Patna High Court - Orders
Smt. Sunita Kumari Sinha vs The State Of Bihar & Ors on 30 April, 2013
Author: Kishore Kumar Mandal
Bench: Kishore Kumar Mandal
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA
Miscellaneous Jurisdiction Case No.3446 of 2009
======================================================
Om Prakash
.... .... Petitioner/s
Versus
The State Of Bihar & Ors.
.... .... Respondent/s
======================================================
with
Miscellaneous Jurisdiction Case No.4360 of 2012
======================================================
Bhuwneshwar Das
.... .... Petitioner/s
Versus
The State Of Bihar & Ors
.... .... Respondent/s
======================================================
with
Miscellaneous Jurisdiction Case No.3549 of 2012
======================================================
Ram Sewak Pd.
.... .... Petitioner/s
Versus
The State Of Bihar & Ors
.... .... Respondent/s
======================================================
with
Miscellaneous Jurisdiction Case No.4030 of 2012
======================================================
Ram Udgar Yadav
.... .... Petitioner/s
Versus
The State Of Bihar & Ors
.... .... Respondent/s
======================================================
with
Miscellaneous Jurisdiction Case No.3215 of 2012
======================================================
Jag Narayan Yadav
.... .... Petitioner/s
Versus
The State Of Bihar & Ors
.... .... Respondent/s
======================================================
with
Miscellaneous Jurisdiction Case No.3210 of 2012
======================================================
Birendra Narayan Lal
.... .... Petitioner/s
Versus
2 Patna High Court MJC No.3446 of 2009 (16) dt.30-04-2013
2 / 15
The State Of Bihar & Ors
.... .... Respondent/s
======================================================
with
Miscellaneous Jurisdiction Case No.3209 of 2012
======================================================
Kapildeo Pd. & Ors
.... .... Petitioner/s
Versus
The State Of Bihar & Ors
.... .... Respondent/s
======================================================
with
Miscellaneous Jurisdiction Case No.3328 of 2012
======================================================
Baldeo Pd.
.... .... Petitioner/s
Versus
The State Of Bihar & Ors
.... .... Respondent/s
======================================================
with
Miscellaneous Jurisdiction Case No.3211 of 2012
======================================================
Jibachh Yadav
.... .... Petitioner/s
Versus
The State Of Bihar & Ors
.... .... Respondent/s
======================================================
with
Miscellaneous Jurisdiction Case No.3216 of 2012
======================================================
Ram Babu Yadav
.... .... Petitioner/s
Versus
The State Of Bihar & Ors
.... .... Respondent/s
======================================================
with
Miscellaneous Jurisdiction Case No.3853 of 2010
======================================================
Arvind Kumar Singh @ Arvind Kumar
.... .... Petitioner/s
Versus
The State Of Bihar & Ors.
.... .... Respondent/s
======================================================
with
Miscellaneous Jurisdiction Case No.1446 of 2011
======================================================
Ram Ashish Pd.
3 Patna High Court MJC No.3446 of 2009 (16) dt.30-04-2013
3 / 15
.... .... Petitioner/s
Versus
The State Of Bihar & Ors.
.... .... Respondent/s
======================================================
with
Miscellaneous Jurisdiction Case No.4070 of 2010
======================================================
Ganesh Yadav
.... .... Petitioner/s
Versus
The State Of Bihar & Ors
.... .... Respondent/s
======================================================
with
Miscellaneous Jurisdiction Case No.3533 of 2011
======================================================
Chandrakant Mahto
.... .... Petitioner/s
Versus
The State Of Bihar & Ors
.... .... Respondent/s
======================================================
with
Miscellaneous Jurisdiction Case No.4381 of 2010
======================================================
Subodh Kumar
.... .... Petitioner/s
Versus
The State Of Bihar & Ors.
