The Bombay High Court has expressed strong displeasure over what it described as the 'audacity' of government officials in disobeying judicial orders. The court issued a contempt notice against R G Singh, the director of the Staff Selection Commission (SSC), for alleged willful non-compliance, as reported by news agency PTI.
Court's Strong Remarks
A bench comprising Justices Ravindra Ghuge and Hiten Venegaonkar voiced deep concern over the increasing trend of authorities ignoring court directives. 'This is a classic case wherein, prima facie, we find that even officers in the service of this nation have displayed the audacity to disobey the orders of this court. Much turns upon the discipline of such officers in respecting the Majesty of Law,' the High Court stated.
The court further noted that such disobedience has become so frequent that hundreds of contempt petitions are filed every year, most involving state or central government officials.
Background of the Case
The notice was issued in a case involving two Pune residents, Sushant Sarode and Aniket Jadhav, who aspired to join the CISF or BSF. Despite earlier directions from the High Court to induct them into the training programme, the SSC failed to comply. The candidates had been denied entry after a physical test due to a marginal shortfall in height, which the court had earlier deemed insignificant.
'We are appalled by the fact that the tendency to disobey orders of the high court is growing to such an extent that hundreds of contempt petitions are being registered each year, most of them on account of disobedience by the state government, the central government, or their officers,' the bench remarked.
The matter is scheduled for further hearing on Wednesday.
