Contempt notice to Kolhapur divisional joint director of agriculture

Aurangabad, Dec 11:

Justice Sunil P Deshmukh and Justice R G Avchat of the Aurangabad Bench of Bombay High Court have ordered to issue notice to divisional joint director of agriculture Kolhapur division, Dashrath Tambale regarding a contempt petition filed for non compliance with court orders issued twice. The next hearing of the contempt petition will be held on January 13, 2021.

Petitioner Swati Venkatrao Baste from the scheduled tribes category is working on the post of agricultural assistant at the tehsil agriculture office at Budargad in Kolhapur district. Verification of her ST caste certificate is pending with the concerned committee. However, due to non-submission of validity certificate, the divisional joint director of agriculture directed Baste to submit the validity certificate on June 28, 2019, otherwise further action would be taken. Therefore, Baste, filed a petition in the Aurangabad bench through adv Sunil Vibhute. In the first hearing, the bench had on July 10, 2019 ruled that no action should be taken against Baste as the verification process is pending.

However, due to non-submission of validity certificate, Baste''s salary was stopped since June 2020. When Baste re-filed the petition, the bench quashed the notice. Even after court''s order, the divisional joint director of agriculture has not yet paid Baste''s salary. Baste has filed a contempt petition against Tambale. Assistant public prosecutor G L Deshpande represented the government.