Show-cause notice to Vidhan Sabha Secy

Chandigarh, July 14

The Punjab and Haryana High Court today directed the issuance of a show-cause notice to Punjab Vidhan Sabha Secretary Shashi Lakhanpal Mishra and another official for explaining why they should not be held guilty of contempt and sentenced accordingly. The two have been directed to be present before the court in person on July 27.

This is, perhaps, the first time an order directing personal appearance of a senior officer has been ordered since the High Court went into restricted functioning mode in March-end following the Covid outbreak.

The directions came after Justice Jaishree Thakur ruled that prima facie, there was deliberate, intentional and flagrant violation of the court order passed on January 7 in a seniority dispute.

The respondents, after the verdict was reserved in the matter, made an unsuccessful attempt of a turnaround by informing Justice Thakur’s Bench that they were withdrawing the impugned order.

Justice Thakur observed that the state counsel placed on record a communication stating they were withdrawing the order “in view of the observations” by the High Court during the hearing of the contempt petition.

“A reading of the communication would reflect that the respondents are only withdrawing the impugned order, after the matter has been reserved. The order withdrawing the impugned order had not been placed upon record,” Justice Thakur added. Appearing before the Bench on petitioner Jaswinder Singh’s behalf, senior counsel DS Patwalia and Adityajit Singh Chadha had, on the previous date of hearing, submitted that the petitioner’s demotion was stayed by the High Court, but the order was disobeyed. — TNS