Cuttack: The Orissa High Court Friday directed school and mass education (S&ME) secretary Ranjana Chopra to appear before it in connection with a contempt of court case.
Hearing a contempt petition filed by a lady teacher of a high school at Nuabazaar here, Justice DP Choudhury expressed disappointment on the S&ME department for showing disregard to its order and directed Chopra to appear in person. The bench has posted the hearing to January 24. According to sources, petitioner Archana Rani Bhuyan had moved the court in 2005 seeking her salary dues since June 7, 1994 as per the revised payments under sixth pay commission. Acting on the petition, the court had directed the S&ME department to resolve the issue immediately. However, the petitioner filed a contempt of court case as the order of the court was not followed.
During the hearing of the contempt petition December 16, 2008, the state government had sought more time from the court.
The HC had allowed six months time and dismissed the contempt proceedings. However, the issue of the petitioner was not settled following which she filed another contempt petition in 2010 and made S&ME secretary, directorate of secondary education and Cuttack district education officer as parties to the case.
Hearing the petition, the HC in 2011 had directed the S&ME department to submit a compliance report through an affidavit. However, the secretary has not filed the affidavit yet.
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