4 days ago
High Court Issues Contempt Notice to Retired DGP Khurania
The Orissa High Court had ordered that police officer Sagarika Parida should get her job back.
The court also said she should receive her service and financial benefits.
The government appealed that decision to the Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court case does not have a reported stay order in the article.
The High Court says this appeal does not stop it from examining possible disobedience of its order.
It issued a contempt notice to retired DGP Y B Khurania.
The court alleges that he did not properly follow the order and gave a misleading affidavit.
The current in-charge DGP has four weeks to reinstate Parida.
If that does not happen, the DGP and IG (Personnel) must appear in court.
The Orissa High Court issued a contempt notice to retired DGP Y B Khurania.
The court alleges deliberate disobedience of an order and a misleading affidavit concerning SI Sagarika Parida’s reinstatement.
Parida was discharged in 2020 after allegedly concealing criminal antecedents, though she said she had disclosed two pending cases.
The High Court previously ordered her immediate reinstatement with full service and financial benefits, treating the intervening period as on duty.
The current in-charge DGP must complete her reinstatement within four weeks or appear with the IG (Personnel) in court.
- Who
- The Orissa High Court, retired DGP Y B Khurania, SI Sagarika Parida, the current in-charge DGP and the IG (Personnel).
- What
- The High Court issued Khurania a contempt notice and ordered Parida’s reinstatement within four weeks.
- Where
- The proceedings are before the Orissa High Court in Bhubaneswar.
- When
- The contempt order was issued on August 24, after Khurania retired on August 16; the next hearing was set for September 28.
- Why
- The court alleges that Khurania deliberately disobeyed its reinstatement order and submitted a misleading affidavit.
High Court’s Position
State’s Position
Effect of the Supreme Court appeal
High Court’s Position
The High Court said the pending Supreme Court proceeding cannot halt contempt proceedings because there is no interim stay order.
State’s Position
The State government relied on the pending Supreme Court challenge while seeking to avoid or delay contempt proceedings.
Responsibility after retirement
High Court’s Position
The court rejected the argument that Khurania’s retirement should end the proceedings, saying he had allegedly misled the bench about the department’s processing and did not disclose plans to appeal.
State’s Position
The State argued that contempt proceedings should be dropped because Khurania had retired.
Parida’s reinstatement
High Court’s Position
The High Court ordered immediate reinstatement with full service and financial benefits, treating the discharge period as on duty.
State’s Position
The State government challenged that reinstatement order before the Supreme Court.
Key facts
- Notice recipient
- Retired DGP Y B Khurania
- Police officer
- SI Sagarika Parida, who joined the service in 2017
- Discharge
- Parida was discharged three years after joining for allegedly concealing criminal antecedents
- Earlier High Court ruling
- A single-judge bench ordered immediate reinstatement with full service and financial benefits
- Appeal
- The State government filed a Special Leave Petition before the Supreme Court on August 22
- Reinstatement deadline
- The current in-charge DGP was given four weeks
- Next hearing
- September 28, with appearance required if the order is not completed
Quotes
Justice Sanjay Kumar Mishra
Orissa High Court judge hearing the contempt matter
“Law is well settled that pendency of the proceeding before the Supreme Court, in the absence of any interim order of stay, cannot be a ground to stall a contempt proceeding”
thehansindia.com
Sources
Related news
Supreme Court Defers Odisha DGP Appointment Hearing Until September 2
Contempt Plea Challenges Punjab Delay in DA Arrears
Telangana High Court Revokes Judge’s Forced Retirement After Eight Years
Vinaytosh Mishra gets additional charge as Odisha DGP
Jharkhand High Court Rebukes Government Over Police Station CCTV Delay
Former UP cop, 85, wins 25-year fight for inspector promotion
Bhubaneswar Court Rejects Challenge Against Patnaik, Pandian
IndiGo Plans Itanagar Flights to Six Major Indian Cities
Seven-year-old girl rescued after 36-hour Odisha police operation
Odisha CM Launches 593 Urban Projects Worth Rs 323 Crore
Congress urges fearless fight over amended mining law
