HC orders Union Jt Secy's appearance in contempt case

Madras High Court has ordered the Joint Secretary in the Union Home Ministry to appear before it on December 6 if its last year order granting freedom fighter pension to a 94-year-old man was not complied with by then.
Justice N.Paul Vasanthakumar passed the order yesterday on a contempt petition seeking to punish officials concerned for failure to implement the October 1, 2012 order directing the government to grant freedom fighter pension to one Rajagopal based on the recommendation of the Tamil Nadu government made way back in 1973.
When the petition came up for hearing, Union Deputy Home Secretary Mahavir Prasad and Under Secretary (Home) Amarchand appeared before the Judge and sought more time to implement the order.

When the matter first came up on October 11 last, the government counsel responding to a query said the Ministry had filed an appeal challenging the October 2012 order, but no stay was granted following which the Judge admitted the petition and ordered the appearance of the Union Home Secretary and the Deputy Secretary.
As there was no response from them, the Judge in the subsequent hearing directed the contemnors either to comply with the last year order or to appear before him on November 15. He had also warned he would be forced to issue warrant against them if they did not appear.

However, only the Deputy Secretary and the Under Secretary appeared before the court yesterday. Additional Solicitor General G. Masilamani, representing them, sought time to comply with the order.
He also submitted that the Union Home Secretary was not the officer responsible for the implementation of the order on pension but the Joint Secretary.
The Judge then posted the matter to December 6 for compliance of the order failing which the Joint Secretary should appear before the court on December 6.