Patna High Court
Dr. Snehlata SrivastavaversusThe State of Bihar and Ors
- Decided
- Disposal
- DISPOSED
- Bench
- AJIT KUMAR
Holding
The court disposed the contempt petition, granting the petitioner liberty to seek payment within a stipulated period and to raise further grievances thereafter.
Summary
Dr. Snehlata Srivastava filed a contempt petition seeking the payment of arrears due to her as a retired associate professor. The respondents, including the State of Bihar and the universities, submitted that the arrears had already been disbursed to the concerned college following a court order dated 13‑02‑2026. The court examined the submission and directed that if the amount was not received by the petitioner within one week, the registrars of Magadh University and Patliputra University should be notified to ensure credit of the amount. The petitioner was also given liberty to file any further representation regarding pending grievances within four weeks. Accordingly, the contempt petition was disposed.
Issues considered
- Did the respondents comply with the earlier court order to pay the arrears to Dr. Snehlata Srivastava?
- Should the contempt petition be continued or disposed based on the alleged payment?
Subjects
- contempt
- arrears of salary
- university
- civil writ jurisdiction
- payment order
- higher education
- Magadh University
- Patliputra University
Judgment
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA
Miscellaneous Jurisdiction Case No.492 of 2019
In
Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case No.19910 of 2014
======================================================
Dr. Snehlata Srivastava Daughter of Late Kunj Bihari Verma Resident of
Village- Chotte Badalpura, Baulipar, P.O. and P.S.- Khagaul, District- Patna
... ... Petitioner/s
Versus
1. The State of Bihar through Mr. R.K. Mahajhan, Principal Secretary,
Education Department, Patna
2. Dr. Rekha Kumari, The Director, Higher Education, Patna
3. Dr. K.N. Paswan, Vice-Chancellor, Magadh University, Bodh Gaya
4. Col. Praveen Kumar, Registrar, Magadh University, Bodh Gaya
5. Patliputra University through its Registrar Patliputra, Patna
... ... Opposite Party/s
======================================================
Appearance :
For the Petitioner/s : Mr. Sunil Kumar Singh, Adv.
Mr. Ravi Ranjan Kr. Singh, Adv.
For the State : Mr. Apurva Kumar, AC to GA12
For the PPU : Mr. Rana Vikram Singh, Adv.
Mrs. Rasika, Adv.
For the MU : Mr. Harsh Singh, Adv.
======================================================
CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE AJIT KUMAR
ORAL ORDER
11 16-02-2026 Heard learned counsel for the parties.
2. Counsel representing Patliputra University
submits that pursuant to the order passed by this Court on
08.08.2018, the payment of arrear in respect of Dr. Snehlata
Srivastava, retired Associate Professor, Department of Hindi,
has already been disbursed to the concerned college by the
Magadh University, after getting the same sanctioned vide letter
dated 13.02.2026 and necessary approval letter has been brought
on record for consideration and disposal of the contempt
Patna High Court MJC No.492 of 2019(11) dt.16-02-2026
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petition, which is kept on record and marked as ‘X’.
3. In view of the aforesaid submission, the instant
contempt petition is disposed of with a liberty to the petitioner
that if the said amount is not paid to the petitioner within a
period of one week from today, then necessary intimation shall
be provided to the Registrar of the Magadh University as well as
Patliputra University, so that the amount is credited with their
intervention and, for other pending grievances, if any, the
petitioner is restored with liberty to file appropriate
representation before the Registrar of the Magadh University
within a period of four weeks from today and the same shall
also be addressed by them in accordance with law.
4. The contempt petition stands disposed of.
(Ajit Kumar, J)
rishi/-
U
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