.... .... Respondent/s
======================================================
with
Miscellaneous Jurisdiction Case No.757 of 2011
======================================================
Uday Narayan Mishra
.... .... Petitioner/s
Versus
The State Of Bihar & Ors.
.... .... Respondent/s
======================================================
with
Miscellaneous Jurisdiction Case No.2182 of 2011
======================================================
Ramdeo Ram
.... .... Petitioner/s
Versus
The State Of Bihar & Ors
.... .... Respondent/s
======================================================
with
Miscellaneous Jurisdiction Case No.4905 of 2010
4 Patna High Court MJC No.3446 of 2009 (16) dt.30-04-2013
4 / 15
======================================================
Smt. Sunita Kumari Sinha
.... .... Petitioner/s
Versus
The State Of Bihar & Ors
.... .... Respondent/s
======================================================
with
Miscellaneous Jurisdiction Case No.2388 of 2011
======================================================
Ram Narayan Yadav
.... .... Petitioner/s
Versus
The State Of Bihar & Ors
.... .... Respondent/s
======================================================
with
Miscellaneous Jurisdiction Case No.863 of 2012
======================================================
Ram Baran Prasad
.... .... Petitioner/s
Versus
Amar Jit Sinha & Ors.
.... .... Respondent/s
======================================================
with
Miscellaneous Jurisdiction Case No.4367 of 2012
======================================================
Digamber Yadav
.... .... Petitioner/s
Versus
The State Of Bihar & Ors
.... .... Respondent/s
======================================================
with
Miscellaneous Jurisdiction Case No.2545 of 2010
======================================================
Gopal Prasad
.... .... Petitioner/s
Versus
State Of Bihar & Ors.
.... .... Respondent/s
======================================================
with
Miscellaneous Jurisdiction Case No.43 of 2012
======================================================
Shambhu Nath Thakur & Ors
.... .... Petitioner/s
Versus
The State Of Bihar & Ors
.... .... Respondent/s
======================================================
5 Patna High Court MJC No.3446 of 2009 (16) dt.30-04-2013
5 / 15
with
Miscellaneous Jurisdiction Case No.564 of 2011
======================================================
Chandramani Kumari
.... .... Petitioner/s
Versus
The State Of Bihar & Ors.
.... .... Respondent/s
======================================================
with
Miscellaneous Jurisdiction Case No.2023 of 2011
======================================================
Sanjay Kumar
.... .... Petitioner/s
Versus
The State Of Bihar & Ors
.... .... Respondent/s
======================================================
with
Miscellaneous Jurisdiction Case No.1067 of 2011
======================================================
Vinay Kumar Deepak & Ors.
.... .... Petitioner/s
Versus
The State Of Bihar & Ors.
.... .... Respondent/s
======================================================
with
Miscellaneous Jurisdiction Case No.3251 of 2012
======================================================
Sunil Kumar Mahto
.... .... Petitioner/s
Versus
The State Of Bihar & Ors
.... .... Respondent/s
======================================================
with
Miscellaneous Jurisdiction Case No.1066 of 2011
======================================================
Munni Kumari
.... .... Petitioner/s
Versus
The State Of Bihar & Ors.
.... .... Respondent/s
======================================================
with
Miscellaneous Jurisdiction Case No.4607 of 2012
======================================================
Sunil Kumar
.... .... Petitioner/s
Versus
The State Of Bihar & Ors
6 Patna High Court MJC No.3446 of 2009 (16) dt.30-04-2013
6 / 15
.... .... Respondent/s
======================================================
with
Miscellaneous Jurisdiction Case No.3764 of 2012
======================================================
Suresh Pd. Yadav
.... .... Petitioner/s
Versus
The State Of Bihar & Ors
.... .... Respondent/s
======================================================
with
Miscellaneous Jurisdiction Case No.2545 of 2012
======================================================
Dunni Lal Deepak & Ors
.... .... Petitioner/s
Versus
The State Of Bihar & Ors
.... .... Respondent/s
======================================================
with
Miscellaneous Jurisdiction Case No.4494 of 2012
======================================================
Madheshwar Ram
.... .... Petitioner/s
Versus
The State Of Bihar & Ors
.... .... Respondent/s
======================================================
with
Miscellaneous Jurisdiction Case No.3592 of 2010
======================================================
Rajesh Kumar
.... .... Petitioner/s
Versus
The State Of Bihar & Ors.
