Shimla, May 30: A division bench of Himachal High Court comprising Chief Justice V K Gupta and Justice K C Sood today directed chief secretary Rajinder Bhattacharya to appear in person in the court tomorrow and explain the stand of the government on the issue of rules for recruitment of sub-judges by filing an affidavit. The court had directed the government on May 15 last to amend the rules for recruitment of sub-judges and also ordered the state public service commission to complete the process for filling the posts within the stipulated period. The government which moved an application in the court seeking more time for amending the rules, also made a reference to the Supreme Court order regarding enhancement of salaries of judicial officers.
The court observed that there was no link between the two matters and the government had tried and attempted to mislead the court for a ride, totally confusing and mixing the issue of amendment of rules with a totally separate, independent and unconcerned issue of enhancement of salaries of judges as ordered by the Supreme Court. The court further observed it was a "deliberate and purposeful non-compliance" of our orders and the apex court order, on the part of the government and calls for initiation of an appropriate action against the government and its functionaries.

Bureau Report