HC issues Bailable Warrants against several State Govt officials in Contempt Case

The High Court of Himachal Pradesh has issued bailable warrants against several Govt officials including the Principal Secretary, Irrigation & Public Health (IPH).

Warrants were also issued against, Engineer-In-Chief, IPH Department, Superintending Engineer, IPH Department, Shimla Circle & Executive Engineer, IPH Department.

Justice Vivek Singh Thakur passed these orders on a contempt petition filed by one Govind Singh for violation of the orders dated April 23, 2019 by a tribunal in which the respondent Irrigation & Public Health department was directed to allow him to serve the department up to the age of sixty years.

The Court posted the matter for Oct 6, 2020.

The petitioner has appealed to direct the respondents/contemnors to release his salary till date along with 12% interest. 

After the abolition of the erstwhile Tribunal, a plea was transferred to HC.

Despite several opportunities granted to the respondents to file a response/compliance affidavit, the same was not filed.
The respondents were directed to appear in person on Sept 10, 2020, in Court, in case of failure to file the compliance affidavit, but they neither filed the response nor appeared in person & 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 along with the record, enabling the Court to proceed further.

Earlier today, the High Court of Himachal Pradesh has directed to initiate action/proceedings against a petitioner, for making false averments with respect to non-filing of any other bail application on the same grounds earlier before this Court or any other Court, in his plea for anticipatory bail, which was also duly supported by his affidavit.

Justice Vivek Singh Thakur passed these orders on a bail petition filed by one Shri Surinder Kumar of District Kangra for grant of anticipatory bail in case FIR dated June 23, 2020, registered in Police Station Damtal, Kangra under several sections of the NDPS Act.

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