Orissa high court recalls arrest warrants against edu dept officials
CUTTACK: The Orissa high court on Monday recalled the arrest warrants issued against the director of secondary education and the district education officers (DEOs) of Puri, Jagatsinghpur and Jajpur.
Justice KR Mohapatra called back the arrest warrants, while recalling the order of the Vacation Court, which was issued following five contempt of court petitions on October 28.
“It is sheer disobedience of the direction of this court vide order dated 10.09.2020. Accordingly, issue bailable warrants of arrest against the contemnors to be produced before this court on November 3,” Justice Mohapatra had said while issuing the orders as Vacation Judge in the recent past.
On September 10, the HC had directed for the personal appearance of the director of secondary education and the DEOs of the three districts before the Vacation Court on October 28. But the officers did not appear in person on that day.
When the high court reopened after the Puja vacation on Monday, the officers moved applications for recall of the October 28 order. Appearing on behalf of the officers, school and mass education department’s standing counsel DR Mohapatra submitted that non-appearance of the officers in the contempt petitions was “unintentional” and it was “due to communication gap”.
The petition has further claimed that the high court’s May 2018 order, for the non-compliance of which the contempt petitions have been filed, has already been complied with.
Taking into consideration the submission of the standing counsel for the school and mass education department, Justice Mohapatra said, “The order dated 28.10.2020 is recalled and bailable warrants of arrest issued against the contemnors are recalled”.