SC dismisses contempt plea against CM

NEWDELHI: The Supreme Court on Wednesday dismissed a contempt petition filed against chief minister Yogi Adityanath and others for non-compliance of the court’s earlier order on filling vacancies in agriculture boards and marketing committees.

A bench of Justices U U Lalit and D Y Chandrachud said no contempt was made out against the alleged contemnor -- Yogi Adityanath.

“No contempt is made out. The contempt petition is dismissed. The state government has said that it is filling up the vacancies as and when they arise. On the face of it appears there are no vacancies,” the bench said.

It warned the counsel for petitioner Anil Kumar and others saying that the court was not proceeding against him for suppressing the facts as the notice was earlier issued when the bench was informed that court’s 2005 order were not complied by the state government. At the outset, counsel for Kumar said that in 2005, the apex court had directed to fill up all the vacancies in the agriculture boards and marketing committees but till now nothing has been done. He said that contempt action should be initiated against the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and other officials concerned for not complying with the orders.

The bench asked the counsel to peruse the affidavit filed by the state government in which it was said that vacancies have been filed as and when they arises.