‘UP’s habit to stay action unless contempt is filed’

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Friday took a dim view of the tendency of the Uttar Pradesh government to not take action on issues until a contempt plea is filed against it [State of Uttar Pradesh v. Rahul Yadav].

The Bench of Chief Justice of India NV Ramana and Justices Krishna Murari and Hima Kohli was hearing a plea filed by the State against an order of the Allahabad High Court which summoned eight officers of the State government, including the Chief Secretary and officials from the Chief Minister’s office.

The High Court had passed the order in a habeas corpus petition regarding an 82-yearold junior engineer from Kaushambi, who had gone missing from a hospital in May last year.

During the hearing, CJI Ramana remarked, “Sorry to say, but this has become a habit of this State to not take action unless contempt is filed.”

Appearing for Uttar Pradesh government, Additional Advocate General Garima Parshad submitted that two Special Investigation Teams had been formed to probe into the matter and to check whether there was illegal detention of the missing person in question.

Justice Kohli observed, “It has been a year. It was on May 7 last year and now it is a year.”

Justice Murari queried, “Did you check if his body was somewhere?” Parshad replied that all cremation centres in Prayagraj had been checked, and that as per the person’s last medical exam, his parameters were normal.

The Court ultimately issued notice in the matter and stayed the proceedings before the High Court. The State was directed to pay Rs 50,000 as compensation to the family of the missing person for legal costs. The matter will be next heard in July.