.... .... Respondent/s
======================================================
with
Miscellaneous Jurisdiction Case No.4195 of 2012
======================================================
Rabi Saw & Anr.
.... .... Petitioner/s
Versus
The State Of Bihar & Ors
.... .... Respondent/s
======================================================
with
Miscellaneous Jurisdiction Case No.3226 of 2010
======================================================
Dinesh Kumar
.... .... Petitioner/s
7 Patna High Court MJC No.3446 of 2009 (16) dt.30-04-2013
7 / 15
Versus
State Of Bihar & Ors.
.... .... Respondent/s
======================================================
with
Miscellaneous Jurisdiction Case No.4029 of 2012
======================================================
Deo Narayan Safi
.... .... Petitioner/s
Versus
The State Of Bihar & Ors
.... .... Respondent/s
======================================================
with
Miscellaneous Jurisdiction Case No.3595 of 2012
======================================================
Upendra Sharma
.... .... Petitioner/s
Versus
The State Of Bihar & Ors
.... .... Respondent/s
======================================================
with
Miscellaneous Jurisdiction Case No.3596 of 2012
======================================================
Hare Ram Pd. & Ors
.... .... Petitioner/s
Versus
The State Of Bihar & Ors
.... .... Respondent/s
======================================================
with
Miscellaneous Jurisdiction Case No.2926 of 2012
======================================================
Pradip Kumar
.... .... Petitioner/s
Versus
The State Of Bihar & Ors
.... .... Respondent/s
======================================================
with
Miscellaneous Jurisdiction Case No.3523 of 2012
======================================================
Chandra Shekhar Pd
.... .... Petitioner/s
Versus
The State Of Bihar & Ors
.... .... Respondent/s
======================================================
with
Miscellaneous Jurisdiction Case No.3141 of 2010
======================================================
8 Patna High Court MJC No.3446 of 2009 (16) dt.30-04-2013
8 / 15
Suresh Prasad Suman
.... .... Petitioner/s
Versus
State Of Bihar & Ors.
.... .... Respondent/s
======================================================
Appearance :
(In MJC No.3446 of 2009)
For the Petitioner/s : Mr. Shiv Kumar
For the Respondent/s : Mr. (Gp4)
(In MJC No.4360 of 2012)
For the Petitioner/s : Mr. Prafull Chandra Jha
For the Respondent/s : Mr. Ashok Kumar Keshri Aag11
(In MJC No.3549 of 2012)
For the Petitioner/s : Mr. Chandra Mauli Chaurasia
For the Respondent/s : Mr. Ajay Sc11
(In MJC No.4030 of 2012)
For the Petitioner/s : Mr. Gagan Deo Yadav
For the Respondent/s : Mr. Kaushal Kr. Jha Sc4
(In MJC No.3215 of 2012)
For the Petitioner/s : Mr. Hriday Narayan Harshit
For the Respondent/s : Mr. J.S. Arora Sc6
(In MJC No.3210 of 2012)
For the Petitioner/s : Mr. Hriday Narayan Harshit
For the Respondent/s : Mr. Anjani Kumar Aag10
(In MJC No.3209 of 2012)
For the Petitioner/s : Mr. Hriday Narayan Harshit
For the Respondent/s : Mr. Yogendra Pd. Sinha Aag15
(In MJC No.3328 of 2012)
