Himachal Pradesh High Court has directed the HP CSK Agriculture University at Palampur not to release the salary of the Vice Chancellor and the registrar without seeking liberty from it.
The order was given by a division bench of the HC consisting of Justice Sanjay Karol and Justice Rajeev Sharma while hearing the contempt petition filed by CSK Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishvavidyalaya Pensioner's Association.
"We are of the considered view that respondents are in gross contempt of this court. They have failed to comply with the orders of this court and whether contempt is willful is a question which we shall examine hereinafter.
"For the time being, we pass the order that the salary of Vice Chancellor and the Registrar of the respondent University shall not be released without seeking liberty from this Court," the court said.
The bench further said: "We find that despite sufficient opportunities afforded to the respondents, they have not complied with the judgement of September 15, 2011 passed by division bench of this Court in directing the University to release retirement gratuity/death gratuity and arrears of pension with dearness allowance in terms of notification.
"This was to be done within a period of six months and the time to comply with the judgement was extended by this Court on request of the respondents, but despite the same, respondents failed to comply with the judgement".
The respondents also failed to respond to the legal notice served upon them by the petitioners society, it said.
"In fact the court had on the request of respondents adjourned the matter on October 22 and listed the same on October 28 but when the matter came up before this court, no explanation was forthcoming as to why the amount has not been released to the members of petitioners society or the judgement has not been complied with in letter and spirit," it said.
