Sacked constables: UP Govt moves SC against contempt

The Mayawati Government on Thursday moved the Supreme Court,aggrieved by Allahabad High Courts warning to initiate contempt...

The Mayawati Government on Thursday moved the Supreme Court,aggrieved by Allahabad High Courts warning to initiate contempt proceeding against it if it failed to implement the directive reinstating the 18,000-odd police constables appointed during the Mulayam Singh regime. The HC had asked the UP to comply with its directive by May 27.

After the states Additional Advocate General Shail Dwivedi mentioned the matter before the vacation bench of Justices Markandeya Katju and Deepak Verma,it agreed to take up the matter on May 25. The Court asked the states counsel to file an application,so that appropriate directions could be passed.

On Wednesday,the HC had warned the UP Government that it would face contempt proceedings if its order for reinstating the police personnel was not followed. Holding that non-compliance with the order was prima facie tantamount to contempt of court,Justice Vikram Nath of the Allahabad High Court had directed Principal Secretary (Home) and DGP to appear before the court on May 27.

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The order was passed on a petition filed by Pawan Kumar Singh and others who claimed that the state Government was not allowing them to resume duty and it had not taken any step for screening the dismissed personnel,despite the High Court order.

The state has pleaded that since a Special Leave Petition had been filed in the Supreme Court against the High Court judgment,some time should be given to it on the issue.

Earlier,the apex court on May 18,while hearing the appeal,declined to stay the High Court order. Justice Vikram Nath said he was providing another opportunity to comply with the court order,failing which the authorities concerned should appear on May 27 for framing of charges. A single-judge bench had in December last year set aside the dismissal of the policemen recruited during the previous government by the present government,following a probe into alleged irregularities in their selection.