Commnr.Of Intermediate Education vs Y. Kumar Swamy
- Neutral2024 INSC 916
Ratio decidendi
The rule this decision rests on
Where a High Court issues a notice for contempt of court against government officers and directs their personal presence before the court, such notice is not justified merely because those officers have validly exercised their authority in accordance with established administrative procedures, including the application of principles such as "last come first go" in the termination of contractually engaged employees following regular appointments made through proper selection processes; and the personal presence of government officers should not be casually directed by courts, as such officers are required to remain in the field performing their official duties.
Written by Miss Lucy from the judgment below, not taken from a headnote.
Judgment
As delivered
NON-REPORTABLE 2024 INSC 916 IN THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION
CIVIL APPEAL NO. OF 2024 (Arising out of SLP(C) No.5063 of 2014)
COMMNR.OF INTERMEDIATE EDUCATION Appellant(s)
VERSUS
Y. KUMAR SWAMY & ORS. Respondent(s) WITH
CIVIL APPEAL NO. OF 2024 (Arising out of SLP(C) No.10271 of 2014)
CIVIL APPEAL NO. OF 2024 (Arising out of SLP(C) No.10272 of 2014)
J U D G M E N T
B.R. GAVAI, J.
1. Leave granted.
2. The appeals challenge the judgment and order
dated 29.11.2013 passed by the High Court of
Judicature of Andhra Pradesh at Hyderabad, thereby
directing the appellants, who were the various
officers of the State Government to remain present
in the Court and show cause as to why an action for Signature Not Verified
committing contempt of the Court be not initiated Digitally signed by DEEPAK SINGH Date: 2024.11.30 15:38:30 IST Reason:
against them.
2
3. In a writ petition filed by the respondents,
interim order(s) came to be passed by the High
Court, directing that the writ petitioners shall be
continued in service for a period of six weeks from
the said date. However, on an application filed by
the State, the interim order(s) came to be vacated.
4. The order vacating the interim order(s)
specifically notes that the writ petitioners were
not appointed on regular basis and that they were
appointed on contractual basis. It also notes that
subsequently the State had made regular
appointments after undertaking a selection process
through Public Service Commission.
5. While doing so, the State had also adopted
the principle of last come first go with regard to
the lecturers, who were already working on
contractual basis.
6. In that view of the matter, we do not find
that the High Court was justified in issuing notice
of contempt and that too directing the officer of
the Government to remain personally present on the
very first day.
3
7. This court had reiterated, time and again,
that the personal presence of the Government
Officers should not be casually directed by the
Courts, inasmuch as they are required to be on
field for performing their official duties.
8. In that view of the matter, we find that the
impugned judgment and order passed by the High
Court is not sustainable.
9. The appeals are allowed. The impugned
judgment and order dated passed by the High Court
dated 29.11.2013 are quashed and set aside.
10. Pending application(s), if any, stand(s)
disposed of.
….........................J (B.R. GAVAI)
...........................J (K.V. VISWANATHAN)
New Delhi November 27, 2024 4
ITEM NO.5 COURT NO.2 SECTION XII-A
S U P R E M E C O U R T O F I N D I A RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS
Petition(s) for Special Leave to Appeal (C) No(s). 5063/2014
[Arising out of impugned final judgment and order dated 29-11-2013 in CC No. 416/2013 passed by the High Court of Andhra Pradesh at Hyderabad]
COMMNR.OF INTERMEDIATE EDUCATION Petitioner(s)
VERSUS
Y. KUMAR SWAMY & ORS. Respondent(s)
WITH SLP(C) No. 10272/2014 (XII-A)
SLP(C) No. 10271/2014 (XII-A)
Date : 27-11-2024 This petition was called on for hearing today.
CORAM :
HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE B.R. GAVAI HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE K.V. VISWANATHAN
For Petitioner(s) Mr. Rajiv Kumar Choudhry , AOR
Ms. Prerna Singh, Adv. Mr. Guntur Pramod Kumar, AOR Mr. Dhruv Yadav, Adv.
For Respondent(s)
UPON hearing the counsel the Court made the following O R D E R
1. Leave granted.
2. The appeals are allowed in terms of the signed non-
reportable judgment.
3. Pending application(s), if any, stand(s) disposed of.
(DEEPAK SINGH) (ANJU KAPOOR) ASTT. REGISTRAR-cum-PS COURT MASTER (NSH)
[Signed non-reportable judgment is placed on the file]
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