Home / Crime and Justice / Karnataka Appoints Compliance Officers to Address Contempt of Court Backlog
Karnataka Appoints Compliance Officers to Address Contempt of Court Backlog
21 Aug
Summary
- 3,957 contempt of court cases pending against Karnataka government since 2022
- Failure to implement court orders has caused embarrassment, including seizure of officials' cars
- New law mandates departments to appoint designated officers to oversee compliance with court orders
In August 2025, the Karnataka government is grappling with a significant backlog of contempt of court cases against the state. According to the Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister H.K. Patil, a total of 3,957 such cases have been pending since 2022, with the number steadily increasing each year.
The minister has acknowledged that the failure to implement court orders on time has caused considerable embarrassment to the government, with some instances even leading to the seizure of tahsildars' cars due to contempt proceedings. Recognizing the gravity of the situation, the state has now passed the Karnataka Conduct of Government Litigation (Amendment) Bill, 2025, to address this issue.
The new law introduces a dedicated chapter on compliance with court orders, mandating all government departments to appoint a designated officer responsible for overseeing the enforcement and compliance with court rulings. These officers will be tasked with preparing regular reports on the status of compliance, ensuring that the state government respects and adheres to the directives issued by the judiciary.
To further streamline the process, the government has also announced the formation of a committee under the chairmanship of the Chief Secretary to work towards resolving the backlog of contempt cases. This comprehensive approach aims to restore the state's credibility and demonstrate its commitment to upholding the rule of law.
