Patna HC issues show-cause notice to chief minister’s office in contempt case

The Patna high court has asked the Bihar chief minister’s office (CMO) to explain why its order pertaining to revocation of termination of then public prosecutor (PP) Motihari Jai Prakash Mishra was not complied with.

PATNA: The Patna high court issued a show-cause notice to the chief minister’s office (CMO), asking it to explain why its order pertaining to revocation of termination of then public prosecutor (PP) Motihari Jai Prakash Mishra was not complied with.

The Patna high court issued a show-cause to Bihar chief minister’s office (CMO) in pursuance of hearing of a contempt petition. (File/HT Photo)

The show-cause has been issued on the order of justice PB Bajanthri on Thursday in pursuance of hearing of a contempt petition filed by Mishra.

The petitioner approached the court after its previous order, reinstating his service as the PP-cum-chairman of the district level samiti of Motihari, issued on December 21, last year, was not honoured by the government within the stipulated time.

Mishra’s service was terminated on October 23 by the law department. Joint secretary, law department, Umesh Kumar Sharma, who was present during the final hearing of the writ petition on December 21, assured the court that the termination of Mishra would be withdrawn within a week.

The petitioner’s lawyer Chatish Chandra Mishra said that it was a rare occasion when the role of CMO is being questioned for its apathy towards the court’s order and the principal secretary to the CM has been asked to reply to the show cause. He elaborated that the law department submitted that the file relating to reinstatement of service of the petitioner has been pending for the CM’s approval.

The joint secretary said that the law minister approved the reinstatement of service of the PP and forwarded the file to the CMO in January itself.

Earlier in the same case, the court imposed a cost of ₹10,000 on the law department and directed the joint secretary of the department to appear in person during the hearing of the contempt petition.