The court emphasized the necessity for verifying facts prior to filing contempt proceedings.

JUDGMENT

Dated this the 28^th day of January, 2026 The petitioners filed this contempt case alleging that though this court, as per Annexure A1 order, directed the District Legal Service Authority (DLSA) Ernakulam, to dispose of Ext.P3 claim petition within a period of three months, the same was not yet disposed of and therefore, they prayed for initiating contempt proceedings against the Secretary, DLSA, Ernakulam.

2. Today, the 1^st petitioner filed an affidavit stating that Ext.P3 claim petition was already disposed of by the DLSA on 19.07.2025. It appears that the petitioners filed this Contempt Case without even verifying the basic facts from the office of DLSA, Ernakulam. Further, the respondent mentioned in the Contempt petition, namely Sri. Suresh P.M., is not the present Secretary of DLSA. Even then in the affidavit filed by the petitioner, there is a prayer to permit the petitioners to proceed with the contempt petition.

3. As per Annexure A1 order, this court only directed the Secretary, DLSA to dispose of Ext.P3 claim petition. Since, the claim petition was disposed of by the Secretary, DLSA, as early as on 19.07.2025, there is absolutely no merits in this Contempt case and as such it deserves only dismissal. In the result, this Contempt Case is dismissed.

Sd/-