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2022 Supreme(Kar) 1500

IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA
E.S.Indiresh, J.
K. Somanath Nayak – Appellant
Versus
D. Veerendra Heggade – Respondent
Writ Petition No. 7692 of 2022 (GM-CPC)
Decided On : 05-05-2022

Advocates appeared:
Pramod N.Kathavi, Advocate, K.Chandranath Ariga, Advocate

Headnote:(A) Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 - Order XXXIX Rules 1, 2A and Section 151 - Writ Petition challenging order dismissing appeal and confirming prior injunction against making defamatory statements - Petitioner contended trial court exceeded jurisdiction in awarding compensation for violation of injunction - The courts found continued disobedience of clear interim orders and confirmed penalties - Courts determined that injunctive relief was justified to protect the plaintiff's reputation, underscoring the contempt of court doctrine and enforcement provisions under Order XXXIX. (Paras 1-2, 45-80)

(B) Jurisdiction of High Court under Article 227 - Limited to correcting grave errors or derelictions by lower courts - Courts reaffirmed that jurisdiction includes punishing for disobedience to maintain judicial authority. No new evidence warranted overruling prior penalties. (Paras 21-22, 76-80)

Facts of the case:
The respondent, as a plaintiff, sought injunctive relief against the petitioner from making statements undermining his reputation and those of his management institution. The trial court and appellate court upheld the injunction and awarded compensation due to non-compliance over several years, leading to this writ petition.

Findings of Court:
The courts below properly exercised their authority confirming that the petitioner willfully disobeyed the injunction order leading to reputational harm.

Issues: The primary issues were whether the trial court exceeded its jurisdiction in awarding compensation and if the High Court should interfere under Article 227.

Ratio Decidendi: The courts determined that disobedience of clear court orders is a serious matter warranting enforcement measures, including compensation for reputational harm, thereby upholding judicial integrity.

Result: Writ Petition dismissed; lower court orders affirmed.

Table of Content
1. factual background of the case and parties involved. (Para 1 , 2)
2. court's observations on the procedural aspects and principles of law. (Para 3 , 4 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 26)
3. arguments presented by the petitioner against the trial court's award of compensation. (Para 5 , 6 , 10 , 11 , 14 , 16 , 17 , 19)
4. ratio decidendi surrounding disobedience of court orders. (Para 9 , 12 , 40 , 72 , 76 , 80)
5. final conclusion and orders of the court. (Para 70 , 75 , 78)

JUDGMENT/ORDER

E.S.INDIRESH, J. - This Writ Petition is filed assailing the order dtd. 22/3/2022 passed in MA No.8 of 2021 by Principal Senior Civil Judge and JMFC at Belthangady dismissing the appeal and confirming the order dtd. 8/6/2021 passed in Civil Miscellaneous Petition No.3 of 2015 on the file of the Additional Civil Judge and JMFC, Belthangady (hereinafter referred to as "the trial Court") allowing application IA.I filed under Order XXXIX Rule 2A read with Sec. 151 of the Code of Civil Procedure in Original Suit No.226 of 2013 before the trial Court.

FACTS OF THE CASE

2. The relevant facts for adjudication of this Writ Petition are that, the respondent herein is the plaintiff in Original Suit No.226 of 2013 on the file of the Civil Judge and JMFC, Belthangady, against the defendant No.6/petitioner herein, seeking relief of permanent prohibitory injunction restraining defendants and their agents claiming through them, from making or publishing any imputations / statement /allegations /opinions/News, either in oral, written, electronic or print form/media or any other form of communication/publication, which would directly or indirectly or in any other way, undermine/lower/damage/harm or tend to undermine /lower /damage/harm the reputation of the plaintiff, his family or Sri Khestra Dharmasthala, popularly known as Dharmasthala, its temple, Institution and their Management Committee. In the aforesaid suit, plaintiff filed application under Order XXXIX Rule 1 and 2 read with Sec. 151 of the Code of Civil Procedure, seeking temporary injunction restraining the defendants and their agents claiming through them from making or publishing any imputations/statement/allegations/opinions/news, either oral, written, electronic or print form/media or any other form of communication/publication, which would directly, indirectly or in any other way, undermine/lower/damage/harm or tend to undermine/lower/damage/harm the reputation of the plaintiff, his family or Sri Khestra Dharmasthala, its temple, Institution and their Management Committee. The trial Court, by order dtd. 5/11/2013 granted ad-interim temporary injunction as sought for in IA.I filed by the plaintiff. Thereafter, the case was listed before the trial Court on several dates. In the meanwhile, the plaintiff has filed application under Order XXXIX Rule 2A read with Sec. 151 of Code of Civil Procedure, contending that defendant No.6/petitioner herein is guilty of committing disobedience of the injunction order dtd. 5/11/2013 and accordingly, sought for attachment of properties of the defendant No.6 and to detain the defendant No.6 in Civil Prison for disobedience of interim injunction order dtd. 5/11/2013 (Annexure-C). The said application was contested by the defendant No.6/petitioner herein by filing objection as per Annexure-D. Parties to the suit tendered evidence. The trial Court, after considering material on record, by impugned order dtd. 8/6/2021 allowed Civil Miscellaneous Petition No.3 of 2015 with costs. The said order passed by the trial Court was challenged by the defendant No.6/petitioner herein in MA No.8 of 2021 before the First Appellate Court, and the said appeal was contested by the plaintiff/respondent herein. The First Appellate Court, after considering the material on record, by its order dtd. 22/3/2022, dismissed the appeal and as such, confirmed the order dtd. 8/6/2021 in Civil Miscellaneous Petition No.3 of 2015. Feeling aggrieved by the same, defendant No.6 has presented

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