HC summons defiant officials
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, February 05 2018:
The chairman and all the members of the DPC held in defiance of an interim order of the High Court of Manipur for promotion of Assistant Engineers (AEs) of Water Resources Department (WRD) to Executive Engineers (EEs) have been directed to appear before the Court.
With a writ petition concerning service rules of WRD pending at the High Court, an interim order was issued not to hold any DPC till February 5.The interim order was passed a division bench of Acting Chief Justice N Kotiswar and Justice Kh Nobin on January 31 and legal notices were sent to all officials concerned notifying them to abide by the interim order.
However, notwithstanding the interim order, Manipur Public Service Commission (MPSC) conducted DPC for promotion of AEs of WRD to EEs on February 3.For defying the interim order, the High Court today directed DPC chairman and MPSC Member WL Hangshing, DPC members Joint Secretary (DP) A Subash Singh, WRD Secretary Th Gopen Meitei and WRD Chief Engineer Ksh Pritam to appear before the Court at 10.30 am of February 12 .
On the other hand, the pending writ petition regarding the services rules of WRD was heard by the division bench today.
The petitioner's counsel informed the Court that DPC was held on February 3 despite the Court's order not to hold any such DPC till February 5 and an order for promotion of 20 officials to the position of EEs was issued on the same day.
Even though the Court felt that there is a prima facie case for invoking suo moto for contempt of Court decided to hear the persons concerned first before proceeding with the contempt of Court.
Subsequently, the DPC chairman and all the members were asked to appear before the Court on February 12.Moreover, WRD Under Secretary Anthony M Haokip has been directed to appear before the Court on the same day for issuing the promotion order of 20 AEs to EEs based on the DPC held in total defiance of the High Court's interim order.
On the other hand, another order pertaining to the postings of the 20 newly promoted EEs was issued today by Under Secretary Anthony M Haokip, informed a source.