Delhi High Court - Orders
1 This Is A Digitally Signed Order. The ... vs 17. After Perusing The Record Of These ... on 2 May, 2025
$~ 21, 46, 47 and 70 to 195
* IN THEHIGH COURTOF DELHIAT NEW DELHI
+ CONT.CAS(C) 1367/2023
+ CONT.CAS(C) 606/2025 CM APPL. 23485/2025
+ CONT.CAS(C) 631/2025 CM APPL. 24131/2025
+ CONT.CAS(C) 1287/2016
+ CONT.CAS(C) 11/2017 & CM APPL. 34436/2021 & CM APPL.
34437/2021 & CM APPL. 34438/2021 & CM APPL. 9718/2022 & CM
APPL. 55391/2023 & CM APPL. 55897/2024
+ CONT.CAS(C) 277/2017
+ CONT.CAS(C) 485/2017 & CM APPL. 51220/2019
+ CONT.CAS(C) 712/2017
+ CONT.CAS(C) 714/2019
+ CONT.CAS(C) 112/2021
+ CONT.CAS(C) 193/2021 & CM APPL. 58285/2023
+ CONT.CAS(C) 850/2023 & CM APPL. 32821/2023
+ CONT.CAS(C) 198/2021 & CM APPL. 42830/2023 & CM APPL.
22087/2024
+ CONT.CAS(C) 1201/2022 & CM APPL. 55796/2022 & CM APPL.
8656/2023 & CM APPL. 54449/2023 & CM APPL. 22088/2024
+ CONT.CAS(C) 21/2022 & CM APPL. 24572/2022 & CM APPL. 2
4573/2022 & CM APPL. 36859/2024
+ CONT.CAS(C) 765/2022 & CM APPL. 12359/2023 & CM APPL.
46681/2023 & CM APPL. 60693/2023 & CM APPL. 15057/2024
+ CONT.CAS(C) 1050/2023 & CM APPL. 49063/2023 & CM APPL.
34007/2024
1
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+ CONT.CAS(C) 1397/2023 & CM APPL. 28839/2024 & CM APPL.
34365/2024
+ CONT.CAS(C) 615/2023 & CM APPL. 54735/2023 & CM APPL.
22089/2024
+ CONT.CAS(C) 770/2024 & CM APPL. 37916/2024
+ CONT.CAS(C) 595/2021 & CM APPL. 54726/2023
+ CONT.CAS(C) 787/2021
+ CONT.CAS(C) 788/2021
+ CONT.CAS(C) 861/2021
+ CONT.CAS(C) 862/2021
+ CONT.CAS(C) 951/2021 & CM APPL. 9084/2022
+ CONT.CAS(C) 16/2022 & CM APPL. 24574/2022 & CM APPL.
24575/2022 & CM APPL. 24584/2022 & CM APPL. 24585/2022
+ CONT.CAS(C) 403/2022
+ CONT.CAS(C) 405/2022
+ CONT.CAS(C) 18/2022 & CM APPL. 24576/2022 & CM APPL.
24577/2022 & CM APPL. 53037/2022
+ CONT.CAS(C) 19/2022 & CM APPL. 24578/2022 & CM APPL.
24579/2022
+ CONT.CAS(C) 22/2022 & CM APPL. 24582/2022 & CM APPL.
24583/2022
+ CONT.CAS(C) 20/2022 & CM APPL. 23784/2022 & CM APPL.
23785/2022
+ CONT.CAS(C) 28/2022
+ CONT.CAS(C) 29/2022
+ CONT.CAS(C) 32/2022
2
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The authenticity of the order can be re-verified from Delhi High Court Order Portal by scanning the QR code shown above.
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+ CONT.CAS(C) 40/2022 & CM APPL. 24580/2022 & CM APPL.
24581/2022
+ CONT.CAS(C) 42/2022
+ CONT.CAS(C) 43/2022 & CM APPL. 19070/2022 & CM APPL.
53812/2022
+ CONT.CAS(C) 50/2022
+ CONT.CAS(C) 63/2022 & CM APPL. 19082/2022 & CM APPL.
24568/2022 & CM APPL. 43194/2024
+ CONT.CAS(C) 131/2022 & CM APPL. 20843/2023 & CM APPL.
24042/2023 & CM APPL. 31021/2023 & CM APPL. 61987/2023 & CM
APPL. 48215/2024 & CM APPL. 3169/2025 & CM APPL. 3382/2025
& CM APPL. 3385/2025
+ CONT.CAS(C) 1066/2022 & CM APPL. 22832/2023
+ CONT.CAS(C) 1072/2022
+ CONT.CAS(C) 1096/2022
+ CONT.CAS(C) 1103/2022 & CM APPL. 16927/2023
+ CONT.CAS(C) 1120/2022
+ CONT.CAS(C) 1147/2022
+ CONT.CAS(C) 1163/2022
+ CONT.CAS(C) 1188/2022 & CM APPL. 56020/2022
+ CONT.CAS(C) 1200/2022 & CM APPL. 47700/2022 & CM APPL.
56205/2022
+ CONT.CAS(C) 1235/2022
+ CONT.CAS(C) 1236/2022 & CM APPL. 55799/2022 & CM APPL.
