Smt. J Latha, v. Sri B Janardhan Reddy,

THE HON'BLE THE ACTING CHIEF JUSTICE RAMESH RANGANATHAN AND THE HON'BLE SRI JUSTICE P.NAVEEN RAO CONTEMPT CASE NO.349 OF 2017 ORDER: {Per the Hon'ble the Acting Chief Justice Ramesh Ranganathan} The order, violation of which is alleged in this Contempt Case, is the order passed by a Division Bench of this Court in WP.No.8083 of 2016 dated 16.03.2016 wherein, while disposing of the Writ Petition, the Division Bench directed the petitioner to give reply to the notice impugned in the Writ Petition dated 08.02.2016, within a period of seven days, and the fourth respondent to consider the same and decide the show cause notice within a period of four weeks therefrom without entering into the issue of limitation; and, till then, no coercive action should be taken against the petitioner. Alleging violation of the said order, the present Contempt case is filed.

In the counter affidavit filed by respondents 1 and 2, it is stated that, after considering the petitioner's representation, the property tax was reduced to Rs.1,08,427/- per annum, as per the demand notice dated 09.02.2017; after calculating the amount, the petitioner has to pay property tax from 2012 till date which comes to Rs.5,42,135/-; and a fresh demand notice dated 09.02.2017 was also issued to the petitioner.

It is evident, from the counter affidavit, that the order of this Court has been complied with albeit belatedly. While admitting that there is a delay in compliance with the order passed by the Division Bench, the respondent-contemnor has expressed regret, and has tendered his unconditional apology. Taking into

consideration the apology tendered by the respondent, and as the order passed by the Division Bench has already been complied with, we see no reason to proceed further, against the respondent, under the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971.

The Contempt Case is, accordingly, closed.

_________________________________ (RAMESH RANGANATHAN, ACJ) ____________________ (P.NAVEEN RAO, J) 21st July 2017 RRB