Allahabad High Court

RATNESH SINGHversusMS. KAMINI CHAUHAN RATAN

Decided: 29 September 2026
Bench: VIKAS BUDHWAR

Holding

The Court disposed of the contempt application, directing the respondent to conclude the disciplinary proceedings within one month and allowing the applicant to return to the Court if the deadline is missed.

Summary

The applicant, Ratnesh Singh, filed a contempt application alleging that the State of Uttar Pradesh failed to comply with the High Court’s order dated 03‑04‑2026 in Writ‑A No. 4728/2026, which required the disciplinary authority to conclude proceedings against him within four weeks. Despite the enquiry report being submitted on 13‑11‑2025 and a reply filed on 16‑12‑2025, the disciplinary process remained pending. The State sought a one‑month extension, citing the sensitivity of the matter, through a letter dated 28‑09‑2026 signed by the Special Secretary. The Court examined whether the delay amounted to contempt and whether an extension could be granted. It concluded that the contempt application should be disposed of, directing the respondent to complete the disciplinary proceedings within one month from the date of the order. The Court further held that the applicant may approach the Court again if the deadline is not met.

Issues considered

Whether the failure to conclude the disciplinary proceedings within the time prescribed by the High Court constitutes contempt of court.
Whether the respondent is entitled to a further extension of time to complete the disciplinary inquiry.
Whether the Court can impose a fresh deadline and condition subsequent relief on compliance with that deadline.

Legislation cited

Uttar Pradesh Government Servants (Disciplinary and Appeal) Rules, 1999 — s. Rule 9(4)

Subjects

contempt of court
disciplinary proceedings
Uttar Pradesh government servant rules
court order compliance
extension of time
show cause notice

Judgment

           HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT ALLAHABAD
             CONTEMPT APPLICATION (CIVIL) No. - 6162 of 2026

Ratnesh Singh
                                                                      .....Applicant(s)
                                         Versus

Ms. Kamini Chauhan Ratan
                                                                           .....Opposite
                                                                                 Party(s)

Counsel for Applicant(s)                    :   Prashant Mishra, Saumya Singh
Counsel for Opposite Party(s)               :

Court No. - 53
                       HON'BLE VIKAS BUDHWAR, J.

1. The present contempt application has been preferred alleging willful
defiance of the order dated 03.04.2026 passed in Writ-A No. 4728 of
2026, order whereof is quoted herein under:-

"1. The order of suspension dated 09.01.2025 passed by respondent no.1-Principal
Secretary, State Tax, Government of U.P., Lucknow is under challenge in the present
writ petition.
2. It is argued by counsel for the petitioner that more than 14 months have lapsed but
till date enquiry has not been concluded.
3. On the other hand it is argued by learned Standing Counsel that the disciplinary
proceedings initiated against the petitioner vide order of suspension dated 09.01.2025
will be concluded expeditiously.
4. In this view of the matter, the present writ petition is disposed of, directing the
disciplinary authority to conclude the disciplinary proceedings initiated against the
petitioner, most expeditiously and positively within a period of four weeks from the
date of presentation of certified copy of this order. It is made clear that the petitioner
will cooperate in the enquiry.
5. However, in case disciplinary proceedings is not completed within the period as
stated above, petitioner is free to approach this Court again."

2. This Court on 16.09.2026 proceeded to pass the following orders:-

"Let a copy of the contempt application be served upon Sri Ranajay Singh, learned
Addl. Chief Standing Counsel who shall seek instructions.
Put up this case on 30.09.2026 as fresh."
                                                                             CAPL No. 6162 of 2026
                                            2


3. Today, Sri Pavan Kumar, learned Standing Counsel has produced
before this Court instructions under the signature of Nidhi Srivastava,
Special Secretary. State of U.P. dated 28.09.2026, which is quoted herein
under:-

