Issuing the order on a contempt petition, a division bench of the High Court comprising Chief Justice Kurian Joseph and Justice Dharam Chand Chaudhary asked the Chief Secretary to also state whether in such cases the government had duly looked into the justification for engaging a private counsel other than the Advocate General and government advocates.
"It shall also be clarified in the affidavit as to what is the expenditure incurred for defending the government officials in contempt petitions by engaging private counsel", the bench said in its order.
The court said the chief secretary shall further clarify as to whether in the light of the instruction issued in the year 1996 and 1998 with particular reference to the conduct of the contempt petition that "should there be permission to the government officials again to engage private counsel".
"Whether the government has ever looked into the justification for avoiding Advocate General in appearing for the state in such cases", the bench said.
