• Validity and implementation of interim order of stay

Brief Facts of the Case:
i) M/s Company X is a Public Sector Unit with Nine Production Units. In addition, Company X has established two Laboratories Y for R&D purpose. The executives of Y constitutes a Separate Cadre and are governed by separate Service Rules. In Short, the Service Rules for executives of X and executives of Y are substantially different. In fact, the service benefits of executives of Y are much superior to the service benefits of executives of X.
ii) In October 2010, I was appointed as Member (Research Staff) and was posted to Y. Subsequently, in January 2014, I was transferred from the post of Member (Research Staff), Pay Scale 16,400 – 50,500, in Y to the post of Deputy Engineer, Pay Scale 16,400 – 40,500, in Production Unit of X. In this way my Cadre and Service Rules was changed by means of Transfer. I was transferred and relieved within a day without any exigency. Since I was relieved within a day, in the interest of discipline I had complied with the transfer order and joined duty as a Deputy Engineer.
iii) Having my service condition altered substantially, I challenged the validity of Transfer Order through a Writ Petition before the Hon’ble High Court in May 2014. In October 2014, Hon’ble Court had issued Rule/admitted WP. 
iv) Subsequently, I moved Interlocutory Application for Interim Order of Stay of the transfer order. In that IA, I had prayed for grant of interim order of stay of the transfer order and permission to rejoin duty as a Member (Research Staff) in Y. This was what the final relief sought.
v) In December 2014, Hon’ble Court was pleased to allow the IA and had granted the interim order of Stay of the transfer order with observation that “the transfer order is illegal, ex-facie and thus calls for interference”. That means, the Hon’ble Court had granted the interim relief which tantamount to the final relief.
vi) Subsequently, I sent four representations to the CMD and requested to comply with the Interim Order. The Company has not responded for any of my representations. 
vii) Having no other option, I filed Contempt Petition (Civil) in March 2015. Hon’ble Court has ordered notice.
viii) After filing the Contempt Petition, I came to know that on in January 2015, the company filed the Writ Appeal and has also moved IA for Stay of Interim Oder. But Company has never requested for hearing of IA and so the Appeal has not been posted for hearing even once. That means, company has not taken Stay of Interim Order.

Queries:
1) As mentioned above, I was transferred and relieved within a day, so I had complied with the transfer order in the interest of discipline. Having complied with the transfer order and then filed WP and got interim order of Stay of transfer order, what is the legal validity and effect of Interim Order of Stay of transfer order?
2) In my IA for Stay, I had only prayer that Interim Order of Stay of transfer order to be granted and I shall be permitted to join duty as Member (Research Staff) in Y. The Hon’ble Court has fully allowed the IA and ordered the Interim Order of Stay of Transfer Order but has not specifically mentioned that I shall be permitted to join duty as Member (Research Staff) in Y. Since the IA has been fully allowed, does the Interim Order mean that I shall be permitted to join duty as Member (Research Staff) in Y?
3) Since the company has filed Appeal but has not taken Stay of the Interim Order, what is the legal validity and effect of the Contempt Petition?
4) The Company has filed the Appeal but has not requested for hearing even once. The company has not communicated the same to me even after submitting four requests to comply with the Interim order. That means the company has been simply waiting for the contempt petition to be moved. In this background, what is the propriety or legal validity of the Appeal?

Kindly reply to all of the queries pointwise. I also request you to kindly provide the reference of Supreme Court decisions or any other established law in support of your answer. I will be thankful to you.
Asked 9 years ago in Civil Law

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3 Answers

1) as on date stay has been granted of your transfer to X unit .

2) since IA has been allowed you are permitted to join duty as member research staff in Y .

3)the wordings of orders passed by HC are required to be perused for further advice .

4)as on date HC order stands merely because appeal is filed is no ground for company to disregard HC order . company is guilty of contempt of court

5) company has willfully disregarded orders passed by HC

6) Where action of contemner is wilful, deliberate and in clear disregard of

Court's order, it amounts to civil contempt. Amar Bahadurising v. P.D. Wasnik and others. 1994

Cri.L.J 1359 =1994(2) Bom CR 464 (Bom)

Ajay Sethi
Advocate, Mumbai
94734 Answers
7539 Consultations

5.0 on 5.0

1. If the stay has been granted then you can continue in the place where you were working prior to the transfer. if the stay is made absolute then until the decision on merits, you cannot be transferred.

2. Yes you are permitted to join duty as Member (research staff) in Y

3.If no stay has been granted against the Order passed in the IA, it is valid until it is set aside. However it is advisable to show the order and consult for further clarified advice.

4. If no reply has been given and no response is generated from the company even after communicating for four times, it means that the company is deliberately not following the orders passed by the court. a contempt petition is to be filed in this regard before it is too late.

Shaveta Sanghi
Advocate, Chandigarh
914 Answers
111 Consultations

5.0 on 5.0

1. Your Advocate should have stressed for mention of allowing you to join back immeduately when the interim order was pronounced. However, you shall have to take the plea now that it can be construed from the order that you shall have to allowed to join back since the transfer order has been stayed,

2. Yes, since the IA has been fully allowed and the transfer order has been stayed, it isobvious that you shall have to be allowed join the Unit where you were earlier since otherwise you can not be expected to stay at home and draw your salary,

3. The Contempt petition is right and very much valid. Till the interim order is set aside, it shall have to be complied with,

4. The company should comply with the interim order till it is set aside (if the appeal is allowed) by the appeal court.

Krishna Kishore Ganguly
Advocate, Kolkata
27219 Answers
726 Consultations

5.0 on 5.0

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