Compliance with court orders avoids contempt proceedings.

NIDHI GUPTA J. (Oral)

Learned counsel for the petitioners submits that contempt proceedings be initiated against the respondents for not complying the order dated 03.2.2023 (Annexure P-1) passed by a Predecessor Bench of this Court in CWP-2185-2023 titled as “Manpreet Singh and another vs. State of Punjab and others”, vide which the petition was disposed of on the basis of statement made by learned counsel for the State to the effect that “……the grievance of the petitioners shall be redressed in accordance with law and the pending legal notice dated 26.12.2022 of the petitioners shall be decided accordingly within a period of one month from the date of receipt of certified copy of this order.”

Compliance report dated 24.10.2024 by way of affidavit of Dr. Rupinderpal Singh, Secretary, Regional Transport Authority, Bathinda has already been filed on behalf of respondent No.3 in the Registry, which is annexed on the file. The same is taken on record. Copy thereof is supplied to learned counsel for the petitioner.

Learned counsel for the respondent-State submits that necessary compliance has been made, while passing a Speaking Order dated 13.2.2021 (Annexure R-3/1/T annexed with the Compliance Report) by the respondent-authority wherein action was taken on the legal notice of the petitioner as follows :-

“…..This Office taking action of legal notice served by complaintant and this Office commenced Special Checking on above said route to check illegal operation of buses by Jasveer Singh or other transporters also but no bus found without legal documents as per Motor Vehicle Act and no Bus found to ply on different/deviated route permit instead of sanctioned route. All buses are in operation according to their allotted route or Moreover the Regional Transport Officer. Dermala was also directed by the respondent vide office letter No. 142 dated 09.02.2024 conduct regular traffic checking on the route in question in order to stop the illegal operation of buses and send their report. But no bus found plying illegal as per report received from Regional Transport Officer, Barnala. It may also be mention here that traffic checking in the area shall continue to be conducted by the office of the undersigned in future also. A official letter number 72 dated 01.02.2024 was sent to the Complainant for personal hearing for dated 07.02.2024 regarding his complaint But on dated 07.02.2024. Complainant Shri Mihan Singh submitted Panchaiti Rajinama and also inform to undersigned he has no grievance regarding time table Rampura to Bhadaur via Kothe Bhan Singh. Now the grievance of Sh Mihan Singh S/o Dilraj Singh legal notice dated

26-12-2022 is resolved so the complaint is disposed off.”

It is also submitted by learned counsel for the State that as per last order dated 18.7.2024 the respondents have also deposited the costs of Rs.10,000/- before the Punjab and Haryana High Court Bar Clerks Association, Chandigarh. Learned counsel for the respondent-State submits that thus, no cause survives in the present petition.

Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that since the order dated 03.2.2023 (Annexure P-1) has been complied with and a Speaking Order dated 13.2.2021 (Annexure R-3/1/T) has been passed by the respondent-authority, the present contempt petition may be disposed of.

Heard.

In view of the facts noted above and the submissions made by learned counsel for the petitioner, the present contempt petition is disposed of accordingly.

Rule stands discharged.