- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:22202-DB CCC No. 1240 of 2025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 23RD DAY OF APRIL, 2026 PRESENT THE HON'BLE MR. VIBHU BAKHRU, CHIEF JUSTICE AND THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE C.M. POONACHA CIVIL CONTEMPT PETITION NO. 1240 OF 2025 BETWEEN: 1. SRI RAJAPPA S/O THIMMEGOWDA AGED ABOUT 50 YEARS PRESENTLY WORKING AS FOREST WATCHER 'D' GROUP RANGE FOREST OFFICE MALEYUR RANGE, KALKERE BANDIPURA DIVISION CHAMARAJANAGARA CIRCLE CHAMARAJANAGARA DISTRICT - 571 111 2. SRI CHANDRASHEKAR S/O BELUREGOWDA AGED ABOUT 51 YEARS PRESENTLY WORKING AS FOREST WATCHER 'D' GROUP RANGE FOREST OFFICE A.M. GUDI RANGE KALKERE BANDIPURA DIVISION CHAMARAJANAGARA CIRCLE CHAMARAJANAGARA DISTRICT - 571 111 Digitally signed by VEERENDRA KUMAR K M Location: High Court of Karnataka - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:22202-DB CCC No. 1240 of 2025 3. SRI BASAVARAJU S/O LATE NANJUNDANAIKA AGED ABOUT 56 YEARS PRESENTLY WORKING AS FOREST WATCHER 'D' GROUP RANGE FOREST OFFICE A.M. GUDI RANGE KALKERE, BANDIPURA DIVISION CHAMARAJANAGARA CIRCLE CHAMARAJANAGARA DISTRICT - 571 111 4. SRI MAHADEVA S/O. KALAIAH AGED ABOUT 47 YEARS PRESENTLY WORKING AS FOREST WATCHER 'D' GROUP RANGE FOREST OFFICE A.M.GUDI RANGE KALKERE BANDIPURA DIVISION CHAMARAJANAGARA CIRCLE CHAMARAJANAGARA DISTRICT - 571 111 5. SRI ABDUL HANEEF S/O. ABDUL ARIEF AGED ABOUT 46 YEARS PRESENTLY WORKING AS FOREST WATCHER 'D' GROUP RANGE FOREST OFFICE O/O. GUNDLUPETE BUFFER ZONE BANDIPURA DIVISION CHAMARAJANAGARA CIRCLE CHAMARAJANAGARA DISTRICT - 571 111 - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:22202-DB CCC No. 1240 of 2025 6. SRI AKRAM PASHA S/O. KAREEM SAB AGED ABOUT 47 YEARS PRESENTLY WORKING AS FOREST WATCHER 'D' GROUP RANGE FOREST OFFICE O/O. GUNDLUPETE BUFFER ZONE BANDIPURA DIVISION CHAMARAJANAGARA CIRCLE CHAMARAJANAGARA DISTRICT - 571 111 7. SRI RAJAPPA S/O. GOVINDAPPA AGED ABOUT 56 YEARS PRESENTLY WORKING AS FOREST WATCHER 'D' GROUP RANGE FOREST OFFICE KAGGALIPURA RANGE BENGALURU SOUTH SUB-DIVISION BENGALURU - 560 082 8. SRI GALAPPA S/O. SIDDALINGAIAH AGED ABOUT 47 YEARS PRESENTLY WORKING AS FOREST WATCHER 'D' GROUP RANGE FOREST OFFICE KAGGALIPURA RANGE BENGALURU SOUTH SUB-DIVISION BENGALURU - 560 082 9. SRI JAYARAMAIAH S/O. CHIKKARAMAIAH AGED ABOUT 46 YEARS - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:22202-DB CCC No. 1240 of 2025 PRESENTLY WORKING AS FOREST WATCHER 'D' GROUP RANGE FOREST OFFICE KAGGALIPURA RANGE BENGALURU SOUTH SUB-DIVISION BENGALURU - 560 082 10. SMT. JAYASHEELA, D/O. ANANDA AGED ABOUT 48 YEARS PRESENTLY WORKING AS NURSERY 'D' GROUP RANGE FOREST OFFICE MANDYA RANGE MANDYA MANDYA DISTRICT - 571 401 11. SRI RAMESH S/O. THAMMAIAH AGED ABOUT 48 YEARS PRESENTLY WORKING AS FOREST WATCHER 'D' GROUP RANGE FOREST OFFICE MADDUR RANGE MADDUR MANDYA DISTRICT - 571 428 12. SRI NANJUNDA S/O. BANNAIAH AGED ABOUT 45 YEARS PRESENTLY WORKING AS FOREST WATCHER 'D' GROUP RANGE FOREST OFFICE MANDYA RANGE MANDYA DISTRICT - 571 438 - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:22202-DB CCC No. 1240 of 2025 13. SRI THULASIKUMAR @ THULASI S/O. NARAYANAPPA AGED ABOUT 40 YEARS PRESENTLY WORKING AS FOREST WATCHER 'D' GROUP RANGE FOREST OFFICE SRIRANGAPATNA RANGE SRIRANGAPATNA MANDYA DISTRICT - 571 438 14. SRI NAGARAJU C.M. S/O. MAADHU AGED ABOUT 47 YEARS PRESENTLY WORKING AS FOREST WATCHER 'D' GROUP RANGE FOREST OFFICE MALAVALLI TERRITORIAL RANGE MANDYA DISTRICT - 571 438 15. SRI SIDDAYYA S/O. JAVAREGOWDA AGED ABOUT 56 YEARS PRESENTLY WORKING AS FOREST WATCHER 'D' GROUP RANGE FOREST OFFICE MALAVALLI TERRITORIAL RANGE MANDYA DISTRICT - 571 438 16. SRI GOPAL S/O. LAKSHMAYYA AGED ABOUT 47 YEARS PRESENTLY WORKING AS FOREST WATCHER 'D' GROUP RANGE FOREST OFFICE - 6 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:22202-DB CCC No. 1240 of 2025 MALAVALLI TERRITORIAL RANGE MANDYA DISTRICT - 571 438 17. SMT. RAJAMMA S/O. LATE MAHADEVAPPA AGED ABOUT 54 YEARS PRESENTLY WORKING AS FOREST WATCHER 'D' GROUP RANGE FOREST OFFICE MALAVALLI TERRITORIAL RANGE MANDYA DISTRICT - 571 438 18. SRI JAGADEESH C S/O. DODDEGOWDA AGED ABOUT 56 YEARS PRESENTLY WORKING AS FOREST WATCHER 'D' GROUP RANGE FOREST OFFICE MALAVALLI TERRITORIAL RANGE MANDYA DISTRICT - 571 438 19. SRI NANJUNDASWAMY.A.S. @ NANJUNDA S/O. SIDDAPPA AGED ABOUT 47 YEARS PRESENTLY WORKING AS FOREST WATCHER 'D' GROUP RANGE FOREST OFFICE MADDUR RANGE MANDYA DISTRICT - 571 438 20. SRI SHIVARAMU S/O. BILIYAIAH AGED ABOUT 54 YEARS - 7 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:22202-DB CCC No. 1240 of 2025 PRESENTLY WORKING AS FOREST WATCHER 'D' GROUP RANGE FOREST OFFICE MADDUR RANGE MADDUR MANDYA DISTRICT - 571 428 21. SRI G.H. RAJU S/O. VANNA AGED ABOUT 52 YEARS PRESENTLY WORKING AS FOREST WATCHER 'D' GROUP RANGE FOREST OFFICE WILDLIFE RANGE NAGARAHOLE, HUNSURU MYSURU DISTRICT - 571 105 22. SRI CHANDRA J.A. S/O. APPANNA AGED ABOUT 45 YEARS PRESENTLY WORKING AS FOREST WATCHER 'D' GROUP RANGE FOREST OFFICE WILDLIFE RANGE NAGARAHOLE, HUNSURU MYSURU DISTRICT - 571 105 23. SRI SHIVAIAH S/O. CHALUVAIAH AGED ABOUT 53 YEARS PRESENTLY WORKING AS FOREST WATCHER 'D' GROUP RANGE FOREST OFFICE PERIYAPATNA TERRITORIAL RANGE - 8 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:22202-DB CCC No. 1240 of 2025 HUNSURU DIVISION MYSURU DISTRICT - 571 105 24. SRI GANESHA S/O. ERAIAH AGED ABOUT 53 YEARS PRESENTLY WORKING AS FOREST WATCHER 'D' GROUP RANGE FOREST OFFICE PERIYAPATNA TERRITORIAL RANGE HUNSURU DIVISION MYSURU DISTRICT - 571 105 25. SRI SOMAIAH K.V. S/O. VENKATAPPA AGED ABOUT 53 YEARS PRESENTLY WORKING AS FOREST WATCHER 'D' GROUP RANGE FOREST OFFICE PERIYAPATNA TERRITORIAL RANGE HUNSURU DIVISION MYSURU DISTRICT - 571 105 26. SRI SHREEKANTA S/O. BASASHETTY AGED ABOUT 48 YEARS PRESENTLY WORKING AS FOREST WATCHER 'D' GROUP RANGE FOREST OFFICE PERIYAPATNA TERRITORIAL RANGE HUNSURU DIVISION MYSURU DISTRICT - 571 105 - 9 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:22202-DB CCC No. 1240 of 2025 27. SRI H.K. RAMESH S/O. KARAYAIAH AGED ABOUT 51 YEARS PRESENTLY WORKING AS FOREST WATCHER 'D' GROUP