For the Petitioner/s : Mr. Gajanan Arun
For the Respondent/s : Mr. Sanjay Kr No.2 Ga5
(In MJC No.3211 of 2012)
For the Petitioner/s : Mr. Hriday Narayan Harshit
For the Respondent/s : Mr. M. D. Dwivedi Sc23
(In MJC No.3216 of 2012)
For the Petitioner/s : Mr. Hriday Narayan Harshit
For the Respondent/s : Mr. Girija Shankar Pd Gp1
(In MJC No.3853 of 2010)
For the Petitioner/s : Mr. Arvind Kumar
For the Respondent/s : Mr. (Aag2)
(In MJC No.1446 of 2011)
For the Petitioner/s : Mr. Satish Chandra Mishra
For the Respondent/s : Mr. Lalit Kishor Aag1
(In MJC No.4070 of 2010)
For the Petitioner/s : Mr. Prafull Chandra Jha
For the Respondent/s : Mr. (Gp3)
(In MJC No.3533 of 2011)
For the Petitioner/s : Mr. Ugranath Mallik
For the Respondent/s : Mr. Anjani Kumar Aag10
(In MJC No.4381 of 2010)
For the Petitioner/s : Mr. Gajanan Arun
For the Respondent/s : Mr. (Sc7)
9 Patna High Court MJC No.3446 of 2009 (16) dt.30-04-2013
9 / 15
(In MJC No.757 of 2011)
For the Petitioner/s : Mr. Giridhar Gopal Tiwary
For the Respondent/s : Mr. Sanjay Kr No.1 Sc12
(In MJC No.2182 of 2011)
For the Petitioner/s : Mr. Prafull Chandra Jha
For the Respondent/s : Mr. Anjani Kr Sharan Sc9
(In MJC No.4905 of 2010)
For the Petitioner/s : Mr. Vinjay Ranjan
For the Respondent/s : Mr.
(In MJC No.2388 of 2011)
For the Petitioner/s : Mr. Ram Subhas Singh
For the Respondent/s : Mr. Harendra Pd. Singh Ga8
(In MJC No.863 of 2012)
For the Petitioner/s : Mr. Shambhu Sharan Singh
For the Respondent/s : Mr. Prahlad Kr. Bhagat Gp13
(In MJC No.4367 of 2012)
For the Petitioner/s : Mr. Ajoy Kumar Chakraborty
For the Respondent/s : Mr. K.P. Gupta Sc16
(In MJC No.2545 of 2010)
For the Petitioner/s : Mr. Prashant Pratap
Mr. Arvind Kumar
Mr. Lala S.N.Rais
For the Respondent/s : Mr. (Aag2)
(In MJC No.43 of 2012)
For the Petitioner/s : Mr. Jai Prakash Verma
For the Respondent/s : Mr. Lalit Kishor Aag1
(In MJC No.564 of 2011)
For the Petitioner/s : Mr. Shiv Kumar
For the Respondent/s : Mr. Jawahar Pd. Karn Aag4
(In MJC No.2023 of 2011)
For the Petitioner/s : Mr. Sunil Kumar
For the Respondent/s : Mr. Ashok Kumar Keshri Aag11
(In MJC No.1067 of 2011)
For the Petitioner/s : Mr. Prafull Chandra Jha
For the Respondent/s : Mr. Sunil Kr. Mandal Sc24
(In MJC No.3251 of 2012)
For the Petitioner/s : Mr. Chandra Mauli Chaurasia
For the Respondent/s : Mr. Kaushal Kr. Jha Sc4
(In MJC No.1066 of 2011)
For the Petitioner/s : Mr. Prafull Chandra Jha
For the Respondent/s : Mr. Tej Bahadur Singh Aag7
(In MJC No.4607 of 2012)
For the Petitioner/s : Mr. Vijay Kumar Singh
For the Respondent/s : Mr. Manoj Priaydarshi Sc17
(In MJC No.3764 of 2012)
For the Petitioner/s : Mr. Rajendra Singh
For the Respondent/s : Mr. Neelu Agrwal Ga6
(In MJC No.2545 of 2012)
For the Petitioner/s : Mr. Surendra Kishore Thakur
For the Respondent/s : Mr. P.N. Sahi Aag14
(In MJC No.4494 of 2012)
10 Patna High Court MJC No.3446 of 2009 (16) dt.30-04-2013
10 / 15
For the Petitioner/s : Mr. Ajoy Kumar Chakraborty
For the Respondent/s : Mr. Roy Shivaji Nath Aag3
(In MJC No.3592 of 2010)
For the Petitioner/s : Mr. Ashok Kumar Chakroborty
For the Respondent/s : Mr. (Sc19)
