Jodhpur, March 25 – In a significant development, the Rajasthan High Court at Jodhpur has recalled its earlier order summoning the Principal Secretary of the Department of Personnel (DOP), Mr. Krishna Kant Pathak, in a contempt petition filed by a Lower Division Clerk (LDC) employed at a Collectorate. The Court observed that the Department of Personnel had no role in the matter and its inclusion as a respondent was unwarranted.
The case, S.B. Writ Contempt No. 522/2022, was filed by petitioner Ramesh Chandra Audichya through counsel Mr. Yash Pal Khileree, naming the State of Rajasthan and several officials as respondents. The matter came up for hearing before Justice Dinesh Mehta, who had earlier passed an order on March 11, 2025, directing the personal appearance of the DOP Secretary and ordered the stoppage of his salary over non-compliance with a previous judgment.
However, during the proceedings on March 25, Senior Advocate and Additional Advocate General Mr. Rajesh Panwar, representing the State, clarified that the Principal Secretary of the Department of Personnel was not the competent authority in the petitioner’s case and played no role in the matter being litigated.
Upon review, Justice Mehta agreed with this submission and expressed regret, noting that the Secretary had been unnecessarily summoned due to an error on part of the petitioner and his counsel. The Court acknowledged that the petitioner had wrongly arrayed both past and present Secretaries of the DOP as contemnors without due verification.
“The petitioner and his counsel ought to have been more cautious,” remarked the Court, emphasizing that the appointing and disciplinary authority for the petitioner, who serves as an LDC, is the District Collector and not the Department of Personnel.
The Court declared the arrayal of the DOP as a party to be a “complete misjoinder” and consequently:
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Recalled the part of its March 11 order that required the Principal Secretary’s court appearance;
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Deleted respondent No.2 (the DOP Secretary) from the list of parties;
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Revoked the order halting his salary and directed for its immediate release;
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Obliterated paragraphs 9 and 10 of the previous order;
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Allowed the State to resume payment of salary to respondents No.3 and No.4.
Bhupendra Singh Chundawat is a seasoned technology journalist with over 22 years of experience in the media industry. He specializes in covering the global technology landscape, with a deep focus on manufacturing trends and the geopolitical impact on tech companies. Currently serving as the Editor at Udaipur Kiran, his insights are shaped by decades of hands-on reporting and editorial leadership in the fast-evolving world of technology.
