Contempt Petitions  - Contempt of Court

Contempt - This appeal is against the order dated 26.03.2024 passed by the High Court of Karnataka - By the aforesaid order, after holding the appellants, prima facie, guilty of commission of contempt has granted them two weeks time to comply with the order in respect of which disobedience has been alleged failing which the matter was directed to be posted for framing of charge - 445 daily rated employees of the State serving in different departments, including the 74 respondents herein, had instituted W.P. Nos. 39117-176/1999 claiming regularization of service. By order dated 15.12.1999, the High Court following an earlier order dated 10.9.2023 passed in similar writ petitions i.e. W.P. Nos. 33541-571/98 etc. had granted the relief(s) claimed by the writ petitioners-respondents - The aforesaid order dated 15.12.2023 of the learned Single Judge was affirmed by order dated 24.01.2024 passed in the writ appeals filed by the State - 161 persons who had filed contempt proceedings for noncompliance of the order dated 15.12.2023 were regularized on 29.12.2023 - Thereafter, on 8.3.2006, 64 other persons, who were similarly placed to the aforesaid 161 persons as well as to the present 74 respondents, were also regularized - Such regularization was made without the concerned persons having to initiate any contempt proceeding - The Hon'ble Supreme Court does not hold them liable for contempt but make it clear that the appellants and all the other competent authorities of the State will now be obliged and duty bound to regularize the services of the respondents (74 in number) which will now be done forthwith and in any case within a period of two months from the date of receipt of this order.

Topic(s)-Contempt