Allahabad High Court

SMT. NAFEESA KHATOON AND ANOTHERversusMANGLA PRASAD SINGH, DISTRICT MAGISTRATE AND 4 OTHERS

Decided: 28 September 2026
Bench: VIKAS BUDHWAR

Holding

The contempt application was not entertained as it had outlived its utility and was consigned to the record.

Summary

The applicants, Smt. Nafeesa Khatoon and another, filed a contempt application alleging that the District Magistrate and other officials willfully defied the Allahabad High Court's order dated 26 May 2025 in Writ‑B No.1487/2025, which prohibited creation of any third‑party interest in a disputed plot and barred alteration of the plot's nature. The order required the parties to maintain the status‑quo until further orders. The opposite party issued a notice on 6 April 2026 and a modified notice on 25 September 2026, which the applicants claimed violated the High Court's directive. The Court examined whether these actions constituted contempt and whether the contempt petition remained viable. Finding that the contempt application had outlived its utility, the Court consigned the petition to the record, leaving the applicants free to approach the Court again if necessary.

Issues considered

Did the issuance of the notice on 6 April 2026 and its modification on 25 September 2026 amount to willful defiance of the High Court order dated 26 May 2025?
Is the contempt application maintainable at this stage?

Subjects

contempt of court
willful defiance
High Court order
land dispute
third‑party interest
status‑quo

Judgment

HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT ALLAHABAD
CONTEMPT APPLICATION (CIVIL) No. - 5948 of 2026

Smt. Nafeesa Khatoon And Another
.....Applicant(s)
Versus

Mangla Prasad Singh, District Magistrate And 4
Others .....Opposite
Party(s)

Counsel for Applicant(s) : Narayan Dutt Shukla, Rituvendra Singh
Nagvanshi
Counsel for Opposite Party(s) :

Court No. - 53
HON'BLE VIKAS BUDHWAR, J.

1. The present contempt application has been preferred alleging willful
defiance of the order dated 26.05.2025 passed in Writ-B No. 1487 of 2025,
order whereof is quoted hereinunder:-

"Order on Civil Misc. Amendment Application No. Nil of 2025.
1. Amendment Application filed today, is taken on record.
2. Office is directed to allot regular number to the instant application.
3. Heard learned counsel for petitioners/applicants.
4. In view of the facts mentioned in the affidavit filed in support of the
instant application, the amendment application is allowed.
5. Learned counsel for petitioner is permitted to incorporate the
necessary amendment in the writ petition during the course of the day
Order on writ petition
1. Heard Sri R.C. Singh, learned Senior Counsel assisted by Sri
Rituvendra Singh Nagvanshi, learned counsel for the petitioners, Sri A.P.
Singh and Sri Parvez Iqbal Ansari, learned counsel for respondent no. 5
and learned Standing Counsel for the State.
2. Learned Senior Counsel for petitioners submitted that petitioner has
not been allotted chak on his original road side plot according to his
share by the Consolidation authorities.
3. On the other hand, Sri A.P. Singh and Sri Parvez Iqbal Ansari, learned
counsel appearing for respondent no. 5 submitted that impugned order
has been passed in proper manner adjusting the petitioner on his original
CAPL No. 5948 of 2026
2

plot according to his share as far as possible. He further placed the sale
deed executed in favour of petitioner no. 2 in order to demonstrate that
the plot in question is not a road side plot.
4. Matter requires consideration.
5. Issue notice to respondent nos. 6 to 30 returnable at an early date.
6. Steps be taken within three weeks.
7. Respondent nos. 5 to 30 shall file counter affidavit within six weeks.
8. Rejoinder affidavit shall be filed within two weeks thereafter.
9. List this matter on 21.08.2025.
10.Until further orders of this Court, no third party interest shall be
created by the parties in respect to the plot in dispute and nature of the
plot shall not be changed by the parties to the writ petition. "

2. Learned counsel for the applicant has invited attention towards page 62 of
the paper book so as to contend that on 06.04.2025 despite there being, no
order of status-quo, the opposite party proceeded to pass the order dated
06.04.2026 which is quoted hereinunder.-

