Chhattisgarh HC Issues Contempt Notice to Health Secretary Amit Kataria Over Delay in Complying With Court Order
Raipur: The Chhattisgarh High Court has issued a contempt notice to Health Department Secretary Amit Kataria for allegedly failing to comply with the court’s directions within the stipulated time in a case related to the transfer of a government employee in Gariyaband district.
The case pertains to Daysingh Dhruv, who was posted as a driver at the office of the Chief Medical and Health Officer (CMHO) in Gariyaband. The Gariyaband collector had transferred him to Mainpur. Challenging the transfer order, Dhruv approached the Chhattisgarh High Court in Bilaspur.
While hearing his writ petition, the High Court had directed the Health Department secretary to consider and dispose of Dhruv’s case within six months, in accordance with the legal principles laid down by the Supreme Court in S.K. Naushad Rahman vs Union of India.
The petitioner alleged that despite the clear directions of the High Court, his representation was not decided within the stipulated six-month period and the transfer order was also not cancelled.
Subsequently, Dhruv, through his counsel Abhishek Pandey and Rishabhdev Sahu, filed a contempt petition before the High Court, alleging non-compliance with the court’s order.
During the proceedings, the petitioners’ counsel referred to Rule 12(1) of the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971, and submitted that deliberate disobedience of an order of the High Court or any other court can invite contempt proceedings. The counsel also pointed out that the increasing number of contempt petitions was consuming valuable judicial time and affecting the hearing of other matters.
Taking the matter seriously, the Chhattisgarh High Court, Bilaspur, issued a contempt notice to Health Department Secretary Amit Kataria, seeking an explanation as to why contempt proceedings should not be initiated against him for allegedly violating the court’s directions.
The case records refer to the order passed by the High Court in W.P.(S) No. 12214/2025 on October 16, 2025, and the subsequent order in Cont. No. 950/2026 on July 23, 2026.
The court’s notice has put the Health Department secretary on notice over the alleged delay in complying with the judicial directions.