(In MJC No.4195 of 2012)
For the Petitioner/s : Mr. Pramod Mishra
For the Respondent/s : Mr. J.S. Arora Sc6
(In MJC No.3226 of 2010)
For the Petitioner/s : Mr. Prafull Chandra Jha
For the Respondent/s : Mr. (Aag6)
(In MJC No.4029 of 2012)
For the Petitioner/s : Mr. Gagan Deo Yadav
For the Respondent/s : Mr. Girija Shankar Pd Gp1
(In MJC No.3595 of 2012)
For the Petitioner/s : Mr. Gajanan Arun
For the Respondent/s : Mr. Shashi Bhushan Kr. Sc7
(In MJC No.3596 of 2012)
For the Petitioner/s : Mr. Gajanan Arun
For the Respondent/s : Mr. Lalit Kishor Aag1
(In MJC No.2926 of 2012)
For the Petitioner/s : Mr. Ajoy Kumar Chakraborty
For the Respondent/s : Mr. Tej Bahadur Singh Aag7
(In MJC No.3523 of 2012)
For the Petitioner/s : Mr. Ajoy Kumar Chakraborty
For the Respondent/s : Mr. Devendra Kr Sinha Aag2
(In MJC No.3141 of 2010)
For the Petitioner/s : Mr. Ajay Kumar Chakraborty
For the Respondent/s : Mr. (Sc4)
======================================================
CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE KISHORE KUMAR MANDAL
ORAL ORDER
16 30-04-2013This batch of contempt applications, in view of common facts involved, have been clubbed together for consideration with the consent of the parties. Order present will govern them.
Mr. Basant Kumar Choudhary, assisted by various counsels of the petitioners are present. Mr. Sudhir Kumar AC to AAG-2 and other counsels of the State are also present.
All these contempt applications raise a grievance that 11 Patna High Court MJC No.3446 of 2009 (16) dt.30-04-2013 11 / 15 common order dated 6.10.2009 passed in batch of writ petitions being CWJC No. 6575 of 2009 (Om Prakash vs. State of Bihar) and analogous writ petitions has been wilfully /deliberately disobeyed/disregarded by the opposite parties who are functionaries of the Health Department of the Government. They have, thus, rendered themselves liable to be prosecuted and punished.
There is agreement at Bar that aggrieved by the order dated 6.10.2009 passed in the case of the present contempt petitions writ appeal(s) being LPA No. 200 of 2010 and analogous matters (in all 103 Letters Patent Appeals) have been filed in which notices were issued and the respondents ( petitioners herein) appeared and hearing of those matters have already concluded and order is awaited. Learned counsel for the State, has informed that in at least 20 writ appeals out of 103 writ appeals which have been heard together and order is awaited stay has been granted.. In 14 writ appeals filed against the petitioners of the present batch of contempt applications the appellate Court has granted stay. In the remaining appeals petitions seeking stay of the order have been filed. Relying on a judgment of the Hon'ble Apex Court in the case of the Modern Food Industries (India) Limited and Anr. Vs. Sachidanand Dass and Anr. 1995 Supp (4) SCC 465, 12 Patna High Court MJC No.3446 of 2009 (16) dt.30-04-2013 12 / 15 it has been submitted that consideration of the present batch of contempt applications should be postponed awaiting the order to be passed by the appellate Court in those LPA(s).
