September 11, 2020
The High Court of H.P. has issued bailable warrants to the Principal Secretary, Irrigation & Public Health (IPH), Engineer-In-Chief, Superintending Engineer, IPH Department, Shimla Circle and Executive Engineer, IPH Department, Sunni Division, District Shimla, in the sum of Rs. 25,000/- each with one surety each in the like amount, to the satisfaction of the Arresting Officer.
Justice Vivek Singh Thakur passed these orders on a contempt Petition filed by one Govind Singh for violation of the orders dated 23.04.2019 passed by the Hon’ble Tribunal, vide which the respondent Irrigation and Public Health department was directed to allow him to serve the department up to the age of 60 years. The petitioner has prayed to direct the respondents/contemnors to release his salary till date alongwith 12% interest.
After abolition of the erstwhile Tribunal, petition was transferred to High Court. Despite several opportunities granted to the respondents to file response/compliance affidavit, the same was not filed. The respondents were directed to appear in person on 10.09.2020 in Court, in case of failure to file the compliance affidavit, but they neither filed the response nor appeared in person and moreover, nothing was on record on their behalf for exemption from presence in the Court.The Court observed that in the aforesaid circumstances, it has no other option except to issue the bailable warrants for securing the presence of the respondents alongwith record, enabling the Court to proceed further. The Court posted the matter for 06.10.2020.
