Punjab Chief Secretary KAP Sinha (IAS:1992:PB) may heave a sigh of relief, as the Supreme Court on Wednesday agreed to hear a fresh plea against the Punjab and Haryana High Court’s decision to initiate criminal contempt proceedings against him in the employees’ DA arrears case.
The High Court, in its order on October 12, had issued a contempt notice to the Chief Secretary (CS) asking as to why criminal contempt proceedings should not be initiated against him for giving false statements in the case. The notice was made returnable on October 30.
The Punjab govt’s Additional Chief Secretary (ACS) has filed a petition challenging the HC order, arguing that the CS is made to attend to the HC on an almost regular basis.
A bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana took note of submissions made by the ACS.
CJI Surya Kant said that the plea will be listed on Thursday before another bench.
The petition says that the HC proceedings originated from miscellaneous applications that had already been finally disposed of.
It also contends that the applicants had sought action over alleged non-compliance with the HC’s earlier judgment, even though the original petitioners had already initiated separate civil contempt proceedings on the same issue.
CS Sinha earlier tendered an unconditional apology to the HC after being issued a contempt notice in the case.
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