The Jharkhand High Court on Friday held four senior officials of the state water resources department guilty of contempt for willfully disobeying court orders related to the payment of salary arrears to a former employee.
Justice Sanjay Kumar Dwivedi imposed a fine of ₹25,000 each on Principal Secretary Prashant Kumar, Chief Engineer Jameel Akhtar, Tenughat Dam Superintending Engineer Sanjeev Kumar, and Executive Engineer Ranjit Kujur. The officials have been directed to deposit the amount with the Jharkhand Legal Services Authority (JHALSA) through the Registrar General’s office.
The contempt petition was filed by Lakhan Prasad Yadav, a former Class III employee (typist), who claimed salary dues for the period between November 15, 2000, and December 27, 2020.
On December 1, 2020, the High Court had directed the department to release his salary arrears. The department challenged the order before a division bench, which dismissed the appeal on February 22, 2023. A further challenge before the Supreme Court was also dismissed on March 19, 2025, with the department giving an undertaking that Yadav’s dues would be settled within four weeks.
Despite the undertaking before the apex court, the payment was not made on time, prompting Yadav to move the High Court in contempt. During proceedings on August 22, the department informed the court that ₹1 lakh had been paid earlier, and an additional ₹11.87 lakh was later disbursed.
However, the High Court noted that the payments were not made on the dates claimed in the affidavit. Observing that the officials had submitted a false affidavit and deliberately violated court orders, Justice Dwivedi held them guilty of contempt.
The matter has been listed for further hearing on September 12, when the High Court is expected to review compliance.
