E.Murali v. Sri Surendra Pande, Ifs

THE HON'BLE SRI JUSTI CE SANJAY KUMAR AND THE HON'BLE SRI JUSTI CE M. SEETHARAMA MURTI CONTEMPT CASE No. 139 of 2017 ORDER: (per Hon'ble Sri Justice Sanjay Kumar) This contempt case was instituted alleging willful disobedience to the order dated 22.09.2016 passed by this Court in W.P.M.P.No.32476 of 2015 in W.P.No.25016 of 2015. By the said order, this Court granted stay of payment of the arrears pursuant to the orders of the Andhra Pradesh Administrative Tribunal, Hyderabad, in O.A.No.3859 of 2014 but directed the State of Andhra Pradesh, the petitioner in the writ petition, to continue to extend the benefits of minimum time scale to the unofficial respondents therein as directed by the Tribunal. Complaining that they were not being extended the minimum time scale as directed, the unofficial respondents in the writ petition filed this contempt case. The order passed by this Court was tested by the State before the Supreme Court in S.L.P.No.7915 of 2017. The S.L.P was dismissed as long back as on 05.05.2017.

Thereafter, having undertaken before this Court that they would abide by the order, the respondents failed to do so. Today, the respondents are present in person yet again and Smt. Bobba Vijayalakshmi, learned counsel for the petitioners, would inform this Court that the order has finally been implemented. We are pained to note that despite the order being confirmed by the Supreme Court as long back as in May, 2017, the respondents did not choose to implement the same till October, 2017. It is unfortunate that the respondents, being responsible officers of the State of Andhra Pradesh, failed to live up to the expectation of this Court that they would respect and abide by the orders passed by this Court without undue delay.

However, as we are now informed that the order has been implemented, we are not inclined to take a serious view of the matter. This order shall however be forwarded to the Chief Secretary, State of Andhra Pradesh, for future guidance in matters of this nature. The contempt case is closed. No order as to costs. _________________________ SANJAY KUMAR, J _________________________ M. SEETHARAMA MURTI , J Date: 20.10.2017 va