8342/2023
+ CONT.CAS(C) 1242/2022 & CM APPL. 56206/2022
3
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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 29/06/2025 at 17:26:06
+ CONT.CAS(C) 1255/2022 & CM APPL. 55797/2022 & CM APPL.
8343/2023
+ CONT.CAS(C) 1256/2022
+ CONT.CAS(C) 1259/2022
+ CONT.CAS(C) 1281/2022 & CM APPL. 55798/2022 & CM APPL.
8605/2023
+ CONT.CAS(C) 132/2022
+ CONT.CAS(C) 1349/2022 & CM APPL. 53388/2022
+ CONT.CAS(C) 1373/2022 & CM APPL. 54293/2022 & CM APPL.
42990/2023 & CM APPL. 42991/2023
+ CONT.CAS(C) 138/2022 & CM APPL. 24570/2022CM APPL.
22396/2025CM APPL. 22397/2025
+ CONT.CAS(C) 139/2022
+ CONT.CAS(C) 145/2022
+ CONT.CAS(C) 151/2022 & CM APPL. 24711/2022
+ CONT.CAS(C) 161/2022 & CM APPL. 24712/2022
+ CONT.CAS(C) 185/2022
+ CONT.CAS(C) 197/2022 & CM APPL. 22957/2022
+ CONT.CAS(C) 222/2022
+ CONT.CAS(C) 328/2022
+ CONT.CAS(C) 347/2022
+ CONT.CAS(C) 348/2022
+ CONT.CAS(C) 423/2022
+ CONT.CAS(C) 558/2022 & CM APPL. 30911/2023 & CM APPL.
42828/2023 & CM APPL. 42829/2023 & CM APPL. 58735/2023 & CM
APPL. 58736/2023
4
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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 29/06/2025 at 17:26:06
+ CONT.CAS(C) 568/2022 & CM APPL. 42832/2023 & CM APPL.
42833/2023 & CM APPL. 68608/2024
+ CONT.CAS(C) 569/2022
+ CONT.CAS(C) 574/2022 & CM APPL. 30882/2023CM APPL.
26290/2025
+ CONT.CAS(C) 587/2022
+ CONT.CAS(C) 591/2022 & CM APPL. 42826/2023 & CM APPL.
42827/2023 & CM APPL. 55995/2023
+ CONT.CAS(C) 636/2022 & CM APPL. 32282/2022
+ CONT.CAS(C) 766/2022
+ CONT.CAS(C) 774/2022
+ CONT.CAS(C) 776/2022
+ CONT.CAS(C) 778/2022 & CM APPL. 32807/2022
+ CONT.CAS(C) 835/2022 & CM APPL. 53810/2023
+ CONT.CAS(C) 1018/2023
+ CONT.CAS(C) 1019/2023
+ CONT.CAS(C) 115/2023
+ CONT.CAS(C) 1160/2023
+ CONT.CAS(C) 1168/2023
+ CONT.CAS(C) 1199/2023
+ CONT.CAS(C) 1238/2023
+ CONT.CAS(C) 156/2023
+ CONT.CAS(C) 1719/2023
+ CONT.CAS(C) 1720/2023
+ CONT.CAS(C) 1839/2023
5
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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 29/06/2025 at 17:26:06
+ CONT.CAS(C) 250/2023 & CM APPL. 54849/2023
+ CONT.CAS(C) 32/2023
+ CONT.CAS(C) 342/2023
+ CONT.CAS(C) 367/2023
+ CONT.CAS(C) 410/2023
+ CONT.CAS(C) 411/2023
+ CONT.CAS(C) 420/2023
+ CONT.CAS(C) 447/2023
+ CONT.CAS(C) 477/2023
+ CONT.CAS(C) 478/2023
+ CONT.CAS(C) 479/2023
+ CONT.CAS(C) 481/2023
+ CONT.CAS(C) 482/2023
+ CONT.CAS(C) 580/2023
+ CONT.CAS(C) 617/2023 & CM APPL. 24004/2023
+ CONT.CAS(C) 623/2023
+ CONT.CAS(C) 686/2023 & CM APPL. 26486/2023 & CM APPL.
55558/2023
+ CONT.CAS(C) 690/2023 & CM APPL. 53833/2023
+ CONT.CAS(C) 788/2023 & CM APPL. 30758/2023
+ CONT.CAS(C) 791/2023
+ CONT.CAS(C) 792/2023 & CM APPL. 30833/2023
+ CONT.CAS(C) 1202/2022
+ CONT.CAS(C) 495/2023 & CM APPL. 60579/2023
6
This is a digitally signed order.
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 29/06/2025 at 17:26:06
+ CONT.CAS(C) 855/2023
+ CONT.CAS(C) 1764/2023 & CM APPL. 61798/2023
+ CONT.CAS(C) 1777/2023 & CM APPL. 62126/2023
+ CONT.CAS(C) 1822/2023 CM APPL. 63442/2023
+ CONT.CAS(C) 1875/2023
+ CONT.CAS(C) 20/2024
+ CONT.CAS(C) 1503/2024
+ CONT.CAS(C) 1676/2024
+ CONT.CAS(C) 224/2025
+ CONT.CAS(C) 228/2025
Memo of Appearance
Mr. Mohit Mathur, Sr. Adv. Mr. J.S. Bedi, Mr. Rajinder Pal Singh, Ms. Shruti
Jain, Mr. Kuljeet Singh Sachdeva, Mr. Ankur Garg, Mr. Aman Sareen, Mr.
