P&H: Closes contempt plea, says dispute over further promotion must be decided separately

(i) Contempt — Restoration of seniority — Departmental orders denying benefit of service as promotee were set aside and petitioner’s service was counted for seniority — The very seniority position, which was subject matter of writ petition, stood restored in accordance with order of Court....

(ii) Contempt — Further promotions — Expression “all consequential benefits” could not be read in contempt jurisdiction as an automatic direction granting every subsequent promotion irrespective of service rules and subsequent events in service career — Writ order did not itself adjudicate entitlement to promotion...

(iii) Contempt — Subsequent administrative order — Once an order passed in purported compliance gives rise to fresh and substantive dispute regarding entitlement under applicable service rules, contempt jurisdiction cannot be invoked to secure relief requiring adjudication of fresh cause of action or judicial review...

(iv) Contempt — No wilful disobedience — Respondents had withdrawn orders quashed by writ court, restored petitioner’s seniority for relevant period and considered his claim for further consequential benefits by passing speaking order — No case for continuation of contempt proceedings was made out. (Para...