- 1 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:1771-DB CCC No. 1247 of 2023 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 12TH DAY OF JANUARY, 2026 PRESENT THE HON'BLE MR. VIBHU BAKHRU, CHIEF JUSTICE AND THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE C.M. POONACHA CIVIL CONTEMPT PETITION NO. 1247 OF 2023 BETWEEN: 1. M/S. SHAMANUR SUGARS LIMITED REGISTERED OFFICE AT NO.374, 4TH MAIN P.J.EXTENSION, N.C.C.OFFICE BUILDING DAVANGERE - 577 02 (REPRESENTED BY ITS AUTHORIZED SIGNATORY H.C.VENKATESH) …COMPLAINANT (BY SRI SHRIDHAR PRABHU.,ADVOCATE) AND: 1. SRI PANKAJ KUMAR PANDEY, IAS PRESENTLY WORKING AS THE MANAGING DIRECTOR OF KARNATAKA POWER TRANSMISSION CORPORATION HAVING ITS REGISTERED OFFICE AT CAUVERI BHAVAN, AMBEDKAR VEEDHI BENGALURU - 560009. 2. SRI JAMES PHILIP PRESENTLY WORKING AS THE CHIEF ENGINEER (ELECTRICITY) STATE LOAD DISPATCH CENTRE (SLDC) MANAGED BY KPTCL, HAVING ITS OFFICE AT No. 28 Digitally signed by SRIDEVI S Location: High Court of Karnataka - 2 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:1771-DB CCC No. 1247 of 2023 RACECOURSE CROSS ROAD, ANAND RAO CIRCLE, BENGALURU - 560009. 3. SMT. VANDITA SHARMA, IAS (RETIRED) FORMERLY WORKING AS THE CHIEF SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT ROOM NO. 320 3RD FLOOR, VIDHANA SOUDHA, BENGALURU - 560001. 4. DR. RAJNEESH GOEL, IAS PRESENTLY WORKING AS THE CHIEF SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT ROOM NO.320 3RD FLOOR, VIDHANA SOUDHA, BENGALURU - 560 001. …ACCUSED 5. STATE OF KARNATAKA DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY 2ND FLOOR, VIKASA SOUDHA DR.AMBEDKAR VEEDHI BENGALURU-560 001 (REPRESENTED BY ITS ADDITIONAL CHIEF SECRETARY) …PRO FORMA RESPONDENT (BY SRI *S.H. RAGHAVENDRA, AGA) THIS CCC IS FILED UNDER ARTICLE 215 OF THE CONSTITUTION R/W SECTIONS 11 AND 12 OF THE CONTEMPT OF COURTS ACT 1971, PRAYING TO INSTITUTE AN ENQUIRY AND INITIATE APPROPRIATE ACTIONS AGAINST TH ACCUSED FOR THEIR WILFUL DISOBEDIENCE OF THE DIRECTIONS ISSUED VIDE ORDER DATED 22ND MAY 2023 *Corrected vide chamber orders dated 28.01.2026 - 3 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:1771-DB CCC No. 1247 of 2023 PASSED BY THIS HON'BLE COURT IN W.P. NO.46495/2012 PRODUCED HEREIN AS ANNEXURE-A AND ETC,. THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY HEARING, 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 complainant has filed the present complaint alleging the willful disobedience of the order dated 22.05.2023 in WP.No.46495/2012(GM-KEB). By virtue of the said order, the said petition was dismissed. The learned Single Judge also concluded that the Court did not find any infirmity with the order which is impugned by the writ petitioners in the said writ petition. 2. The complainant has filed the present complaint being aggrieved by non implementation of the order that was impugned in the writ petition. Additionally, the complainant also prays that proceedings be initiated against the State Government for not following the direction of constituting a separate company, authority - 4 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:1771-DB CCC No. 1247 of 2023 or corporation, as required under Section 31(2) of the Electricity Act, 2003 and as directed by the learned Single Judge. 3. Insofar as the issue regarding non-implementation of the order that is impugned in the writ petition is concerned, there is no direction issued in this regard and therefore we are unable to accept that there is willful disobedience of the order passed by learned Single Judge. 4. Insofar as the constitution of a separate company under Section 31(2) of the Electricity Act is required, the learned Single Judge has expressed an opinion that the State Government is required to establish a separate entity for operating the State Load Dispatch Center as required. The said direction merely reiterates the provisions for constitution as contended under Section 31(2) of the Electricity Act, 2003. There is no time frame directed by the learned Single Judge for establishing the said Centre. 5. In view of the above, we are unable to accept that at this stage the order in question has been willfully disobeyed. The complaint is accordingly closed. - 5 - HC-KAR NC: 2026:KHC:1771-DB CCC No. 1247 of 2023 6. We, however clarify that this order would not preclude the complainant from initiating proceedings for recovering of his dues, if any, in accordance with law. Sd/- (VIBHU BAKHRU) CHIEF JUSTICE Sd/- (C.M. POONACHA) JUDGE SD List No.: 1 Sl No.: 0