HSSC secy faces contempt for ignoring HC vacant post order

Chandigarh: The Punjab and Haryana high court has issued a show-cause notice to the Haryana Staff Selection Commission (HSSC) secretary, asking why he should not be held guilty of contempt for non-compliance of its order.
Justice Jasgurpreet Singh Puri of the high court has passed the orders after observing that despite a specific order passed by the high court on April 1, 2021, asking the commission to keep one post of junior accountant vacant for one of the petitioners before court, the commission failed to comply with the order till date.
“No justification has come forth nor is it clear from the state’s affidavit with regard to the position as to why recommendations were made in violation of the orders passed by this court on April 1, 2021. A notice of contempt is issued to the secretary, HSSC, to show cause as to why he should not be held guilty of contempt,” Justice Puri has ordered.
The judge has also directed the registry of the court to register it as a contempt petition by way of a separate number and place it before the appropriate bench after taking appropriate orders from the acting Chief Justice. On April 1, 2021, the HC had directed the commission to keep one post of junior accountant in EWS category vacant till the matter is pending before the court. However, neither the commission informed the department nor the same was done by the department concerned.
On Feb 28, the HC had directed the secretary of the commission to file an affidavit on whether a post has been kept vacant or not.
However, when the matter came up for hearing before the HC on May 10, the counsel for Haryana govt submitted that an affidavit could not be filed and sought some time. The counsel representing the department informed the HC that the department has not kept any post vacant because it was never informed by the commission.