COCP-2221-2026 (O&M) -1- IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH 106 COCP-2221-2026 (O&M) Date of decision: 21.07.2026 Gulab Singh ....Petitioner Vs. Mukesh Kumar Ahuja, IAS and another ....Respondents CORAM : HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE HARSH BUNGER Present: Mr. Sube S. Kaushik, Advocate for the petitioner. Mr. Pawan Girdhar, Senior Advocate with Ms. Manju Goyal, Advocate for respondents. ***** HARSH BUNGER J. (Oral) 1 Present contempt petition has been filed under Sections 11 and 12 of the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971, alleging non-compliance of the order dated 13.01.2025 (Annexure P-1) passed by this Court in CWP-25978-2016, wherein the following direction had been issued:- “6. In such circumstances, this Court finds it appropriate to direct the respondents to consider claim of the petitioner in the light of judgment of this Court in Rattan Lal Aggarwal's case (supra) as well as decision taken by respondent in the said case. It is made clear that petitioner would submit statement of benefits derived from his earlier organization. The respondent ANKIT 2026.07.23 16:41 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document High Court, Chandigarh COCP-2221-2026 (O&M) -2- would be entitled to adjust, as permissible by law, the benefits derived by petitioner from his earlier organization. The respondent would make calculation and release the rest benefits within 3 months from the date of submission of calculation chart by petitioner.” 2. Ms. Manju Goyal, Advocate appears and files Vakalatnama on behalf of the respondents, in Court today, which is taken on record, subject to all just exceptions. 3. Today, compliance report by way of affidavit of Sh. Dharmender Singh, Chief Administrator, Haryana State Agricultural Marketing Board, Panchkula has been filed in Court, which is taken on record, subject to all just exceptions. A copy thereof has been supplied to the learned counsel for petitioner in Court today. 4. Learned Senior counsel appearing for the respondents submits that the Board has complied with the order dated 13.01.2025 (Annexure P-1) passed in CWP No.25978 of 2016 titled as “Gulab Singh Vs. Haryana State Agricultural Marketing Board and another” except grant of pay protection. Reference is made to para No.9 of the compliance affidavit, which reads as under:- “9. That while considering the claim of the petitioner in compliance with the judgment dated 13.01.2025 passed by this Hon'ble Court in CWP No. 25978 of 2016, the Haryana State Agricultural Marketing Board followed the identical course of action as had already been adopted in the case of Shri Rattan Lal Aggarwal pursuant to the interim order dated 21.07.2016 passed by the Hon'ble Division Bench in LPA No. 1294 of ANKIT 2026.07.23 16:41 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document High Court, Chandigarh COCP-2221-2026 (O&M) -3- 2015. Accordingly, the petitioner's past service rendered in his previous organization has been duly counted for pensionary benefits, his retiral benefits have been recalculated after adjusting the pro-rata pensionary liability along with the applicable updated interest in accordance with law, and a revised Pension Payment Order (PPO) dated 16.09.2025 has been issued and duly communicated to the petitioner. However, the benefit of pay protection has not been extended to the petitioner, as the said benefit has not been implemented even in the case of Shri Rattan Lal Aggarwal in view of the interim order dated 21.07.2016 passed by the Hon'ble Division Bench in LPA No. 1294 of 2015, whereby the implementation of the judgment of the learned Single Judge has been made subject to the final outcome of the said appeal. The issue relating to grant of pay protection, therefore, continues to remain sub judice before the Hon'ble Division Bench. It is, therefore, respectfully submitted that the claim of the petitioner has been decided strictly in accordance with the judicial directions presently governing the field, and there has been due, bona fide and substantial compliance with the judgment dated 13.01.2025 passed by this Hon'ble Court.” 5. Learned Senior counsel appearing on behalf of the respondents submits that the issue relating to grant of pay protection remains sub judice before the Hon’ble Division Bench in LPA No.1294 of 2015 and apart therefrom, the other direction issued by this Court vide order dated 13.01.2025, stands complied with, therefore, nothing survives in the present contempt petition. ANKIT 2026.07.23 16:41 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document High Court, Chandigarh COCP-2221-2026 (O&M) -4- 6. On the other hand, learned counsel appearing for the petitioner submits that, keeping in view the stand taken by the respondents in the compliance affidavit (especially para No.9 as extracted above), the present contempt petition may be disposed of with liberty to the petitioner to avail his remedies as regards the relief, which has not been extended to him (if so advised), in accordance with law. 7. Ordered accordingly. 8. All the pending application(s), if any, shall also stand closed. (HARSH BUNGER) 21.07.2026 JUDGE Ankit Whether speaking/reasoned: Yes/No Whether reportable: Yes/No ANKIT 2026.07.23 16:41 I attest to the accuracy and integrity of this document High Court, Chandigarh