Saranjit Singh Bhalla & Mr. Amanpreet Singh Bhalla, Advocates for
petitioners in Item Nos. 74, 79 to 83, 85 to 89, 92, 93, 96 to 99, 103, 105, 107,
109 to 114, 116 to 124, 128, 136, 144, 146, 152 to 154, 158, 160, 161, 164,
166, 168, 169, 176, 178, 182, 184, 190to 195.
Mr. Sahej Uban & Mr. Jaiesh Singh, Advocates for petitioner in Item No.46 &
47.
Mr. Naushad Ahmed Khan, Ms. Supriya Malik, Ms. Jannat Yamin, Advocates
for DoE in Item Nos.114,154,160,162,178 & 187.
Mr. Charanpreet Singh, Advocate for Petitioner No.9 in Item No.88.
Mr. Ankit Singh Sinsinwar & Mr Ravi Kumar Advocates for petitioners in
Item No. 151.
Mr. Parminder Singh Goindi, Advocate for petitioners in Item Nos. 108, 119,
120, 125, 129, 134, 135, 136, 165, 170 & 191.
7
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The Order is downloaded from the DHC Server on 29/06/2025 at 17:26:06
Mr. Kartik Malhotra, Advocate for petitioners in Item Nos. 131, 132, 142 &
177 .
Mr. Mangesh Naik, Advocate for petitioners in Item Nos. 77 & 133.
Mr. Nikhilesh Kumar & Mr. Anuj Banerjee, Advocates in Item Nos. 75, 79, 84,
90, 91, 100, 101, 102, 104, 106, 115, 127, 137, 138, 140, 141, 143, 145, 147,
148, 149, 150, 157, 163, 171 to 175, 179, 181, 183, 185, 187, 188.
Ms. Sonali Arora, Advocate for the respondents/contemnor.
Mr. Inderbir Singh Alag, Senior Advocate & Mr. Kirti Uppal, Senior Advocate
with Mr. Abinash K. Mishra, Ms. Auneet Kaur, Mr. Gaurav Kr. Pandey,
Advocates along with Mr. Jagdeep Singh, General Secretary and Mr. Hardeep
Singh DGM in Item No.21, 70 to 195.
Mr. Jaspreet Singh Rai, Mr. Rohit Nagpal, Mr. Swetabh Kumar & Mr.
Devinder Singh, Advocates for R-6, R-7 & R-9 in Item no.108.
Ms. Sumeet Kaur, Advocate for petitioners in item no. 70, 73, 126 & 167.
Mr. Naginder Benipal, Mr. Ankit Siwach & Mr. Udit Vaghela, Advocates for
Respondent No.8 in item no. 82.
Mr. Atul Kumar& Mr. Abhimanyu Sharma, Advocates for petitioners in item
nos. 76,78,94,95,139,186.
Mr. Milandeep Singh & Mr. Udit Chawla, Advocates for petitioner in item
No.21.
Mr. Tanmaya Mehta and Ms. Anunaya Mehta, Advocates for R-3 and R-5 in
Item No.108.
Mr. Gaurav Dhingra & Mr. Shashank Singh, Advocates in Item No. 88, 98,
103, 107, 108, 118, 119, 120 for DoE.
Mr. Chetan Anand, Mr. Akash Srivastava, Mr. Maitray Rathi, Advocates for
Petitioners in Item Nos.71,72,155,156,180.
Ms. Latika Chaudhary, Advocate for DoE in Items No. 70 to
74,76,77,87,89,91,95 to
8
This is a digitally signed order.
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 29/06/2025 at 17:26:06
102,108,114,118,119122,125,132,136,137,139,143,147,149,151,154,156,157,1
63,165-167,170-176,179-181,185,187,194.
Mr. Varun Bhati, Advocate in Item Nos. 82 to 202 for R-4/Ex. General
Secretary, DSGMC.
Mr. Tushar Sannu, Advocate in Item No. 151/GNCTD.
Mrs. Avnish Ahlawat, Standing Counsel-GNCTD-Services in Item nos. 82, 87,
90, 128, 133, 136, 139, 140, 141, 145, 153, 163, 166, 180, 192.
Mr. Sujeet Kumar Mishra& Mr. Sarthak Bansal, Advocates for DoE in Item
No. 146.
Mr. Yeeshu Jain, ASC/Advocate for Directorate of Education with Ms. Jyoti
Tyagi & Mr. Priya Shukla, Advocates in item nos. 21, 46, 47, 84, 184, 191 and
193.
Mr. Gaurav Dhingra, Adv. for DOE in item nos.114, 124, 129, 133, 134, 144,
145 & 146.
Mr. Devinder Singh, Adv. for R-6 to R-9.
Mr. Naushad Ahmed Khan, Advocate for DoE in Item Nos. 187, 178, 164, 162,
160.
CORAM:
HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE ANISH DAYAL
ORDER
% 02.05.2025 CM APPL. 45959/2024 in CONT.CAS(C) 131/2022
1. This application has been filed by the petitioner seeking the following prayers:
" a) This Hon'ble Court may take cognizance of the blatant violations of the Respondent Contemnors that are in gross violation of the Judgment/Order dated 16-11-2021(W.P.(C ) 9 This is a digitally signed order.
