Patna, Aug 06: The Patna High Court today issued notices of criminal contempt to top Bihar government officials for violating court orders on recruitment of police constables under reserved category and directed them to file replies within 10 days. A division bench comprising Chief Justice Ravi S Dhavan and Justice S K Singh issued contempt notices to Chief Secretary K A H Subramaniam, Home Commissioner B K Haldar, his predecessor U N Panjiyar, Director General of Police D P Ojha and his predecessor R R Prasad on the charge of misleading, suppressing and interfering with the course of justice. The court ordered issuance of notices while hearing a petition filed by Bihar police men's association. The case relates to a government decision lowering educational qualification for recruitment of constables under reserved category (SC, ST, OBC)from class X to class VII which was challenged by Bihar police men's association in 2000 in the district court. The court quashed the government decision.


The government filed a Latent Patent Appeal (LPA)) in the High Court in March 2001 against the lower court order to which the high court refused to grant stay.


Meanwhile, the government issued a fresh advertisement for recruitment of constables under reserved category in August 2001 with reduced educational qualification.

Petitioner's counsel P K Shahi contended that issuance of fresh advertisement defied the court's rulings.
Additional Advocate General S K Ghose represented the state. Bureau Report