HC issues contempt notice to HPU officials

Himachal Pradesh High Court today issuednotices to Himachal Pradesh University (HPU) Vice Chancellor, Pro-Vice Chancellor, Registrar and Deputy Registrar for "knowingly, deliberately and willfully" violating its earlier orders to regularise the services of three research associates of Institute of Integrated Himalayan Studies (IIHS).
A division bench comprising Chief JusticeMansoor Ahmad Mir and Justice Sandeep Sharmaissued notice to HPU Vice Chancellor Professor ADN Bajpai, Pro-Vice Chancellor Rajinder Singh Chauhan, Registrar Pankaj Lalit and Deputy Registrar Susheel Kumar as to why the contempt proceedings should not be initiated against on the contempt petitions filed by Dr Bhawani Singh, Dr Rattan Singhand Dr Sanjiv seeking regularisation of their services.

The bench referred to the violation of court orders of April 2012 in civil writ petitions and similar petition in August 2015.
The petitionershad filed civil writ petitions seeking regularisation of their services as they were appointed as Research Associates with the IIHS, a project undertaken by the HPU under the University Grants Commission (UGC) scheme.
In the petition, therespondent varsity authorities initially took a stand that the services of the petitioners cannot be regularised as they are not the employees of HPU.
However, during the pendency of the petitions, High Court was informed that IIHS would remain as a permanent multi- disciplinary research institute of the HPU.

The High Court on such assurance directed the HPU to consider the petitioners' case for continuation of the IIHS as a permanent multi-disciplinary research institute of the HPU and also consider issue of their continuance/ absorption/ regularisation with all consequential benefits.

After its order was not complied with by the varsity, the petitioners filed a contempt petition and taking a lenient view, the HC again directed the University to comply with its order, but in vain.
The petitioners alleged that the University, in order to defeat the right of the petitioners was deliberately not implementing the judgment of High Court.

Thehigh court examined the entire record and observed that vindictive attitude of the respondents (HPU) clearly reflects from the noting given on the file pertaining to the release of revised pay scale with regard to petitioners.
In this, the HPU Registrar stated that "till and so long the contempt petition is not taken, the regularisation/joining of the petitioner will not be notified."
The Court added that much more is contained in the contempt petition, which is suggestive of defiant and autocrat/dictatorial attitude of the officials of the university therefore it is fit case to issue show cause notice to contemnor officials of University.