Mr. Basant Kumar Choudhary, learned senior counsel for the petitioner in MJC No. 2545 of 2012 submitted that many of the petitioners of present batch of contempt applications have been given differential treatment by the authorities of the Government. Some of them, pending disposal of writ appeal have been reinstated in service whereas some of them have been kept out of service. Such incomprehensible discrimination in grant of relief pending hearing of writ appeal(s) is an issue which merits consideration. It has further been pointed out that in the light of diverse orders passed by this Court on the present batch of contempt applications the authorities of the Government have issued directions to different district level authorities to comply with the order passed on the writ petitions pending disposal of the writ appeals preferred thereagainst which would be subject to the result of the appeals. Yet some of the contempt applicants have been kept out of job.
Mr. Verma, learned counsel, appearing in support of MJC No. 43 of 2012 relying on the judgment of the Hon'ble Apex Court rendered in the case of Sri Baradakanta Mishra Vs. Shri 13 Patna High Court MJC No.3446 of 2009 (16) dt.30-04-2013 13 / 15 Bhimsen Dixit (AIR 1972 SC 2466) urged that mere filing of an appeal would not amount to stay of the operation of the order and for due compliance whereof the present contempt proceedings have been lodged.
In Modern Food Industries (supra) this Court relying on another judgment of the Hon'ble Supreme Court in the case of State of J &K. Vs. Md. Yaqoob Khan (1992) 4 SCC 167 held as under:-
"4. Before the High Court, appellants urged that before any contempt proceedings could be initiated, it was necessary and appropriate for the Division Bench to examine the prayer for stay, or else, the appeal itself might become infructuous. This did not commend itself to the High Court which sought to proceed with the contempt first. We are afraid, the course adopted by the High Court does not commend itself as proper. If, without considering the prayer for stay, obedience to the Single Judges's order was insisted upon at the pain of committal for contempt, the appellants may find, as has now happened, the very purpose of appeal and the prayer for interlocutory stay infructuous. It is true that a mere filing of an appeal and an application for stay do not by themselves absolve the appellants from obeying the order under appeal and that any compliance with the learned Single Judge's order would be subject to the final result of the appeal. But then the changes brought about in the interregnum in obedience of the order under appeal might themselves be a cause and source of prejudice. Wherever the order whose disobedience is complained about is 14 Patna High Court MJC No.3446 of 2009 (16) dt.30-04-2013
14 / 15 appealed against and stay of its operation is pending before the Court, it will be appropriate to take up for consideration the prayer for stay either earlier or at least simultaneously with the complaint for contempt. To keep the prayer for stay stand- by and to insist upon proceeding with the complaint for contempt might in may conceivable cases, as here, cause serious prejudice. This is the view taken in State of J & K v. Mohd. Yaqoob Khan."
The opposite parties may have reinstated some of the petitioners whereas some of them left out for varied reasons. One thing is, however, more than apparent that those reinstatements were made under the threat of the contempt proceeding(s) and diverse orders passed thereon by this Court.
In the setting of facts noticed hereinabove and in view of the ratio laid down in Modern Food Industries (supra) this Court is persuaded to observe that it is expedient to put off consideration of the present contempt applications until disposal of the writ appeals preferred thereagainst. Hearing thereof, as noticed, has already concluded and the order is awaited. Any other view, in the facts and circumstances of the case, would lead to further implication which needs to be avoided. Some of such incongruous situation arisen in these matters have been highlighted by the counsel(s) for the petitioners.
Consequently, these matters are directed to be placed 15 Patna High Court MJC No.3446 of 2009 (16) dt.30-04-2013 15 / 15 for consideration after disposal of writ appeals being LPA No. 200 of 2010 and analogous matters.
(Kishore Kumar Mandal, J) Shyam/-