Hearing on DA contempt case on March 15

 Bench of Justices adjourned matter by nearly four weeks upon requests by government and some employees’ organisation

Supreme Court of India: File picture

TT Legal Correspondent   |   New Delhi   |  17.01.23:  The SupremeCourt on Monday posted to March 15 for “final disposal” the hearing of the Bengalgovernment’s appeal challenging the contempt proceedings initiated against it by the Confederation of State Government Employees, West Bengal and others challenging the refusal of the State to clear their dearness allowance.

A bench of Justice Dinesh Maheshwari and Justice Hrishikesh Roy adjourned the matter by nearly four weeks upon requests by the government and some of the employee’s organisation to place on record corrected versions of some of their applications.

“As prayed for and agreed to by the learned counsel for the parties, list these matters for final disposal at the admission stage on 15.03.2023,” Justice Maheshwari heading the bench said in a terse order.

It means that on March 15, the court would hear the arguments of the two sides finally and pass its verdict.

The new bench headed by Justice Maheshwari was constituted on December 14, last month one of the judges-Justice Dipankar Datta had recused from hearing the state government’s appeal challenging the contempt proceedings after expressing disappointment and anguish over media reports-both mainstream and social, over a possible favourable verdict in favour of the employees due to his Bengalilineage.

The other judge in the bench at that time was Justice Hrishikesh Roy, who was heading it.

The court was dealing with an appeal filed by Bengal government.

It challenged a ruling of high court that there was no bar for it to hear a contempt petition against the state for not clearing DA due to government employees within the time-frame of three months.