New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Saturday dismissed an appeal by the Uttar Pradesh government calling the state finance secretary and additional chief secretary (revenue) “very arrogant” and cleared the way for their arrest. Against the Allahabad High Court, bailable warrants were issued in the case of delayed and partial compliance of orders.
The matter is related to the regularization of service of a recovery Amin in Allahabad and payment of increment. The high court had on November 1 said the authorities were treating the court as a “playground” and refused to pay increment to a person who was earlier denied the right to regulate services.
What did the Allahabad High Court say in its order?
The High Court had ordered, “The defendants (officers) have deliberately misled this Court and disobeyed the affidavit given by the Additional Advocate General by not giving the petitioner the increment, thus this Court is aggrieved and appalled at the reprehensible conduct of the Respondents.” Expresses dismay and accordingly considers that it has issued bailable warrants to Sanjay Kumar, Additional Chief Secretary (Revenue) and the then-District Magistrate and presently Secretary (Finance), Government of Uttar Pradesh, to appear before this Court on November 15. It is the right issue to issue.”
Supreme Court gave a blow to the Uttar Pradesh government
The state government, which reached the apex court to save its top officials from arrest, could not get any relief and Chief Justice NV Raman said, “You deserve this. Even more than that.” The bench also includes Justice Surya Kant and Justice Hima Kohli. The bench said, “What are you arguing here in this matter. The High Court should have ordered the arrest by now. We feel that more severe punishment should have been given. The High Court has been lenient with you. Watch your behavior. You are withholding the amount of an employee’s increment. You have no respect for the court. These additional chief secretaries seem to be very arrogant.”
Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati, appearing for the officers, submitted that the service of petitioner Bhuvneshwar Prasad Tiwari has been regularized as ‘Recovery Amin’ and his juniors regularized before he has been removed. Now only the matter of payment of increment is left. He urged the bench to take a soft stand in the matter.
An annoyed CJI said, “It is all on record and we are not saying anything which is not on record. Look it up. Despite the order of the court, the Additional Chief Secretary says that I will not give age relaxation.
