If state sits on matter, judiciary and executive would be at loggerheads: Madhya Pradesh HC warns govt

Court was hearing a contempt petition in connection with a case that it has been hearing since 2016

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The court had previously recommended specific pay scales for high court employees across various cadres.

Continuous inaction on following the court’s orders would “create a situation where judiciary and executive would be at loggerheads”, the Madhya Pradesh High Court has told the state government.

The scathing remarks from a Division Bench of Acting Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Amar Nath came on July 4 on a contempt petition against the state government for non-compliance with the court’s 2017 and 2019 orders on revising pay scales for high court employees.

Petitioners in the case are HC employees seeking revision of their pay on a par with other HCs. The court has been hearing the case since 2016.

“If (the) state continues to sit over the matter for any further period of time, it would create a situation where (the) judiciary and executive would be at loggerheads, which is not in the interest of administration of justice,” the court said.

The court had previously recommended specific pay scales for high court employees across various cadres.

In its observations, the court said: “It is quite unfortunate to note that the State is sitting tight over the matter since (the) last seven years after passing of order dated 28.04.2017 and since (the) last five years after passing of the order dated 05.09.2019. This contempt petition was adjourned on several occasions for one pretext or the other”.

Chief Secretary Veera Rana, who was present in court on July 4, was informed that the high court had recommended specific pay scales for its employees across various cadres. This recommendation has been pending with the state government for almost 10 years, awaiting approval and notification by the Governor, the chief secretary was told.

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“What is disturbing in this case is that the State Government is indulging in procrastination for reasons attributed to the State Government in a situation where the Chief Justice exercising powers under Article 229(2) of the Constitution recommended revised pay-scales for employees of the High Court after assessing requirement of number of posts and nature of duties attached to each post in the establishment of High Court,” the court said, adding that if the Chief Justice of the High Court proposes a justified revision of pay scales, the obstacle of insufficient funds should not prevent the state from accepting it.

When the chief secretary asked for more time citing the ongoing assembly session, the court gave the government three weeks to resolve the impasse.

The case is now scheduled for on July 31 “for either reporting compliance by the State or showing cause as to why coercive steps be not taken against respondent/contemner”.

Anand Mohan J

Anand Mohan J is an award-winning Senior Correspondent for The Indian Express, currently leading the bureau’s coverage of Madhya Pradesh. With a career spanning over eight years, he has established himself as a trusted voice at the intersection of law, internal security, and public policy. Based in Bhopal, Anand is widely recognized for his authoritative reporting on Maoist insurgency in Central India. In late 2025, he provided exclusive, ground-level coverage of the historic surrender of the final Maoist cadres in Madhya Pradesh, detailing the backchannel negotiations and the "vacuum of command" that led to the state being declared Maoist-free. Expertise and Reporting Beats Anand’s investigative work is characterized by a "Journalism of Courage" approach, holding institutions accountable through deep-dive analysis of several key sectors: National Security & Counter-Insurgency: He is a primary chronicler of the decline of Naxalism in the Central Indian corridor, documenting the tactical shifts of security forces and the rehabilitation of surrendered cadres. Judiciary & Legal Accountability: Drawing on over four years of experience covering Delhi’s trial courts and the Madhya Pradesh High Court, Anand deconstructs complex legal rulings. He has exposed critical institutional lapses, including custodial safety violations and the misuse of the National Security Act (NSA). Wildlife Conservation (Project Cheetah): Anand is a leading reporter on Project Cheetah at Kuno National Park. He has provided extensive coverage of the biological and administrative hurdles of rewilding Namibian and South African cheetahs, as well as high-profile cases of wildlife trafficking. Public Health & Social Safety: His recent investigative work has uncovered systemic negligence in public services, such as contaminated blood transfusions causing HIV infections in thalassemia patients and the human cost of the fertilizer crisis affecting rural farmers. Professional Background Tenure: Joined The Indian Express in 2017. Locations: Transitioned from the high-pressure Delhi City beat (covering courts, police, and labor issues) to his current role as a regional lead in Madhya Pradesh. Notable Investigations: * Exposed the "digital arrest" scams targeting entrepreneurs. Investigated the Bandhavgarh elephant deaths and the impact of kodo millet fungus on local wildlife. Documented the transition of power and welfare schemes (like Ladli Behna) in Madhya Pradesh governance. Digital & Professional Presence Author Profile: Anand Mohan J at Indian Express Twitter handle: @mohanreports ... Read More

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