                               "संख्या- I/1478394/2026/11-3-2026
प्रेषक,
   निधि श्रीवास्तव,
   विशेष सचिव,
   उत्तर प्रदेश शासन।
सेवा में,
   मुख्य स्थायी अधिवक्ता,
   मा० उच्च न्यायालय,
   इलाहाबाद, उत्तर प्रदेश।
राज्य कर अनुभाग-3            लखनऊ : दिनांक : 28-09-2026
विषय:- अवमानना याचिका संख्या-6162/2026, रत्नेश सिंह बनाम श्रीमती कामिनी चौहान रतन, प्रमुख
सचिव, राजस्व कर में इंस्ट्रक्शन दाखिल किये जाने के सम्बन्ध में।
महोदय,
            कृपया अवमानना याचिका संख्या-6162/2026, रत्नेश सिंह बनाम श्रीमती कामिनी चौहान रतन,
प्रमुख सचिव, राजस्व कर का सन्दर्भ ग्रहण करने का कष्ट करें, जो याची श्री रत्नेश सिंह, सहायक आयुक्त,
राज्य कर द्वारा अपने निलंबन आदेश दिनांक 09.01.2025 के विरुद्ध मा० उच्च न्यायालय, इलाहाबाद में
योजित रिट याचिका संख्या-4728/2026, रत्नेश सिंह बनाम उत्तर प्रदेश राज्य व 06 अन्य में पारित निर्णय
दिनांक 03-04-2026 के अनुपालन के लिए श्री रत्नेश सिंह द्वारा अवमानना वाद 6162/2026 योजित की
गयी है। उक्त योजित अवमानना वाद में मा० उच्च न्यायालय द्वारा सुनवाई करते हुए दिनांक 16-09-2026 को
आदेश पारित किया गया जिसका प्रभावी अंश निम्नवत् है-
"Let a copy of the contempt application be served upon Sri Ranajay Singh, learned
Addl. Chief Standing Counsel who shall seek instructions.
Put up this case on 30.09.2026 as fresh."
            उक्त योजित अवमाननावाद में मा० उच्च न्यायालय द्वारा पारित आदेश दिनांक 16.09.2026 के
अनुपालन में इंस्ट्रक्शन दाखिल किये जाने से सम्बंधित उल्लेखनीय बिंदु निम्नवत है-
(1) श्री रत्नेश सिंह, तत्कालीन सहायक आयुक्त (प्रभारी) राज्य कर सचल दल पंचम इकाई कानपुर जोन
द्वितीय कानपुर को कार्यालय ज्ञाप संख्या-1/847260/2025 दिनांक 09.01.2025 द्वारा निलम्बित कर
अनुशासनिक कार्यवाही संस्थित करते हुये कार्यालय ज्ञाप संख्या-1/891970/2025 दिनांक 27.02.2025
द्वारा श्री धनंजय शुक्ला, अपर आयुक्त, राज्य कर उ०प्र० लखनऊ को जांच अधिकारी नामित किया गया।
(2) शासन के कार्यालय ज्ञाप संख्या-1/940466/2025 दिनांक 21-04-2025 द्वारा आरोप पत्र निर्गत
किया गया।
(3) जाँच अधिकारी द्वारा पत्र दिनांक 13.11.2025 के माध्यम से जांच आख्या उपलब्ध करायी गयी, जिसमें
                                                                              CAPL No. 6162 of 2026
                                            3

याची के विरुद्ध आरोपित समस्त आरोप- 02 प्रमाणित पाए गये।
(4) याची के विरुद्ध प्रमाणित आरोप के क्रम में उत्तर प्रदेश सरकारी सेवक (अनुशासन एवं अपील)
नियमावली- 1999 के नियम-9 (4) के प्राविधानानुसार याची को अपने बचाव हेतु 15 दिन समय प्रदान करते
हुए शासन के पत्र दिनांक 25.11.2025 द्वारा निर्गत अभ्यावेदन नोटिस निर्गत की गयी जिसके क्रम में याची
का अभ्यावेदन दिनांक दिनांक 16.12.2025 शासन को उपलब्ध कराया गया।
(5) याची के अभ्यावेदन में उल्लिखित कतिपय तथ्यों पर आयुक्त, राज्य कर के पत्र दिनांक 28.04.2026
एवं दिनांक 02.07.2026 द्वारा अभिमत उपलब्ध कराया गया है।
(6) प्रश्नगत प्रकरण संवेदनशील प्रकृति का है, जिसमें याची के उच्च व अधीनस्थ स्तर के कई अधिकारी
अंतर्ग्रस्त हैं, जिसके दृष्टिगत समेकित रूप से सक्षम स्तर से निर्णय लिये जाने की कार्यवाही प्रक्रियाधीन है।
अतएव याची के सम्बन्ध में अंतिम निर्णय लिए जाने में अभी कुछ और समय लगने की संभावना है।
       कृपया उक्त वस्तुस्थिति से मा० उच्च न्यायालय, इलाहाबाद को अवगत कराते हुए मा० उच्च न्यायालय,
इलाहाबाद से प्रश्नगत अवमाननावाद में 01 माह का अतिरिक्त समय प्रदान करने हेतु अनुरोध करने का कष्ट
करें।भवदीय,
                                                                                  Digitally signed by
                                                                               NIDHI SRIVASTAVA
                                                                        Date: 28-09-2026 16:25:03
                                                                                         (निधि श्रीवास्तव)
                                                                                           विशेष सचिव।"

4. As per the instructions, enquiry report came to be submitted by the
Enquiry Officer before the Disciplinary Authority on 13.11.2025 and in
terms of Rule 9(4) of the U.P. Government Servant Disciplinary Rules,
1999, notice came to be issued on 25.11.2025, according 15 days' time to
the applicant to submit its reply to the show cause notice/enquiry report,
which came to be submitted on 16.12.2025 and thereafter, comments of
the official/ Department came to be submitted on 28.04.2026 and
02.07.2026. However, till date, the disciplinary proceeding has not been
given a final conclusion despite the fact that the order of the writ Court
provided that the inquiry is to be concluded within 4 weeks. The reason
assigned in para 6 of the instructions is that the matter is quite sensitive.

5. The Court fails to understand that what is the legal impediment in not
proceeding and concluding the inquiry, particularly when inquiry report
came to be submitted before the Disciplinary Authority and the same was
served upon the applicant along with a show cause notice, to which reply
was given in the month of December 2025. More than 9 months have
passed, but nothing has been done, which shows that the things are
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                                                                   4


                                    moving in a very slow pace, being pathetic situation.

                                    6. Accordingly, the present contempt application stands consign to
                                    record / disposed of requiring the opposite party to conclude the
                                    proceedings within a period of 1 month from today.

                                    7. In case, the same is not concluded, then it shall be open for the
                                    applicant to again approach this Court.



                                                                                            (Vikas Budhwar,J.)
                                    September 30, 2026
                                    N.S.Rathour




Digitally signed by :-
NIPENDRA SINGH RATHOUR
High Court of Judicature at Allahabad

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