'We understand your predicament': Supreme Court allows Kumaraswamy to approach HC in contempt proceedings

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday told Union Minister H D Kumaraswamy, aggrieved with contempt proceedings and faced with risk of being evicted from his properties, that it understood his predicament and that all these things were happening because of change in the government.

A bench of Justices Pankaj Mithal and S V N Bhatti asked the JD(S) leader, represented by senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi and advocates Balaji Srinivasan and Nishanth A V, to approach the High Court in the contempt petition.

The court asked his counsel to inform the High Court that even though he is not a party to the contempt petition, due to the orders being passed in the proceedings, eviction orders were issued against him and that he faced risk of being evicted.

In his submission, Rohatgi submitted that contempt proceedings being heard by the High Court in which several directions were issued for compliance of the order of the Karnataka Lokayukta, which directed enquiry into the allegations of encroachment of land in Kethaganahalli village.

He said the corresponding complaint was closed by the Lokayukta on March 03, 2021. Moreover, due to the directions of the High Court in the contempt proceedings, the revenue department has issued an eviction notice to the petitioner on March 18, 2025 with respect to land lawfully owned by him. 

"Therefore, he is being unfairly proceeded against without being given an opportunity to be heard," the counsel said.

The counsel said it was a "comedy of errors", though he is not a party to the contempt proceedings, and an eviction notice was issued to him. To this Justice Bhatti quipped "comedy of errors" on which side!

Advocate Prashant Bhushan, appearing for NGO Samaj Parivartan Samudaya submitted that the petitioner has already filed writ petition in the High Court challenging the eviction.

"We appreciate the predicament in which the petitioner is there. At one stage, he is out of contempt then eviction notice is issued. We can give you liberty to go the HC. We do not want any parties to be subject to prejudice," the bench said.

The petitioner was aggrieved with the series of orders issued on contempt proceedings since 2020 till January 29, 2025.

His plea stated that the Petitioner is the former Chief Minister of Karnataka (from 2006 to 2007 and 2018 to 2019) and the present Union Minister of Heavy Industries and Steel. He is also the owner of the following land parcels in Kethaganahalli Village, Bidadi Hobli, Ramanagara.