HC summons horticulture secretary C Pal Rasu over non-compliance of court order
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Shimla, Sept 16
Himachal Pradesh High Court has directed Secretary (Horticulture) C. Pal Rasu to remain personally present before it on September 18, taking serious note of alleged non-compliance with its earlier directions concerning attachment of his salary.
A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice G.S. Sandhawalia and Justice Jiya Lal Bhardwaj, while hearing execution petitions relating to its earlier orders, observed that the State appeared to be continuing to show scant regard for the directions of the Court.
The Court noted that on August 7, 2026, it had ordered attachment of the salary of C. Pal Rasu. However, according to a communication placed on record by the Advocate General on September 11, the officer’s salary was inadvertently credited to his bank account. The amount was subsequently deposited back and withheld by the Secretary (SA) till further orders.
The Bench observed that the salary had effectively been attached only after a period of one month, despite its earlier direction. It held that the State’s action prima facie indicated non-compliance with the Court’s order.
“Accordingly, let the said officer come-forth before this Court,” the Bench ordered, observing that there appeared to be a prima facie case of contempt for allegedly frustrating the rights of the successful writ petitioners and non-compliance with the Court’s directions.
The Court also took note of an earlier order dated August 7, 2026, and proceedings before the Supreme Court. It recorded that the Special Leave Petition (Civil) No. 28038/2026, titled State of Himachal Pradesh and Others vs Nitin Thakur and Others, filed against dismissal of a modification application concerning the order dated November 12, 2025, was dismissed by the Supreme Court on August 21, 2026.
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The High Court directed that a notice be issued to the officer for the purpose of initiating contempt proceedings for alleged violation of its directions. It ordered that C. Pal Rasu remain present before the Court on the next date of hearing, September 18, 2026.
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