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Manipur High Court
Akoijam Chingkheinganbi Devi vs Vineet Joshi & 8 Ors on 3 February, 2026
Author: A. Bimol Singh
Bench: A. Bimol Singh
KHOIROM
BIPINCHAN
Digitally signed by KHOIROM
BIPINCHANDRA SINGH
Date: 2026.02.04 10:35:12 +05'30'
DRA SINGH Item No. 21
IN THE HIGH COURT OF MANIPUR
AT IMPHAL
CONT. CAS(C) No. 113 of 2024
Akoijam Chingkheinganbi Devi
... Petitioner
- Versus -
Vineet Joshi & 8 Ors.
... Respondents
B E F O R E
HON'BLE THE CHIEF JUSTICE MR. M. SUNDAR
HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE A. BIMOL SINGH
O R D E R
[M. Sundar, CJ]
03.02.2026
[1] Read this in conjunction with and in continuation of earlier
proceedings made in the previous listing on 20.01.2026 which reads as
follows:
'[1] Mr. L. Anand, learned senior counsel instructed by Mr. B.
Kirankumar, learned counsel for petitioner, Mr. M. Rendy,
learned counsel for respondent Nos. 1, 2, 3, 8 & 9, Mr. S. Suresh,
learned counsel for respondent No. 4, Mr. W. Niranjit, learned
State counsel for respondent No. 6 and Ms. N. Savitri, learned
counsel for respondent No. 7 are before this Court.
[2] Captioned contempt petition has been filed complaining
of breach of order dated 14.05.2024 made in W.A. No. 19 of
2022 which is a State appeal.
[3] Suffice to write that subject matter is 'pension and
pensionary benefits'.
[4] A Hon'ble Single Bench in and by an order dated
27.04.2021 made in W.P. (C) No. 275 of 2019 directed release
of 'pension and pensionary benefits' together with accrued
interest ('said Single Bench order' for the sake of convenience).
[5] Afore-referred said Single Bench order was carried in
appeal (intra-court appeal) i.e., State appeal and that culminated
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in afore-referred 14.05.2024 order ('said order' for the sake of
convenience).
[6] Afore-referred said State appeal was partly allowed as the
original writ petitioner did not press for interest. Recording this
position, State was directed to release 'pension and pensionary
benefits' within three months from the date of the order which
means the release should have happened on or before
14.08.2024. This did not happen and therefore captioned
contempt petition was filed in this Court on 15.10.2024.
[7] Respondent No. 8 in this contempt petition is Shri Sumant
Singh (IAS), Commissioner-cum-Secretary (Health and FW),
Government of Manipur. Respondent No. 8 took out Misc. Case
being MC [CONT. CAS (C)] No. 71 of 2025 seeking four weeks
time to comply with said order i.e., afore-referred 14.05.2024
order. In and vide order dated 29.07.2025, predecessor Hon'ble
Bench recorded this position and cast a duty on the contempt
petitioner to file a report regarding correct date of birth of
petitioner, thereafter, in and by judicial order dated 08.09.2025,
the stated position of learned counsel i.e., that this duty cast on
the petitioner has been discharged has been recorded.
Paragraph 2 of 08.09.2025 order reads as follows:
'The learned counsel for the complainant/petitioner submitted
that he has already been furnished the correct date of birth to the
concerned authority. However, Mr. R.K. Umakanta, learned senior
G.A. for the respondent No.6 also submitted that the respondent
No.6 has been transferred from Imphal to Delhi. This status which
is made by the aforesaid counsel is taken on record.'
(Underlining made by this Court for ease of reference)
[8] In the aforesaid scenario, 14.05.2024 order is yet to be
complied is learned senior counsel's say. As regards 14.05.2024
order, the most relevant paragraph where a specific directive has
been given to the State reads as follows:
'Further, the State is directed to release the pension & pensionary
benefits to Akoijam Chingkheinganbi Devi, the original writ
petitioner, within a period of 3(three) months from today,
subject, however, to the latter furnishing an undertaking before
this Court, that the said amount would be refunded to them, in
the event the State of Manipur succeeds in Original (Declaration)
Suit No. 20 of 2022 (The Director of Health Services, Government
of Manipur Vrs. Km. Akoijam Chingkheinganbi Devi & ors.) before
the Civil Judge (Jr. Divn.), Imphal West-I.'
(Underlining made by this Court for highlighting and for ease of
reference)
[9] This Court is informed that afore-referred Civil Suit is
pending.
[10] The State having voluntarily undertaken to comply with
(14.05.2024) said order, predecessor Bench having recorded the
same, subject only to one duty cast on the contempt petitioner
and statement that the contempt petitioner has discharged his
obligation having been recorded in an earlier judicial order, we
find that the writing is on the wall.
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[11] Faced with the above situation, Mr. M. Rendy, learned
counsel for respondent Nos. 1, 2, 3, 8 & 9, made a fervent plea
for a peremptory fortnight.
[12] List a fortnight hence. List on 03.02.2026.'
[2] Mr. L. Anand, learned senior advocate instructed by Mr. B.
Kirankumar, learned counsel for contempt petitioner; Mr. M. Hemchandra,
learned senior advocate instructed by Mr. Rendy, learned counsel for
respondent Nos. 1, 2, 3, 8 & 9; Mr. S. Suresh, learned counsel for
respondent No. 4; Mr. W. Niranjit, learned Deputy Government Advocate
for respondent No. 6 and Ms. Savitri, learned counsel for respondent No. 7
are before this Court.
[3] In the hearing today, senior advocate, Mr. M. Hemchandra,
on instructions from Mr. Rendy submitted that there is due compliance of
order of this Court, vide letter dated 02.01.2026 and order dated
30.01.2026. Mr. Rendy, learned counsel sought time to file the letter and
order under two separate affidavits from R-8 & 9 confirming that the same
tantamount to compliance with the order of this Court.
[4] Request acceded to.
[5] R-4, 6 & 7 shall also file separate affidavits in this regard
setting out their stated position.
[6] Let the matter stand over by fortnight.
[7] List a fortnight hence.
[8] List under the caption for 'Affidavits' on 18.02.2026.
JUDGE CHIEF JUSTICE
Bipin
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