Allahabad HC Asks UP Government: Whether An Officer With 77 Contempt Proceedings Against Him Fit To Continue In Service?

Prayagraj, February 9 (TNA) The Allahabad High Court, while hearing a contempt case, has ordered the Law Minister of Uttar Pradesh to take action against Principal Secretary Basic Education Deepak Kumar. The court has also summoned an affidavit from the Chief Secretary on the action taken.

The Allahabad High Court, while hearing the contempt case, asked the government whether an officer against whom 77 cases of contempt are going on, is fit to continue in service? The court has asked the Chief Secretary and Additional Chief Secretary Finance to be present before the court on the next hearing. Justice Piyush Agarwal has given this order while hearing the petition of RP Verma and others.

The matter pertains to the pay scales of Block Education Officers. In the order of February 2, 2018, the court had passed the order to increase the pay scale to Rs 7500, but till now the pay scale has not been received. On this a contempt petition was filed.

Principal Secretary Basic Education filed an affidavit in the court on January 10 and said that a special appeal has been filed in the matter, which will be heard on January 11. The order of the court shall be executed within three weeks after hearing the appeal.

During the hearing, the Principal Secretary Basic Education appeared before the Court. By filing an affidavit on his behalf, it was told that the matter is pending before Additional Chief Secretary Finance.

Additional time has been sought to comply with the court order. On this, the court said that on the earlier date, conditional time was given on the basis of the affidavit of the Principal Secretary, but there was no compliance.

Petitioner's advocate Kushmandi Shahi said that the court directed the Chief Secretary and Additional Chief Secretary Finance to appear on the next hearing on February 14. Along with this, the Principal Secretary Basic Education has also been asked to be present.