Noncompliance of High Court order: Rs 15000 fine imposed on HRTC & Industry Department

Himachal Pradesh High Court on Friday imposed a cost of ₹ 15000 separately against Himachal Pradesh Road Transport Corporation and Industry Department for not complying with court orders.

A single bench of  Justice Sandeep Sharma passed this order on Friday during the hearing of the petition filed by one Santram. The bench observed that the corporation was given sufficient time to file its reply three times earlier.  But the reply to the petition has not been filed to date.  

The bench held in its order that a preliminary hearing on the matter was held on January 5, 2022.  The court had given the corporation six weeks to file its reply to the petition.  The 2nd hearing on the matter took place on 28 April 2022.  The court gave time till June 27, 2022, to HRTC to file its reply to the petition. 

 Even on June 27, 2022, the reply to the petition was not filed on behalf of the defendants.  

The Division Bench of the High Court, after admitting the matter, sent it for hearing before a single bench.  The Single Bench observed that even after a lapse of more than 1 year, the Corporation has failed to file its reply to the petition.  The court observed that it was compelled by the negligence of the respondent to take strict cognizance of such a negligent attitude and slapping a cost of Rs 15000.

In another similar noncompliance with the court order, High Court has imposed a cost of Rs 15000 on the Industries Department for not filing the reply to the petition.  

Thus order was also passed by Justice Sandeep Sharma, after observing the records related to the case, the bench found that the preliminary hearing on the said case was held on March 2, 2021.  

Even after a lapse of more than two years, a reply to the petition was not filed by the State Government.  

Taking strict cognizance of the matter, the State High Court ordered the State Government to file its reply to the petition by May 16, 2023.

In case of non-filing of reply to the petition, the court has asked the concerned top officials of the Secretary Industries and other departments to remain present before the court on May 16, 2023.

  If the reply to the petition is not filed by May 16, 2023, then the state government would not be given additional time to file the reply to the petition.