Patna High Court
Bhagmati DeviversusThe State of Bihar
- Decided
- Disposal
- DISPOSED
- Bench
- RAJIV ROY
Holding
The Court disposed of the contempt petition, finding no basis to proceed with contempt proceedings.
Summary
Bhagmati Devi, widow of the late Rajeshwar Pandey, filed a petition in the Patna High Court seeking initiation of contempt proceedings against the State of Bihar and several universities for allegedly willfully disobeying an order dated 04‑05‑2018 in CWJC No. 9899 of 2017. The order required payment to the petitioner, which was eventually made after a delay of four years but without any interest. Senior counsel for the petitioner argued that the delayed payment without interest constituted contempt. The Court, after hearing the parties, granted the petitioner liberty to raise any further grievance but declined to order contempt proceedings. Consequently, the contempt petition was disposed of without any finding of contempt.
Issues considered
- Whether the delayed payment of the decree amount without interest amounts to contempt of the High Court's order.
- Whether the respondents can be held in contempt for alleged willful disobedience of the order dated 04‑05‑2018.
Subjects
- contempt of court
- delayed payment
- interest on decree
- Civil Writ Jurisdiction
- Patna High Court
- university
- state government
Judgment
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA
Miscellaneous Jurisdiction Case No.3782 of 2018
In
Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case No.9899 of 2017
======================================================
Bhagmati Devi Wife of Late Rajeshwar Pandey, Resident of Village-and P.O.
and P.S.-Garkha, District-Saran.
... ... Petitioner/s
Versus
1. The State of Bihar Through Sri R. K. Mahajan, Principal Secretary, Human
Resources Development Department, Government of Bihar, Patna.
2. Baba Saheb BHim Rao Ambedkar Bihar University, Muzaffarpur, through
its Registrar Shri Ajay Kumar Rai
3. Shri Amarendra Narayan Yadav, Vice Chancellor, Baba Saheb Bhim Rao
Ambedkar Bihar University, Muzaffarpur.
4. Shri Ajay Kumar Rai Registrar, Baba Saheb Bhim Rao Ambedkar Bihar
University, Muzaffarpur
5. Jai Prakash University, Chapra, through its Registrar Shri Madhurendra
Kumar
6. Shri Harikesh Singh Vice Chandellor, Jai Prakash University, Chapra.
7. Shri Madhurendra Kumar Registrar, Jai Prakash University, Chapra.
8. Sri K.K. Baitha, Principal Jagdam College, Chapra.
... ... Opposite Party/s
======================================================
Appearance :
For the Petitioner/s : Mr. Sanjay Kumar Jha, Advocate
For the State : Mr. Ashutosh Ranjan Pandey, AAG-15
======================================================
CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE RAJIV ROY
ORAL ORDER
4 06-05-2026 Heard the parties.
2. The present petition has been preferred for the
following relief(s):
“for initiation of contempt proceeding
against the contemnors/opposite parties for their
willful disobedience of the order dated 04.05.2018
passed in CWJC No. 9899 of 2017.”
Patna High Court MJC No.3782 of 2018(4) dt.06-05-2026
2/2
3. Learned Senior Counsel submits that though
payment has been made, it has been paid after four years
without any interest.
4. Granting liberty to the petitioner to agitate the
matter, if any grievance still remains, the present contempt
petition stands disposed of.
(Rajiv Roy, J)
vinayak/-
U
Checking your session…