SUNEEL KEERTHI Vs. UNION OF INDIA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) In this petition, under Art.226 of the Constn. the validity of S.15(1) (b) of the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971 (which is hereinafter called 'the Adt'), and of Rule 7 of the 'Rules to regulate contempt proceedings in the High Court of Karnataka' is called into question.

(2.) The petitioner is a land holder at Moodabidri South Kanara District. He has some pending litigation before the Court of Munsiff, Karkala, as against Respondent 7, in respect of the tenancy claimed by the latter. According to him, respondents 4 to 7 have committed contempt of the said Court: Respondent 4 is the Hon'ble Minister for Revenue, respondent 5 is a Member of the Legislative Assembly and respondent 6 is the Hon'ble Minister for State for Small Scale Industries. The petitioner wants to prosecute them for contempt. For that purpose, he approached the Advocate General with an application under S.15(1) (b) of the Act seeking his consent to move this Court for taking action against the said respondents.

(3.) Section 15(1)(b) provides :