Jaipur: The Rajasthan High Court has taken a strict stance against bureaucrats for failing to comply with court orders. In two contempt cases, the court has issued contempt notices to 14 officials, including Chief Secretary Sudhanshu Pant, Principal Secretaries Subir Kumar, Dinesh Kumar, and Jogaram, Jaipur Collector Jitendra Kumar Soni, IPS officers Sagar and Amit Kumar, and judicial officer Ravi Sharma. The officials have been asked to respond to the notices.
Additionally, the court has taken suo motu cognizance of the state government’s failure to implement the High Court’s full bench decision on the appointment of government advocates. The court has sought responses from Chief Secretary Pant, the High Court Registrar General, and the Principal Law Secretary. The division bench of Justice Indrajit Singh and Justice Pramil Kumar Mathur ordered the issuance of contempt notices in two cases.
Jaipur Grazing Land Case: CS and Others Summoned
In another case, the court has sought an explanation from Chief Secretary Pant and other officials regarding non-compliance with a November 8, 2024, order on grazing land in Hadota village, Jaipur. The officials who received contempt notices include Revenue Principal Secretary Dinesh Kumar, Panchayati Raj Principal Secretary Jogaram, Jaipur Collector Jitendra Kumar Soni, and former Jaipur Traffic DCPs Sagar and Amit Kumar. The court also issued notices to judicial officer Ravi Sharma, former Jaipur Zila Parishad CEO Suman Chaudhary, Chomu SDM Dilip Singh, Tehsildar Vijaypal Bishnoi, SHO Pradeep Kumar, Govindgarh BDO Sanu Agarwal, Hadota Gram Vikas Officer Aarti Sharma, Sarpanch Kesari Devi, and contractor Lalchand Yadav.
CS and Food Secretary Summoned Over Tender Transparency
In another case, the court has sought replies from Chief Secretary Sudhanshu Pant and Food and Civil Supplies Principal Secretary Subir Kumar for failing to comply with an August 18, 2023, order related to public procurement transparency. The court directed all government tender documents to be uploaded online, as mandated by the Rajasthan Transparency in Public Procurement Act. The orders were issued on a contempt petition filed by the Public Against Corruption organization.
IAS Officer Apologizes in Court
In a separate contempt case related to higher education, Ayurveda Secretary Bhawani Singh Detha appeared before the court and apologized for failing to comply with an order. Justice Umashankar Vyas reminded him that both the judiciary and the administration serve the public. Accepting his unconditional apology, the court disposed of the contempt case.
Similarly, in another case, the Finance Department’s Joint Secretary Ejab Nabi Khan appeared in court and apologized for failing to implement a decree issued by the Commercial Court. The court accepted his apology and closed the case.
Jaisalmer Collector Also Apologizes
Jaisalmer Collector Pratap Singh Chauhan also apologized in a contempt case. Following a Supreme Court directive, the Rajasthan High Court granted him relief.
HC Questions Government Over Pending Advocate Appointments
The High Court has questioned whether the government’s failure to appoint government advocates, despite approval from the full bench, constitutes contempt. The court has asked the state government, through the Chief Secretary, the High Court Registrar General, and the Principal Law Secretary, to submit responses by April 2. The Law Secretary has also been asked to appear in person with relevant records.
Senior advocate Arvind Kumar Gupta and advocate Pankaj Gupta pointed out to the court that the delay in appointing a government advocate has resulted in a backlog of numerous criminal cases.
The post Rajasthan HC Issues Contempt Notices to CS Sudhanshu Pant, 14 Officials Over Non-Compliance of Orders appeared first on Global Governance News- Asia's First Bilingual News portal for Global News and Updates.
