2026:JHHC:12874 1 IN THE HIGH COURT OF JHARKHAND AT RANCHI Contempt Case (Civil) No. 784 of 2023 1. Bihari Ram, S/o Late Maldeo Ram, R/o Village-Ornar, PO- Harnamar, PS-Chainpur, District-Palamau 2. Sitaram Prasad, S/o Sri Bifan Ram, R/o Village-Basana, PO & PS- Nava Bazar, District-Palamau ... … Petitioners Versus 1. Mr. Ravi Anand, the Managing Director, District Rural Development Agency, PO, PS & District-Palamau 2. The State of Jharkhand 3. Mr. K. Srinivasan, the Secretary, Rural Development Department, Government of Jharkhand, Ranchi 4. Mr. Manoj Kumar, the Secretary, Department of Panchayati Raj, Government of Jharkhand, Ranchi ... … Opposite Parties CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE RAJESH SHANKAR ----- For the Petitioners : Mr. Samavesh Bhanj Deo, Advocate For the Opposite Parties : Mr. Gaurav Raj, AC to AAG-II ----- 14/01.05.2026 The present contempt petition has been filed for initiating a contempt proceeding against the contemnors/opposite parties alleging wilful violation of the order dated 22.06.2023 passed in W.P.(S) No. 745 of 2019. 2. A show cause affidavit dated 13.02.2026 has been filed on behalf of the opposite party no. 4. 3. Mr. Gaurav Raj, AC to AAG-II, refers to paragraph nos. 18, 19 & 20 of the said affidavit which read as under: “18. That it is humbly stated and submitted that vide its order dated 07.03.2025 passed in W.P.(C) No. 932 of 2022 Bihar State Ardh Sarkari Arajpatrit Karamchari Mahasangh & Ors. Vs. Union of India & Ors., the Hon’ble Supreme Court has constituted an enquiry committee to undertake a detailed enquiry into the entire factual matrix and give suggestions for a suitable resolution headed by Hon’ble Mr. Justice Dinesh Maheswari, Judge (Retd.), Supreme Court of India. The operative portion of the order is: - In this background, we are inclined to form a committee, headed by Hon’ble Retd. Judge of this Court, to 2026:JHHC:12874 2 undertake a detailed enquiry into the entire factual matrix and give suggestions for a suitable resolution. 20. On our request, Hon’ble Mr. Justice Dinesh Maheshwari, Judge (Retd.), Supreme Court of India, has graciously agreed to conduct the requisite enquiry. 21. The broad parameters of the Enquiry would be as below:- i. Fixation of the proportional liabilities of both the States i.e., State of Bihar and State of Jharkhand, towards the salaries and other emoluments including retiral benefits of the employees of the erstwhile corporations, whether dissolved or existing. ii. Identification of the employees/family members of the deceased employees. This issue would also require a finding on the service tenure/s of the employee/s concerned and the duration for which they have been deprived of their lawful dues. iii. The entitlement of the erstwhile employees to receive salary and/or retiral benefits as per the extant statutes or rules. iv. Any other matter which may be considered relevant to the controversy. 19. That it is humbly stated and submitted that the Writ Petition (Civil) No. 932 of 2022 Bihar State Ardh Sarkari Arajpatrit Karamchari Mahasangh & Ors. Vs. Union of India & Ors. is presently under the adjudication before Hon’ble Supreme Court. 20. That it is humbly stated and submitted that the answering respondent undertakes to make further payment towards any liability and outstanding dues of the petitioners as and when directed by the Hon’ble Supreme Court in future, in the aforesaid W.P.(C) No. 932 of 2022 Bihar State Ardh Sarkari Arajpatrit Karamchari Mahasangh & Ors. Vs. Union of India & Ors.” 4. Having heard learned counsel for the parties and keeping in view the aforesaid facts stated in the show cause affidavit dated 13.02.2026 particularly paragraph-20 of the same, wherein it has been stated that further payment towards any liability and outstanding dues of the petitioners would be made as may be directed by the Hon’ble Supreme Court in W.P.(C) No.932 of 2026:JHHC:12874 3 2022, there is no need to further proceed in the contempt petition. The contempt proceeding as against the opposite parties is hereby dropped. 5. The contempt petition is accordingly disposed of. 6. The petitioners are, however, at liberty to take appropriate recourse in this regard with respect to their subsisting claims as permissible under law. (Rajesh Shankar, J.) May 01, 2026 Manish Uploaded on 01.05.2026