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 29/06/2025 at 17:26:06 3746/2020 and 26-02-2024 in CONT.CAS (C ) 131 of 2022, and "Sentence" the Contemnors in the matter, subjecting them to "Punishment" (Civil Imprisonment) under the provisions of the Contempt of Courts Act 1971, until they purge themselves of contempt in totality.
b) This Hon'ble Court may proceed towards the "Attachment" of the 292 acres of Land at Bigar-Haryana and 15 acres at Shahadara Delhi, registered in the name of Delhi Sikh Gurudwara Committee for realisation of the pending dues.
c) Pass any other order/directions that this court may deem fit under the given facts and circumstances of the case."
2. The said application has been moved in context of the Judgment dated 16th November 2021 passed in W.P.(C) 3746/2020 in Shikha Sharma v. Guru Harkrishan Public School & Ors.
3. The respondents were directed to make payment of arrears in accordance with 6 th& 7thCentral Pay Commission ('CPC') along with other allowances and retiral benefits to the teachers who were employed in schools which were run by Guru Harkrishan Public School ('GHPS') Society. Various other directions were passed.
4. Since there was wilful disobedience of this order, alleged by the petitioners, an order was passed on 1st June 2023 recording inter alia as under:
"15. In this view of the admitted in-ability of the Respondent schools to pay the salaries of its employees, the DoE is directed to take appropriate decision, whether the DoE wants the appointment of an Administrator or de-recognise the schools, within a period of four (4) weeks from today and give immediate effect to the said orders.
16. This Court vide order dated 19.05.2023 observed that the Petitioners herein have been approached/coerced by the Respondents to waive off all the arrears, including arrears 10 This is a digitally signed order.
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 29/06/2025 at 17:26:06 of the 7 th CPC and have been threatened with transfer and other coercive actions. During the course of hearing today this Court has been apprised of the fact that the Respondents have transferred some of the Petitioners as a coercive measure for not adhering to management's demand of waving of all the arrears, including arrears of 7 th CPC which are due and payable to the Petitioners.
17. After perusing the record of these petitions and looking at the conduct of the Respondents, specifically the unwillingness expressed by Mr. Harmeet Singh Kalka, President and Mr. Jagdeep Singh Khalon, General Secretary of DSGMC in filing its affidavit, this Court is of the opinion that the Respondents are in wilful disobedience of the judgments and are stalling these proceedings to coerce the Petitioners to waive their rights to receive arrears. This Court deems it appropriate to now proceed with the contempt proceedings and issue show cause notice of contempt to Mr. Harmeet Singh Kalka, President and Mr. Jagdeep Singh Khalon, General Secretary of DSGMC and as well in their position as the Chairperson of GHPS, Tilak Nagar and GHPS- Dhakka Dhirpur respectively.
18. In this view of the matter Mr. Harmeet Singh Kalka and Mr. Jagdeep Singh Khalon are directed to remain present in Court on the next date of hearing for accepting the charges of contempt.
19. At this stage, the learned counsel for the Respondent states that in case Respondents comply with the judgments they may be given liberty to approach the Court for appropriate orders.
20. Needless to state that in case the Respondent will comply with the judgments of this Court, the present proceedings will be discharged."
(emphasis supplied)
5. Subsequently, this culminated in an order dated 26th February 2024 where the Court assessed various facts and circumstances in the context of this 11 This is a digitally signed order.
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 29/06/2025 at 17:26:06 alleged disobedience of the order of the Court. The relevant paragraphs of this order, which may be instructive for reference, are extracted as under:
"19. The Court finally ran out of its patience and vide order dated 01.06.2023, held the respondents to be prima facie guilty of contempt and also directed the DoE to take a decision on appointing an Administrator or de-recognize the school. The order has been quoted hereinabove....
24. I have in extenso detailed the above orders only in order to show that this Court, including the Division Bench of this Court, has been extending repeated opportunities to the respondents to purge their contempt and to pay the legitimate and legal dues of its employees, including the teachers. The helpless employees and teachers have been repeatedly knocking on the doors of this Court and have been frustrated by the respondents by giving undertakings, which they had no intention and means to comply with. Such undertakings were given merely to buy time. Now, the blame is sought to be passed to the previous Managements, and by placing reliance on the order dated 02.06.2022 passed in the present batch of petitions, it has been contended that the persons in previous Managements have also been summoned in the present petitions and it is they who should be asked to purge their contempt.
25. While this Court would consider proceeding against the persons in the previous Management and seek their response on the steps that, they had taken to ensure compliance with their undertakings given at that relevant time, it would not absolve the present Management of their failure to comply with the undertakings on behalf of the GHPS (ND) Society and the GHPS and the repeated orders of this Court.
26. The financial incapacity to clear the arrears and pay even the current dues, as pleaded by the respondents, only strengthens the belief of this Court that there is gross mis- management of the affairs of the schools, GHPS (ND) 12 This is a digitally signed order.
