Patna High Court
Indrani GuptaversusThe State of Bihar
- Decided
- Disposal
- CONSIGNED
- Bench
- PURNENDU SINGH
Holding
The contempt petition is consigned as the District Provident Fund Officer has complied with the earlier order.
Summary
Indrani Gupta filed a writ petition seeking payment of her provident fund, which a prior order dated 10-10-2023 had directed the District Provident Fund Officer, Bhojpur, Ara, to release without delay along with statutory interest. The District Provident Fund Officer filed a show‑cause notice alleging that he had complied with the order. The High Court examined the show‑cause statement, particularly paragraphs 6, 7 and 9, and found that the officer had indeed complied with the earlier direction. Consequently, the court consigned the contempt petition filed by the petitioner, effectively dismissing it. The court further advised that if the petitioner remains dissatisfied with any other opposite party, he may pursue other appropriate legal remedies.
Issues considered
- Whether the District Provident Fund Officer complied with the earlier order directing payment of the petitioner’s provident fund with interest
- Whether the contempt petition filed by the petitioner is maintainable in view of the alleged compliance
Subjects
- contempt
- civil writ jurisdiction
- provident fund
- compliance
- statutory interest
- show-cause
Judgment
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA
Miscellaneous Jurisdiction Case No.723 of 2024
In
Civil Writ Jurisdiction Case No.4599 of 2023
======================================================
Indrani Gupta Wife of Late Jai Prakash Gupta Resident of At Ranjan Path,
Opposite Gyan Niketan School, New Baily Road, P.S. Danapur, District Patna
... ... Petitioner/s
Versus
1. The State of Bihar through Sri Pankaj Kumar, the Additional Chief
Secretary-cum-Principal Secretary, Food Supply and Consumer Protection
Department, Government of Bihar, Patna.
2. Sri Sanjay Kumar Upadhayaya, the Deputy Secretary, Food and Supply
Consumer Protection Department, Government of Bihar, Patna.
3. Sri Raj Kumar, The District Magistrate, Bhojpur at Ara.
4. Sri Ashok Kumar, the District Provident Fund Officer, Bhojpur at Ara.
5. Sri Pratap Bhanu Kumar, the District Treasury Officer, Bhojpur at Ara.
6. Smt. Vipra Bhal, the State of Jharkhand through the Additional Chief
Secretary-cum-Principal Secretary, Food, Supply and Consumer Protection
Department, Governemnt of Jharkhand, Ranchi.
7. Shri Shekhar Jamuar, the Deputy Commissioner, Garhwa, Jharkhand.
8. Shri Shekhar Jamuar, the Sub-Divisional Officer, Garhwa, Jharkhand.
9. Smt. Kumudini Tudu, the District Provident Fund Officer, Daltonganj
(Palamu).
10. Sri Anand Kumar, the District Treasury Officer, Daltonganj (Palamu).
11. Sri Raj Kumar, the Accountant General (A and E) II, Bihar, Patna.
12. Sri Raj Kumar Agarwal, the Accountant General, Jharkhand, Ranchi.
... ... Opposite Party/s
======================================================
Appearance :
For the Petitioner/s : Mr. Alok Kumar, Advocate
Mr. Pranav Kumar, Advocate
For the A.G., Jharkhand : Mr. Arun Kumar Arun, Advocate
For the A.G., Bihar : Mr. Vivekanand Kumar, Advocate
For the State : Standing Counsel 4
======================================================
CORAM: HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE PURNENDU SINGH
ORAL ORDER
5 18-03-2026 Heard Mr. Alok Kumar, learned counsel appearing
Patna High Court MJC No.723 of 2024(5) dt.18-03-2026
2/3
on behalf of the petitioner; Mr. Arun Kumar Arun, learned
counsel for the Accountant General, Jharkhand; Mr. Vivekanand
Kumar, learned counsel for the Accountant General, Bihar and
learned Standing Counsel 4 for the State.
2. Vide order/judgment dated 10.10.2023 passed in
CWJC No. 4599 of 2023, inter alia, following direction was
given to the District Provident Fund Officer, Bhojpur, Ara:
"4. Having considered the submissions made by
the learned counsel appearing on behalf of State of
Jharkhand, as well as, learned counsel appearing on behalf
of the State of Bihar, the present writ petition stands
disposed of with a direction to the District Provident Fund
Officer, Bhojpur, Ara that he should not make any delay in
making payment of the Provident Fund to the petitioner
which he is entitled for, within the aforesaid period, along
with the statutory interest."
3. A show-cause has been filed by the opposite party
no. 4, the District Provident Fund Officer, Bhojpur at Ara, and
compliance of the order/judgment dated 10.10.2023 passed in
CWJC No. 4599 of 2023 has been made as would appear from
the information contained in paragraphs no. 6, 7 and 9 of the
show-cause.
4. Considering the information contained in
paragraphs no. 6, 7 and 9 of the show-cause filed on behalf of
the opposite party no. 4, the present contempt petition is
consigned.
5. In case, the petitioner is still not satisfied and he is
Patna High Court MJC No.723 of 2024(5) dt.18-03-2026
3/3
aggrieved by any action of any other opposite party, he may
avail appropriate remedy in accordance with law.
(Purnendu Singh, J)
Niraj/-
U
Checking your session…