA CHAIRMAN AND MANAGING DIRECTOR HINDUSTAN MACHINE TOOLS LTD (A GOVT OF INDIA UNDERTAKING) HMT BHAVAN, NO.59 BALLARI ROAD BENGALURU-560032. 2. PANKAJ GUPTA MANAGING DIRECTOR (WATCHES) - 3 - NC: 2025:KHC:229-DB CCC No. 1104 of 2023 C/W CCC No. 1140 of 2023 CCC No. 1141 of 2023 HMT WATCHES LTD HMT BHAVAN NO.59 BALLARI ROAD BENGALURU-560032. …ACCUSED (BY SRI. B S SHRINIVAS - ADVOCATE) THIS CCC IS FILED UNDER SECTIONS 11 AND 12 OF THE CONTEMPT OF COURTS ACT, PRAYING TO TAKE COGNIZANCE OF DISOBEDIENCE OF THE ORDER DATED 30.03.2023 PASSED BY THIS HON'BLE COURT IN W.P.NO.30174/2018 BY THE ACCUSED AND INITIATE CONTEMPT PROCEEDINGS AGAINST ACCUSED AND PUNISH THEM IN ACCORDANCE WITH LAW. IN CCC NO. 1141/2023 BETWEEN: M G SHARANAPPA AGED ABOUT 69 YEARS S/O NANJUNDAPPA NO 413, X-CROSS, III BLOCK HMT LAYOUT, VIDYARANYAPURA BENGALURU 560 097. ...COMPLAINANT (BY SRI. VINAYA KEERTHY M - ADVOCATE) AND: 1. PANKAJ GUPTA CHAIRMAN AND MANAGING DIRECTOR HINDUSTAN MACHINE TOOLS LTD (A GOVT OF INDIA UNDERTAKING) HMT BHAVAN, NO.59 BALLARI ROAD BENGALURU-560032. 2. PANKAJ GUPTA MANAGING DIRECTOR (WATCHES) - 4 - NC: 2025:KHC:229-DB CCC No. 1104 of 2023 C/W CCC No. 1140 of 2023 CCC No. 1141 of 2023 HMT WATCHES LTD HMT BHAVAN NO.59 BALLARI ROAD BENGALURU-560032. …ACCUSED (BY SRI. B S SHRINIVAS - ADVOCATE) THIS CCC IS FILED UNDER SECTIONS 11 AND 12 OF THE CONTEMPT OF COURTS ACT, PRAYING TO TAKE COGNIZANCE OF DISOBEDIENCE OF THE ORDER DATED 30.03.2023 PASSED BY THIS HON'BLE COURT IN W.P.NO.27044/2016 BY THE ACCUSED AND INITIATE CONTEMPT PROCEEDINGS AGAINST ACCUSED AND PUNISH THEM IN ACCORDANCE WITH LAW. THESE CCCs, COMING ON FOR ORDERS, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR JUSTICE K.SOMASHEKAR AND HON'BLE MR JUSTICE VENKATESH NAIK T ORAL ORDER (PER: HON'BLE MR JUSTICE K.SOMASHEKAR) The impugned order which is under challenge in these contempt petitions being common and the accused / respondent also being common, all these petitions are taken up for hearing together and are disposed of by this common order. - 5 - NC: 2025:KHC:229-DB CCC No. 1104 of 2023 C/W CCC No. 1140 of 2023 CCC No. 1141 of 2023 2. Learned counsel Shri Vinaya Keerthy M for the complainant in all these petitions, is present before Court. Further, the learned counsel Shri B.S. Shrinivas for Accused Nos.1 and 2 in these petitions, is also present before Court. 3. These contempt petitions are filed seeking implementation of the order passed by a learned Single Judge of this Court in W.P.No.30174/2018 C/w. W.P.Nos.26921/2016 and 27044/2016 dated 30.03.2023 vide Annexure-“A”. 4. In paragraph 5 of the aforesaid order dated 30.03.2023 rendered by the learned Single Judge, it is observed that, “Having taken note of the grievance urged by the petitioners herein and taking into account the contents in the representations dated 18.02.2016 (Annexure-G) in W.P.No.26921/2016 and W.P.No.27044/2016, these writ petitions are disposed of directing respondent Nos.2 and 3 herein to consider the grievance of the - 6 - NC: 2025:KHC:229-DB CCC No. 1104 of 2023 C/W CCC No. 1140 of 2023 CCC No. 1141 of 2023 petitioners referred to above, in accordance with law, in the light of the resolution and Official Memorandum referred above within outer limit of three months from the date of receipt of a copy of this order.” These petitions have been filed by the respective complainants, seeking for implementation of the direction contained in the order referred to above. 5. Shri B.S. Shrinivas, learned counsel for the respondents / HMT Watches Ltd. submits that in compliance of the order of the learned Single Judge dated 30.03.2023, the authority of the respondent / Company has issued an endorsement dated 04.08.2023 vide Annexure-“G”, rejecting the representations of the complainants by assigning reasons. 6. In view of the fact that the grievance of the complainants has already been addressed by the respondents / Company vide its endorsement at Annexure-“G”, at this stage, these contempt petitions do - 7 - NC: 2025:KHC:229-DB CCC No. 1104 of 2023 C/W CCC No. 1140 of 2023 CCC No. 1141 of 2023 not merit consideration. Accordingly, the contempt petitions are hereby dropped. However, complainants are reserved liberty to proceed further in the matter, in accordance with law. Sd/- (K.SOMASHEKAR) JUDGE Sd/- (VENKATESH NAIK T) JUDGE KS