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 29/06/2025 at 17:26:06 Society, and to some extent, even of the DSGMC. The religion of Sikhism preaches the ideals of honesty, compassion, humanity, humility, and generosity in everyday life. While there is no doubt that various philanthropic and charitable causes are being discharged by the community and its leaders, at the same time, it should be kept in mind that 'charity begins at home'. There is no point of such philanthropic activities and values when its own teachers and staff of the schools, who are helping to lay down the foundation of a good and progressive society by imparting education and instilling moral values to young students and helping in running the said institutions, are ill-treated and not given their rightful dues, on the other hand are rather made to suffer the agony of approaching this Court repeatedly for the same.
27. While there is no quarrel on the proposition that the contempt jurisdiction is ideally not for the purpose of enforcement of money decrees, at the same time, there cannot be any exception from the acceptance, obedience, and compliance of the orders passed by this Court in its writ jurisdiction. Non-compliance and disobedience of the orders of this court would only dislodge the faith of a litigant in this Court thereby disturbing and undermining the majesty of the Court. It would strike at the very root of the rule of law on which the judicial system rests. Judicial orders are bound to be obeyed at all costs and cannot be permitted to be circumvented.
28. The respondents- GHPS(ND) Society and DSGMC have been giving repeated undertakings to this Court that they shall be clearing the dues of their employees and paying them as per the 7th CPC. These undertakings cannot be mere sheets of papers. The respondents could not have given them without any intent or means to comply with them. Equally, when they withdrew the appeals, as has been referred hereinabove, they expressed their willingness to comply with the direction that was impugned. They cannot say that the directions impugned in these appeals, though 13 This is a digitally signed order.
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 29/06/2025 at 17:26:06 have become final, are not enforceable or cannot be enforced.
30. The respondents have sought to contend that DSGMC is not responsible for clearing the dues. A bare reference to the abovementioned orders, which have been reproduced by this Court in detail, would show that the above plea is merely to be noted to be rejected. This Court in its orders, while accepting the several undertakings filed on behalf of DSGMC, has held that DSGMC is equally responsible for the payments of the dues and for the compliance with the judgment dated 16.11.2021 of this Court.
31. Even otherwise, Section 24 of the Delhi Sikh Gurdwaras Act,1971 casts a duty on the DSGMC inter alia to do all such things as may be incidental and conducive to the efficient management of the affairs of educational and other institutions under the DSGMC to spread education, to establish educational institutions, and to render financial assistance to such educational institutions and societies. The Schools have been established in discharge of this function. There is also an all pervasive control of the DSGMC on the functioning of the schools. DSGMC, therefore, cannot claim any immunity or claim that they are not bound to comply with the judgment dated 16.11.2021 of this Court or be bound by their undertaking. The said judgment has been accepted by DSGMC and has attained finality and it is too late in the date to now contend to the contrary.
Directions
32. For the reasons which have been stated hereinabove, I find the respondents-Mr. Harmeet Singh Kalka, President and Mr. Jagdeep Singh Khalon, General Secretary of DSGMC guilty of having wilfully and intentionally failed to comply with the judgment dated 16.11.2021 of this Court and thereby having committed contempt of this Court. A notice to Show Cause on the quantum of punishment to be awarded to them is hereby issued.
33. As far as the persons manning the previous Management 14 This is a digitally signed order.
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 29/06/2025 at 17:26:06 Committees, who were impleaded and issued notices vide order dated 02.06.2022 of this Court, they are directed to file their affidavit to Show Cause why they be not held guilty of having committed contempt of court and be punished for the same, within a period of four weeks from today.
34. In the present case, the respondents- Mr. Harmeet Singh Kalka, President and Mr. Jagdeep Singh Khalon, General Secretary of DSGMC, and Ms. Mandeep Kaur, Honorary Secretary of GHPS (ND)Society have expressed their helplessness to comply with the judgment dated 16.11.2021 on account of lack of funds. They, therefore, do not deserve to be in the Management of either the GHPS(ND) Society or the DSGMC. However, before this Court directs their removal from the GHPS (ND) Society and/or the DSGMC, it is deemed appropriate to appoint an Auditor to conduct Forensic Audit of the accounts of GHPS (ND) Society and the 12 schools managed by it for the period commencing 01.04.2020 till 31.12.2023.
35. I hereby appoint Sethi & Mehra, Chartered Accounts, 80, Darya Ganj, New Delhi-110002, Phone No.23275798, 23289030 as the Forensic Auditor.
36. The Forensic Auditor shall be free to take all necessary action to look into the affairs and accounts of the GHPS(ND) Society and the respective schools, seek clarifications, give appropriate directions. All directions of the Forensic Auditor shall be binding on the GHPS(ND)Society and the twelve schools managed by it, DSGMC, and all persons in management or control thereof. Such persons shall be under a duty to provide all documents and other support to the Forensic Auditor and their representatives.
37. As noted hereinabove, DSGMC is equally responsible for the payment of such dues, including the arrears and interest. DSGMC shall, therefore, provide the necessary funds to the GHPS(ND) Society and to the Schools managed by it so as to ensure that henceforth the employees are paid in accordance with 7 th CPC and the arrears as per the 6 th CPC, including interest, are cleared at the earliest.15
This is a digitally signed order.
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 29/06/2025 at 17:26:06
38. It is further clarified that amongst other philanthropic activities that DSGMC claims to be conducting, the duty to discharge the dues of the employees, including the teachers of the GHPS (ND) Society and its schools, shall be primary in nature, meaning thereby that other activities, even if they are needed to be reduced or stopped, it shall be so reduced or stopped by the DSGMC in order to provide requisite funds to the GHPS(ND) Society and the schools to pay the dues, including arrears and interest, to the staff and the teachers of the schools.
