Maddikunta Siddhartha v. S K Verma

$~44 * IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI + CONT.CAS(C) 5/2019 MADDIKUNTA SIDDHARTHA .....Petitioner Through:

Mr. Vikram Hegde & Mr. Chitwan Sharma, Advocates versus S K VERMA .....Respondent Through:

Mr. Rajesh Gogna, CGSC/Advocate

CORAM:

HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE MANOJ JAIN

O R D E R

% 12.03.2025 CM APPL. 14546/2025 Exemption allowed, subject to all just exceptions. CM APPL. 14545/2025 1.

Aforesaid application has been filed by respondent/ Union of India. 2.

Present contempt petition seeks initiation of contempt proceedings against respondent for wilful disobedience of the specific directions contained in judgment dated 22.03.2018 passed by Co-ordinate Bench of this Court in W.P. (C) No. 3074/2017. While setting aside the impugned communication, the respondent was directed to verify the creamy layer status of all petitioners. By virtue of above common order, twelve petitions were disposed of.

3.

Learned counsel for Union of India submits that the abovesaid judgment has already been challenged by Union of India by filing an SLP before the Hon'ble Supreme Court and the Hon'ble Supreme Court, while CONT.CAS(C) 5/2019 1 The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 01/07/2025 at 01:18:41

entertaining such SLP on 19.05.2020 directed that there would be stay of the operation of said order dated 22.03.2018 passed by the High Court of Delhi in W.P. (C) Nos. 3073-3084/2017.

4.

In view of the above, Mr. Gogna, learned counsel for Union of India, submits that since the judgment, of which they are alleged to be in contempt of, has been stayed by the Hon'ble Supreme Court, continuance of present contempt proceedings is neither permissible nor sustainable. 5.

Mr. Vikram Hegde & Mr. Chitwan Sharma, learned counsel for petitioner do not dispute the abovesaid development and submits that the petition be disposed of with liberty to petitioner to seek its revival in case need arises.

6.

The application is, accordingly, allowed and, resultantly, the contempt petition is disposed of with liberty to petitioner to revive the same as per the outcome of the aforesaid SLP.

MANOJ JAIN, J MARCH 12, 2025/dr/js CONT.CAS(C) 5/2019 2 The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above. The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 01/07/2025 at 01:18:41