108 IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH COCP-3972-2025 Date of decision: 01.09.2025 MUKHTAR SINGH AND OTHERS ..Petitioners Versus AJIT BALAJI JOSHI, IAS ..Respondent CORAM: HON'BLE MRS. JUSTICE SUDEEPTI SHARMA Present: Mr. Balbir Singh Jaswal, Advocate for the petitioners. Mr. Animesh Sharma, Addl. A.G, Punjab. SUDEEPTI SHARMA , J. (Oral) 1. The contempt petition has been filed for deliberate and intentional disobedience of order dated 26.06.2023 passed by this Court in CWP-13687-2023. 2. Relevant portion of order dated 26.06.2023 passed in CWP-13687-2023, is reproduced as under:- “6. Keeping in view the aforesaid facts, the writ petition is disposed of while directing the Department of Rural Development and Panchayat, Punjab, to consider the claim of the petitioners within a period of one month in accordance with law and pass a speaking order within the aforesaid time.” 3. Learned counsel appearing on behalf of respondent contends that in compliance of order dated 26.06.2023, short reply by way of an affidavit of Mr. Ajit Balaji Joshi, Administrative Secretary, Department of Rural Development and Panchayats Punjab, dated 25.08.2025 along with speaking order dated 14.08.2025 (Annexure R-1), has been filed. MOHD AYUB 2025.09.02 14:25 I attest to the accuracy and authenticity of this order/judgment. COCP-3972-2025 -2- 4. The relevant para of affidavit dated 25.08.2025 is reproduced as under:- “2. That in compliance to the above orders, the representation of the petitioners had been decided by the deponent and a speaking order has been passed on 14.08.2025. A copy of this order is annexed as Annexure R-1. Hence, the order has been fully complied. It is further submitted that there is some delay in deciding the said representation but the same is neither intentional nor deliberate. However, unconditional apology for the same is submitted.” 5. In compliance of order dated 26.06.2023, speaking order dated 14.08.2025 has been passed, which is attached with the affidavit dated 25.08.2025 as Annexure R-1. 6. A perusal of speaking order dated 14.08.2025, shows that order dated 26.06.2023 passed by this Court in CWP-13687-2023, has been complied with. This fact is not disputed by the learned counsel for the petitioners. 7. In view of the above, the contempt is purged and rule is discharged. 8. Needless to say that liberty is however granted to the petitioners to challenge the speaking order dated 14.08.2025 in accordance with law. September 01st, 2025 (SUDEEPTI SHARMA) Ayub JUDGE Whether speaking/reasoned : Yes/No Whether reportable : Yes/No MOHD AYUB 2025.09.02 14:25 I attest to the accuracy and authenticity of this order/judgment.