39. As far as the arrears as per the 6 th and the 7 thCPC are concerned, the Forensic Auditor shall, looking into the financial affairs of the GHPS(ND) Society and the schools, suggest a schedule for the earliest payment of such dues to the employees and staff of the schools, in a phased manner.
40. In the meantime, any rent received, from any source whatsoever, by the GHPS (ND) Society, its schools, and/or DSGMC shall stand attached and shall be utilised only for the purpose of clearing the arrears of the 6th and the 7th CPC owed to the employees of the twelve schools managed by the GHPS (ND) Society.
41. The salary and other financial perquisites of the Members of the GHPS (ND) Society and the DSGMC shall also be withheld till further orders or till the entire dues of the employees, teaching and non-teaching staff, of the schools are fully paid."
(emphasis supplied)
6. It is quite apparent from what is noted above, that the Court arrived at an inescapable conclusion that despite extending repeated opportunities to the respondent to purge the contempt and pay the legitimate and legal dues, the same has not been complied with. It is not necessary to repeat the conclusions , already arrived at in the previous orders, and extracted above.
7. As noted above, the Court on 26th February 2024 has taken some steps to secure finances which are within the purview of the respondents in 16 This is a digitally signed order.
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 29/06/2025 at 17:26:06 particular Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee ('DSGMC') and GHPS(ND) Society, in order that they can be secured for the purpose of payment of the legitimate dues of the petitioners. Few relevant directions which are issued by the order dated 26th February 2024 are as under:
(i) Appointment of Forensic Auditor to give a report. The said report by the Forensic Auditor is now on record. The said report dated 30 th September 2024 states, a list of immovable properties of GHPS (ND) Society was to be submitted in October 2024. Mr. Varun, Chartered Accountant, appears through VC on behalf of the auditors and states that the list was submitted on 4 th February 2025, a copy of which has been provided to the Court. A copy of the same is being provided to counsel for petitioners, in order that they can also benefit from this tabulation.
(ii) The Court had attached the rent to be received from any source by the GHPS (ND) Society or DSGMC which was to be utilized only for the purpose of clearing arrears of 6 th & 7th CPC, owed to the employees of the twelve schools managed by the Society.
(iii) Salary and other financial perquisites of the members of GHPS(ND) Society and the DSGMC were also withheld and the entire dues of the employees, teaching and non-teaching staff were fully paid.
8. Pursuant to this, further direction had been sought by virtue of this application i.e. CM APPL. 45959/2024, in that, the properties owned by the DSGMC in the State of Haryana as well as in Delhi, which are large acreages of land, must be attached. It is stated in the application as under:
"13. That, the DSGMC owns 292 acres of land in Bigar- District Fatehabad of Haryana. Out of this land area, only 4 acres is occupied cumulatively by a Gurudwara, a College 17 This is a digitally signed order.
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 29/06/2025 at 17:26:06 and a School. Rest of the 288 acres can be used towards the 7thCPC Dues. It also owns 15 acres at Villages Seelampur and Ziauddinpur-Illaqa Shahdara. Out of this, only about 2 acres is occupied by the Gurudwara. True copy of the land records registered under the name of Delhi Sikh Gurudwara Management Committee area appended as Annexure- 2(Colly)."
9. It is contended by counsel for respondents that the Gurudwara is located on the land in question and they state that it cannot be sold, as per provisions of Delhi Sikh Gurudwaras Act, 1971.
10. An affidavit will accordingly be filed by the DSGMC through the Secretary and the GHPS(ND) Society through its Secretary, that no third-party rights will be created on this land; no alienation shall happen; and it will not be provided for any purposes of rental or license which will compromise the title or possession of the properties in any which way.
11. The affidavits of undertaking shall be filed within three weeks with copies to Mr. Mangesh Naik, Advocate.
12. These submissions have been made by the respondents in response to a direction which was being issued by the Court for attachment of these particular lands. They state that attachment is not necessary because they are ready to give an undertaking.
13. Notwithstanding the undertaking, the Court directs that for no reason whatsoever, will these properties i.e. 292 acres of land at Bigar (Haryana) and 15 acres of land at Shahdara (Delhi) be alienated nor any possessory rights be given to any party without prior permission of Court and further, no encumbrance will be created without any prior permission of the Court.
18This is a digitally signed order.
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14. It is essential to secure these properties since they seem to be of large value and will possibly help in shoring up the dues, amounting to around Rs.400 Crores, which are owed to the petitioners.
15. Application is accordingly, disposed of, in the aforesaid directions.
CONT.CAS(C) 131/2022
1. As regards the list of properties which have been provided by the Forensic Auditor and made available to the Court, the same will require to be valued, in order to ascertain their current asset value.
2. For this purpose, the Court appoints Government Approved Valuer Mr. Nitesh Shrivastava (Contact number: 9999992343, Email address:
[email protected]) as registered Valuer, to value these properties.
3. The charges for the service of the Valuer will be paid as per the fees structure approved by the Government under The Wealth Tax Act, 1957.