RANGE FOREST OFFICE PERIYAPATNA TERRITORIAL RANGE HUNSURU DIVISION MYSURU DISTRICT - 571 105 28. SRI SHANKAR H.R. S/O. RUDRAYYA AGED ABOUT 50 YEARS PRESENTLY WORKING AS FOREST WATCHER 'D' GROUP RANGE FOREST OFFICE WILDLIFE KODAGU CIRCLE MADIKERE DISTRICT - 571 201 29. SRI CHANDRA K.K. S/O. KUYANNA AGED ABOUT 50 YEARS PRESENTLY WORKING AS FOREST WATCHER 'D' GROUP RANGE FOREST OFFICE SAMPAJE RANGE KODAGU DISTRICT - 571 201 30. SRI KOOSAPPA.S S/O. BALANNA.S AGED ABOUT 48 YEARS PRESENTLY WORKING AS FOREST WATCHER 'D' GROUP RANGE FOREST OFFICE - 10 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:22202-DB CCC No. 1240 of 2025 SAMPAJE RANGE KODAGU DISTRICT - 571 201 31. SRI HARISCHANDRA A.K. S/O KEPU K AGED ABOUT 46 YEARS PRESENTLY WORKING AS FOREST WATCHER 'D' GROUP RANGE FOREST OFFICE SHANIVARASANTHE RANGE KODAGU DISTRICT - 571 201 32. SRI MANJUNATH L.M. S/O LATE MUNISWAMY AGED ABOUT 44 YEARS PRESENTLY WORKING AS FOREST WATCHER 'D' GROUP RANGE FOREST OFFICE BAGAMANGALA RANGE KODAGU DISTRICT - 571 201 33. SRI DIVAKAR M.P. S/O PUVAYYA AGED ABOUT 46 YEARS PRESENTLY WORKING AS FOREST WATCHER 'D' GROUP RANGE FOREST OFFICE SOMWARPETE RANGE KODAGU DISTRICT - 571 201 34. SRI SRINIVASA M S/O LATE MUTTAPPA AGED ABOUT 48 YEARS PRESENTLY WORKING AS DRIVER - 11 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:22202-DB CCC No. 1240 of 2025 RANGE FOREST OFFICE ANEKAL RANGE BENGALURU URBAN DISTRICT - 562 106 …COMPLAINANTS (BY SRI BASAVARAJA PATEL G.K., ADVOCATE) AND: 1. SRI ANJUM PARVEJ, I.A.S. PRINCIPAL SECRETARY DEPARTMENT OF FOREST, ECOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENT M.S. BUILDING BENGALURU - 560 001 2. SMT. MEENAKSHI NEGI, I.A.S. PRINCIPAL CHIEF CONSERVATOR OF FORESTS HEAD OF THE FOREST FORCE ARANYA BHAVANA 3RD FLOOR, 18TH CROSS MALLESHWARAM BENGALURU - 560 003 …ACCUSED 3. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA REP. BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY DEPARTMENT OF FOREST ECOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENT M.S. BUILDING BENGALURU - 560 001 …PRO FORMA RESPONDENT (BY SMT. SARITHA KULKARNI, AGA) THIS CCC IS FILED UNDER SECTIONS 11 AND 12 OF THE CONTEMPT OF COURTS ACT, 1971 R/W ARTICLE 215 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO INITIATE - 12 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:22202-DB CCC No. 1240 of 2025 PROCEEDINGS AGAINST THE ACCUSED INCLUDING ACTION FOR CONTEMPT OF THE ORDER DATED 19.03.2025 IN W.P. NO.5775/2025, PASSED BY THIS HON'BLE COURT VIDE ANNEXURE-A, PUNISH THEM FOR THE WILLFUL DISOBEDIENCE AND CONTEMPT COMMITTED THEREBY. THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR ORDERS, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: 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 learned counsel for the accused has filed the compliance affidavit. 2. The learned counsel for the complainants reserves liberty to challenge the endorsement. 3. In view of the above, the complaint is closed. Sd/- (VIBHU BAKHRU) CHIEF JUSTICE Sd/- (C.M. POONACHA) JUDGE KMV, List No.: 1 Sl No.: 13.1