- 1 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010582682024 NC: 2026:KHC:50658-DB CCC No. 1066 of 2024 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 16TH DAY OF SEPTEMBER, 2026 PRESENT THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE D K SINGH AND THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE H.SHANTHI BHUSHAN CIVIL CONTEMPT PETITION NO. 1066 OF 2024 BETWEEN: SRI. JAYANANDA RAI N S/O SUBBAYYA RAI AGED ABOUT 64 YEARS RESIDING AT: D NO.1-216 B HOSAMARU HOUSE PUTTHIGE VILLAGE AND POST BETTAMPADY TALUK D.K. DISTRICT-574326. …COMPLAINANT (BY SRI. RAKSHITH KUMAR, ADVOCATE) AND: 1. THE STATE OF KARNATAKA DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION 6TH FLOOR, M.S. BUILDING BENGALURU-560 001 REP. BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY. 2. SMT. SMITHA GOPAL THE SENIRO PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTS OFFICER ASSISTANT ACCOUNTS GENERAL (A AND E) KARNATAKA, PARK HOUSE ROAD POST BOX, NO. 532K, BENGAURU-560 001. …ACCUSED (BY SRI. BHAIRAV KUTTAIAH, AGA FOR R1) Digitally signed by MALA K N Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA - 2 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010582682024 NC: 2026:KHC:50658-DB CCC No. 1066 of 2024 THIS CCC IS FILED UNDER SECTION 11 AND 12 OF CONTEMPT OF COURTS ACT, 1971, R/W ARTICLE 215 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA, PRAYING TO INITIATE CONTEMPT PROCEEDINGS AGAINST SMT. SMITHA GOPAL, THE SENIOR PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTS OFFICER ( A AND E), BENGALURU I.E. ACCUSED HEREIN FOR HAVING COMMITTED CONTEMPT OF THE ORDER PASSED BY THIS HON’BLE COURT IN WP NO.11752/2022 (S-R) DATED 19.04.2023 PRODUCED AS ANNEXURE-A AND TO CAUSE THE ACCUSED TO PROSECUTED AND PUNISH FOR SUCH ACTS AND ETC. THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY HEARING, THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER: CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE D K SINGH and HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE H.SHANTHI BHUSHAN ORAL ORDER (PER: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE D K SINGH) The present contempt petition has been filed for alleged non-compliance and willful disobedience of the judgment and order dated 19.04.2023 whereby the Writ Court directed the Senior Principal Account Officer, Assistant Account General (A&E), Karnataka to consider the representation dated 11.03.2020 filed by the complainant/petitioner at the earliest. - 3 - HC-KAR CNR: KAHC010582682024 NC: 2026:KHC:50658-DB CCC No. 1066 of 2024 2. This contempt petition has been filed after one year and 167 days. 3. Under Section 20 of the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971, the limitation for bringing or filing the contempt proceedings for violation as non-compliance of willful disobedience of the judgment and order passed by the Courts is one year, which has been held by Supreme Court in Pallav Sheth Vs. Custodian and others reported in 2001 (7) SCC 549, we find no reason to condone the delay as the Court does not have power to condone the delay of one year 167 days. 4. Therefore, we dismiss this contempt petition. Sd/- (D K SINGH) JUDGE Sd/- (H.SHANTHI BHUSHAN) JUDGE BVK List No.: 1 Sl No.: 3