CAT contempt notice to principal secretary in IPS officer Amitabh Thakur suspension case

LUCKNOW: The Lucknow bench of Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) on Wednesday issued contempt notice against Principal Secretary Home Debashish Panda for not complying with its order to reinstate IPS officer Amitabh Thakur.
The notice was issued on the petition filed by Thakur in which he said that in its interim order on April 25, the CAT had stayed his suspension and directed the state government to reinstate him with full salary with effect from October 11, 2015.Amitabh said that the order was served to the state government on the same date, but it has not been complied so far.
After hearing Amitabh's petition, the bench of Navneet Kumar and Jayati Chandra issuing notice asking Panda to reply within four weeks as to why contempt proceeding shall not be initiated against him. The bench fixed July 11, 2016 as the next date of hearing.
The CAT in its interim had order said that the central government had filed an affidavit in the Lucknow bench of Allahabad High Court stating that it has revoked the suspension on March 31, 2016. The affidavit before High Court cannot be taken lightly. Hence, the state government order on the same day (March 31, 2016) extending Amitabh's suspension for 95 days should remain stayed till disposal of the petition and he shall be reinstated with effect from October 11, 2015, with full salary.
Meanwhile, Thakur on Wednesday also filed a contempt petition against Panda and Director General of Police, Recruitment Board, VK Gupta in the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court.
In the petition, Amitabh said that the High Court had directed on January 13, 2016 that the departmental inquiry shall be proceeded only after providing all the related documents to him. However, he said, state government has re-initiated the enquiry despite many documents still not being handed over to him.
Amitabh said that he told Panda and Gupta that it would be contempt of High Court but they ignored this fact and inquiry proceedings took place on May 3, 2016, after which he has filed this contempt petition.
Amitabh was suspended by the state government on July 13, 2015, on charges of corruption and indiscipline. Incidentally, on July 10, 2015, Amitabh had lodged a complaint with the police accusing Mulayam Singh Yadav, chief of the ruling Samajwadi Party in the state, of threatening him on phone.
The suspension was extended on October 10, 2015, for the period of 180 days, which expired on April 7, 2016. The suspension was extended for the second time for 95 days on March 31, 2016. The order also stated that suspension will go on extending automatically till the time departmental inquiry against him on charges of indiscipline and corruption are pending.