Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Nov 9: The state high court, on Monday November 8, took serious exception to the habit of the officials to either neglect the court orders or remain absent even when there are specific court directions seeking their personal presence. The high court also warned that officials who show such behaviour may be jailed by directing the director general of police and show to them what high courts can do, and to teach them a lesson.

During the hearing of a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking infrastructure facilities for the Dharwad Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences (DIMHANS) and the one seeking homes for the homeless, principal secretary in the medical education department and principal secretary in the housing department had failed to appear.

When the DIMHANS case came up, the government lawyer said that the principal secretary in the medial education department is away attending cabinet meeting and hence could not appear before the court. Getting livid, Chief Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi wanted to know who directed him to go there. He noted the officials do not obey the court orders and do not personally appear for hearing. He asked the lawyer to instruct the official to appear in the court failing which he will be arrested through the police. When the housing PIL came up, the principal secretary of housing was absent. The government lawyer sought some time. The Chief Justice got angry again and asked both the officials to be present at 2.30 pm and sought the presence of the advocate general to explain.

The advocate general, Prabhulinga K Navadgi, appeared in the high court when the afternoon session began, and sought an apology on behalf of the absentee officials.

The bench asked the advocate general to advise the chief secretary to the government to issue a circular instructing officials to appear for hearings as per court orders irrespective of what other emergencies they face. The advocate general promised to do so.

When medical education department principal secretary, Naveenraj Singh and housing department principal secretary, Ravishankar, appeared for hearing after the court, the Chief Justice lashed out at them, and gave them a dressing down. He warned them that his written comment can spoil their professional life and asked them not to show such behaviour.