"कार्यालय उप जिलाधिकारी बेल्थरारोड, बलिया।

पत्रांक 198 / एस०टी दिनांक अप्रैल 06, 2026

नोटिस

1. श्रीमती नफीसा खातून व अन्य

निवासी-ग्राम पिपरौली, परगना सिकन्दरपुर गर्दी, तहसील-बेल्थरारोड, जनपद-बलिया।

2. श्री जावेद अनवर व अन्य

निवासी-ग्राम पिपरौली, परगना-सिकन्दरपुर गर्दी,

तहसील-बेल्थरारोड, जनपद-बलिया।

उच्च मा० इलाहाबाद न्यायालय के समक्ष योजित रिट याचिका संख्या-बी-1487/2025 श्रीमती नफीसा खातून व अन्य बनाम स्टेट

आफ यू०पी० व 28 अन्य में मा० न्यायालय द्वारा दिनांक 26.05.2025 को आदेश पारित किया गया कि -

"Until further orders of this Court, no third party interest shall be created by the parties in respect to the

plot in dispute and nature of the plot shall not be changed by the parties to the writ petition."

अतः उभयपक्षों को निर्देशित किया जाता है कि मा० न्यायालय द्वारा पारित उक्त आदेश का अनुपालन करते तथा मा० न्यायालय के

अग्रिम आदेश तक मौके पर यथास्थिति बनाये रखे।

उप जिमाधिकारी
CAPL No. 5948 of 2026
3

बेल्थरारोड, बलिया।"

3. Today, instructions dated 26.09.2026 have been produced containing the
order dated 25.09.2026 which is quoted hereinunder:-

"कार्यालय उप जिलाधिकारी बेल्थरारोड, बलिया।

पत्रांक :- 516/एस०टी० दिनांक :- 25 सितम्बर, 2026

संशोधित नोटिस

1- श्रीमती नफीसा खातून व अन्य

निवासी-ग्राम पिपरौली, परगना सिकन्दरपुर गर्वी,

तहसील-बेल्थरारोड, जनपद-बलिया

2- श्री जावेद अनवर व अन्य

निवासी-ग्राम पिपरौली, परगना सिकन्दरपुर गर्वी,

तहसील-बेल्थरारोड, जनपद-बलिया

मा० उच्च न्यायालय इलाहाबाद के समक्ष योजित रिट याचिका संख्या-बी-1487/2025 श्रीमती नफीसा खातून व अन्य बनाम स्टेट

आफ यू०पी० व 26 अन्य में मा० न्यायालय द्वारा दिनांक 26.05.2025 को आदेश पारित किया गया कि -

"Until further orders of this Court, no third party interest shall be created by the parties in respect to the

plot in dispute and nature of the plot shall not be changed by the parties to the writ petition."

अतः उक्त के सम्बन्ध में पूर्व में अधोहस्ताक्षरी द्वारा जारी नोटिस जिसका पत्रांक 198/एस०टी० दिनांक अप्रैल 06, 2026 में संशोधन

करते हुए उभयपक्षों को निर्देशित किया जाता है कि मा० न्यायालय द्वारा पारित उक्त आदेश का अनुपालन सुनिश्चित करें।

उप जिलाधिकारी

बेल्थरारोड, बलिया।

प्रतिलिपि :-

1. थानाध्यक्ष उभांव को इस निर्देश के साथ कि मा० उच्च न्यायालय इलाहाबाद द्वारा पारित आदेश दिनांक 26.05.2025 का

अनुपालन कराते हुए मौके पर शांति व्यवस्था बनाये रखना सुनिश्चित करें।

2. श्री मनीष कुमार श्रीवास्तव क्षेत्रीय लेखपाल ग्राम पिपरौली को इस निर्देश के साथ कि नोटिस की एक प्रति उभयपक्ष को तामिला

कराते हुए तामिला प्रति कार्यालय में उपलब्ध कराना सुनिश्चित करें।"

4. In view of the above, the contempt application has outlived its utility, the
same is consigned to record leaving it open to the applicant to again
CAPL No. 5948 of 2026
4

approach as and when the occasion arises.

(Vikas Budhwar,J.)
September 29, 2026
Rajesh

Digitally signed by :-
RAJESH KUMAR
High Court of Judicature at Allahabad

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