4. The mandate of the registered Valuer will be as follows:
(i) The Valuer is required to do the valuation to assess the fair market value, government value/circle value and the reserved price for auction (in the event auction ever takes place), for each of the properties.
(ii) The GHPS (ND) Society and DSGMC shall provide the requisite documents for each of the properties to the Valuer within the next 30 days.
(iii) The valuation of each of the properties shall be carried out by the Valuer within 90 days, after receiving the requisite documents for each of the properties.19
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(iv) The Valuer is required to provide a comprehensive report of valuation for each of the properties, on or before 7th September 2025.
(v) For the purpose of valuation, it is directed that the concerned jurisdictional Revenue Authorities inter alia Sub-Divisional Magistrate ('SDM') of that area, shall provide complete support for the purpose of valuation.
(vi) All occupants of each of the properties, whether party to the present suit or not, shall extend full cooperation to the Valuer to carry out the mandate of the valuation.
(vii) In case any obstruction or resistance is faced by the Valuer and his team, they will be permitted to seek support and help from the SHO Local Police Station in this regard.
(viii) The miscellaneous out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Valuer including travel to each of these properties and back, shall also be reimbursed, on actuals, by GHPS (ND) Society and the DSGMC, to the Valuer.
5. Counsel for respondents have undertaken that they shall fully cooperate in the process of the valuation.
6. For this purpose, it is noted that there are two properties i.e. 292 acres of land at Bigar (Haryana) and 15 acres of land at Shahdara (Delhi) qua which directions have been passed while disposing of the application above, may also require to be valued for the current asset value. These will also be included in the list of properties which are required to be valued.
7. The list of properties, as per the auditor, therefore, which need to be valued, are as under:
20This is a digitally signed order.
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 29/06/2025 at 17:26:06 21 This is a digitally signed order.
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 29/06/2025 at 17:26:06 22 This is a digitally signed order.
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 29/06/2025 at 17:26:06
8. It is pointed out by Mr. Mohit Mathur, Senior Counsel appearing for petitioners, that the list of properties which was requisitioned, as evident from the Forensic Report, were only immovable properties of GHPS(ND) Society. There is still no visibility of the list of properties which are owned by DSGMC.
9. As per paragraph 36 of the Judgment dated 26th February 2024, the Forensic Auditor was to look into the affairs and accounts of GHPS(ND) Society.
10. Considering these circumstances, it will be essential that list of properties/immovable properties be provided by the DSGMC to the Court, in order that the valuation of the said properties can also be done. The same is directed to be provided within the next one week. A copy shall be provided to Mr. Mangesh Naik, Advocate, in order that the same can also be provided to the Valuer.
11. The final list of properties, therefore, which need to be valued, are as under:
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(i) List of properties provided by Mr. Varun, Chartered Accountant.
(ii) The two properties mentioned in CM APPL. 45959/2024 i.e. 292 acres of land at Bigar (Haryana) and 15 acres of land at Shahdara (Delhi).
(iii) The list of properties to be provided by DSGMC to the Court and opposing counsel Mr. Mangesh Naik, Advocate, who shall provide it to the Valuer.
12. There are two issues on which arguments are yet to be heard.
13. First, is the conclusion drawn by the Court on 26th February 2024 in paragraph 32. As per Mr. Mohit Mathur, Senior Counsel for petitioners, Mr. Harmeet Singh Kalka, President and Mr. Jagdeep Singh Khalon, General Secretary of DSGMC have been held guilty and, therefore, convicted for failure to comply with the Judgment dated 16th November 2021 and only the issue of quantum of punishment remains open.
14. As per Mr. Kirti Uppal, Senior Counsel appearing on behalf of Mr. Harmeet Singh Kalka, President and Mr. Jagdeep Singh Khalon, General Secretary of DSGMC, these directions do not amount to a conviction. He places his arguments partly on the basis of order dated 18th March 2024, where it has been recorded as under:
"1. This application has been filed praying for the following relief:
"1. Allow this application and permit the applicants to place all the financial records of all the schools/Society (for the entire period commencing from 1.1.2006 till 31.12.2023instead of 1.4.2020 to 31.12.2023) before the appointed forensic auditor [Sethi & Mehra, Chartered Accounts, 80, Darya Ganj, NewDelhi-24
This is a digitally signed order.
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 29/06/2025 at 17:26:06 110002] for the purposes of forensic audit to be conducted as per order dated 26.2.2024 in the interest of justice, and
2. Expunge the observations against Mr. Harmeet Singh Kalka, President and Mr. Jagdeep Singh Khalon, General Secretary of DSGMC and the Honorary Secretary of the Society made in paragraph 34 of thejudgement dated 26.2.2024 or the same maybe kept at abeyance for due consideration only after the receipt of the final reports of forensic audit of all the schools and society."
2. As far as the first relief mentioned hereinabove is concerned the learned senior counsel for the applicant, on instructions, prays for leave to withdraw the said prayer with liberty to file the same, if so advised, after the forensic audit report is received.
3. As far as the second prayer is concerned, in my view, the order dated 26.02.2024 of this Court requires no further clarification. It is needless to reiterate that the observation in paragraph 34 is preliminary in nature, and the Court would take a final view once the forensic audit report is received. The forensic audit must be conducted without being influenced by any observations made in the judgement."
