Punjab & Haryana High Court Issues Bailable Warrant Against IAS Officer To Ensure Appearance In Contempt Case, Imposes 10K Cost For Adjournment

The Punjab & Haryana High Court has issued bailable warrants against an IAS officer to ensure her presence in a contempt plea filed by a man for allegedly violating the High Court's order and causing "illegal obstruction" in the construction of a plot.

Justice Rajbir Sehrawat said, "to ensure the presence of the respondent (Sangeeta Tetarwal, IAS Commissioner Municipal Corporation Ambala) before this Court on the next date of hearing, bailable warrants be issued against her, to be executed through the SHO of the concerned area."

The Court noted that neither the compliance report has been filed by the officer nor she is represented before the Court, despite due intimation already having been sent to her by the office of the Advocate General, Haryana.

While noting that the present adjournment had been occasioned because of the default of the respondent, the Court imposed, a cost of Rs.10,000/- to be deposited with the Punjab and Haryana High Court Lawyers Welfare Fund.

The plea stated that the High Court disposed of the writ petition by order dated December 2023 by giving directions to the Commissioner, Municipal Corporation, Ambala, to decide the representation filed by the petitioner after granting him a personal hearing as well as passing of speaking order within four weeks. However, it stated that to date no further action in compliance with the order had been taken.

The order passed by the High Court is being violated knowingly and intentionally which amounts to Contempt of Court, the plea added.

The matter is listed for September 19, for further consideration.

Vinod Bhardwaj, Nipun Bhardwaj, Danish Davesar Advocates for the petitioner.

Title: NARINDER PAL MAL V. SANGEETA TETARWAL IAS COMMISSIONER MUNICIPAL CORPORATION AMBALA

Click here to read/download the order