Geeta Ram vs S.S. Kanwar

Sandeep Sharma, J

By way of present contempt petition, prayer has been made on behalf of the petitioner for initiation of contempt proceedings against the respondent for having willfully and intentionally disobeyed the directions contained in order/judgment dated 11.12.2019, passed by this Court in Cr.MMO No. 358 of 2019, Geeta Ram v. State of HP and Anr, whereby this Court while disposing of the petition directed the respondent- Divisional Forest Officer, Bilaspur, H.P., to pay interest @ 9% on the sum of Rs. 80,000/- from the date of auction till its deposit, within a period of one month, to the petitioner. Since no action, whatsoever, came to be taken at the behest of the respondent-competent authority pursuant to aforesaid directions, petitioner has approached this Court in the instant proceedings.

Mr. Sudhir Bhatnagar, learned Additional Advocate General, while accepting the notice on behalf of the respondent, submits that though he has every reason to presume that by now, judgment alleged to have been violated must have been complied with in its totality, but if not, same would be definitely complied with within a period of two weeks from today.

Consequently, in view of the fair stand adopted by the learned Additional Advocate General representing the respondents, this Court sees no reason to keep the present petition alive and accordingly, same is closed. However, respondent-contemnor is directed to do the needful in terms of judgment alleged to have been violated within a period of two weeks, failing which respondent would aggravate the contempt and petitioner would be at liberty to get the present petition revived so that appropriate action in accordance with law is taken against the erring officials. Notice issued to respondent is discharged at this stage.