15. The Court on 18th March 2024 noted that the observations in paragraph 34 of Judgment dated 26th February 2024 were preliminary in nature, since the Forensic Audit Report had not been received.
16. In the opinion of the Court, order of 18th March 2024 does not dilute in any manner the finding in paragraph 32 of the Judgment dated 26th February 2024, but only adverts to paragraph 34 of the said Judgment, which is extracted as under:
25This is a digitally signed order.
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 29/06/2025 at 17:26:06 "34. In the present case, the respondents- Mr. Harmeet Singh Kalka, President and Mr. Jagdeep Singh Khalon, General Secretary of DSGMC, and Ms. Mandeep Kaur, Honorary Secretary of GHPS (ND)Society have expressed their helplessness to comply with the judgment dated 16.11.2021 on account of lack of funds. They, therefore, do not deserve to be in the Management of either the GHPS(ND) Society or the DSGMC. However, before this Court directs their removal from the GHPS (ND) Society and/or the DSGMC, it is deemed appropriate to appoint an Auditor to conduct Forensic Audit of the accounts of GHPS (ND) Society and the 12 schools managed by it for the period commencing 01.04.2020 till 31.12.2023."
17. As can be noticed from the extract above, this mostly relates to the issue of removal from GHPS(ND) Society of Mr. Harmeet Singh Kalka and Mr. Jagdeep Singh Khalon and was postponed for determination to a later date.
18. Mr. Kirti Uppal, Senior Counsel, then, seeks to argue based on certain Judgments to contend that the conviction as per Judgment dated 26th February 2024 is not crystalized yet.
19. Second, is the relation to the observation made by the Court in paragraphs 25 & 33 of Judgement dated 26th February 2024, which are extracted as under:
"25. While this Court would consider proceeding against the persons in the previous Management and seek their response on the steps that they had taken to ensure compliance with their undertakings given at that relevant time, it would not absolve the present Management of their failure to comply with the undertakings on behalf of the GHPS (ND) Society and the GHPS and the repeated orders of this Court.
33. As far as the persons manning the previous Management Committees, who were impleaded and issued notices vide 26 This is a digitally signed order.
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 29/06/2025 at 17:26:06 order dated 02.06.2022 of this Court, they are directed to file their affidavit to Show Cause why they be not held guilty of having committed contempt of court and be punished for the same, within a period of four weeks from today."
20. This issue relates to allegations by the current contemnors that it was the previous Management, which has led to this the situation and caused this financial squeeze.
21. Accordingly, by order dated 12th August 2024, show-cause Notices were issued to S. Harvinder Singh Sarna, S. Paramjit Singh Sarna, S. Manjit Singh GK, S. Manjinder Singh Sirsa, S. Rajinder Singh Techno, S. Gurmeet Singh Shunty and S. Balbir Singh.
22. Mr. Tanmay Mehta, counsel appears for Mr. Harvinder Singh Sarna and Mr. Paramjit Singh Sarna (respondent nos.3 & 5).
23. Mr. Jaspreet Singh Rai, counsel appears for Mr. Manjinder Singh Sirsa (respondent no.9).
24. Mr. Naginder Benipal, counsel appears on behalf of respondent no.8.
25. Responses have been filed on behalf of respondent nos.3, 5& 9.
26. It is noted that respondent nos.4, 6, 7 & 8 have not filed their response.
27. These aspects will also be considered on the next date of hearing.
28. Considering various directions have been passed previously by the Courts in terms of payment in the interim, of dues of the petitioners, updated status of amounts which have been paid and on what account, shall be tabulated within three weeks with copies to Mr. Mangesh Naik, Advocate, in order that the Court is apprised of the progress which is being made, if any, by the respondents, as far as ameliorating the grievances of the petitioners.
27This is a digitally signed order.
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29. The process of paying over and above their current existing pay in order to clear the arrears will be continued by the respondents as a sliver of proof that their intentions are possibly bona fide.
30. Counsel for respondents state that they are only paying 2% DA as part of the 7 th CPC, which mandates 54% DA.
31. Needless to say, this is inordinately inadequate and prejudices the financial conditions of the employees/teachers, which have been working with the schools.
32. A proposal shall be given by the schools for disposal of their assets/properties, in order that these compliances shall be done.
33. Mr. Harmeet Singh Kalka and Mr. Jagdeep Singh Khalon will be present in Court on the next date of hearing.
34. List on 10 th July 2025 at 03:30 P.M. CM APPL. 26291/2025 in CONT.CAS(C) 791/2023 (For release of amount)
1. This application has been moved by the petitioners seeking funds for medical emergency, considering that petitioner/Ms. Sujata Zadoo has been bed-ridden since the last three months.
2. A plea has been made by the husband of Ms. Sujata Zadoo to the School for emergency funds and it is mentioned by the School that an amount of Rs.18.2 Lacs has been provided to petitioner; however, request for another amount of Rs.17.5 Lacs is still pending.
3. The School further states that another amount of Rs.2.5 Lacs is being released within the next week.
4. The School will, therefore, pay the balance in four instalments , in the next three months.
28This is a digitally signed order.
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5. List on 10 th July 2025 at 03:30 P.M.
6. Order be uploaded on the website of this Court.
ANISH DAYAL, J MAY 2, 2025/ak/na 29 This is a digitally signed order.
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