CHANDIGARH, July 16: The Punjab and Haryana High Court has issued a stern ultimatum to the Haryana Chief Secretary, directing him to rectify the shortfall of 58 government quarters reserved for district judiciary staff within a week—or risk having his appeal in a contempt case dismissed.
The directive came from a Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Sanjiv Berry, which noted that “prima facie contempt appears to be made out” after the top bureaucrat himself admitted the shortfall in the 15 percent housing quota earmarked for judicial employees under the Shetty Pay Commission recommendations.
“The Chief Secretary, Haryana, is directed to ensure that the deficiency of 58 houses is at least removed by passing appropriate orders of allotting the houses—which may currently be occupied by officers of other departments—in favour of the employees and officers of the district judiciary,” the Bench stated. “If the same is not done within the next one week, this court may proceed to dismiss the present appeal.”
The case stems from a contempt petition filed by Rajesh Chawla through advocates SPS Bhullar and Arshdeep Bhullar, highlighting the state’s continued non-compliance with Shetty Commission guidelines that came into effect over two decades ago. The Commission had mandated that 15 percent of government housing in the general pool be reserved for staff of the subordinate judiciary, effective April 1, 2003.
During the original contempt proceedings before a Single Judge, the court had noted that even after 22 years, the mandated quota remained unfulfilled.
In an affidavit dated May 25, the Chief Secretary admitted to the ongoing shortfall. “The latest affidavit filed by the Chief Secretary admits that 58 houses are deficient in the pool comprising 15 per cent houses recommended by the Shetty Pay Commission,” the Division Bench recorded.
While granting the one-week window, the High Court clarified that no coercive action will be taken against the Chief Secretary based on the earlier May 16 order of the contempt Bench. However, it made clear that failure to comply would carry consequences, with the next hearing scheduled for July 24.
