CHENNAI: The Madras High Court has severely criticised the conduct of two IAS officers for disobeying the order granting stay on the transfer of a veterinary assistant surgeon attached to the Animal Husbandry Department (AHD) and issued them statutory notice for initiating contempt of court proceedings.
Justice GR Swaminathan passed the orders directing the issuance to the incumbent AHD director H Krishna Unni and his immediate predecessor SP Amrith, while hearing the contempt of court petition filed by Dr A Senthilkumar, the veterinary assistant surgeon.
He has sought the court to punish the respondent officials for wilful disobedience of the court order passed on May 29, staying his transfer from Tiruvannamalai to Thoothukudi.
The judge, in the recent order, said that both the officers are answerable to the court.
He expressed displeasure over the conduct of the officials in dealing with the matter in a “so casual” manner even though the secretary of the department was figuring as the first respondent and not posting the petitioner in the post as directed by the court.
Stating that the government counsels ought to reach out to the contemnors in advance and ready with the instructions, the judge said there are two courses of action available for them; either to comply with the order or offer credible explanation for non-compliance.
“Counsel should remember that in contempt proceedings, the majesty of the court is involved and their duty is to assist the court. The standing of the court goes down with each passing day of non-compliance,” he noted.
Recollecting the “rarity” of contempt cases long ago, the judge said, “Gone are those days when the very word contempt would send shivers down one’s spine.”
The petitioner Senthilkumar was transferred from Madurai to Tiruvannamalai in June 2025 but was transferred from Tiruvannamalai to Thoothukudi within four months. The court had stayed his transfer but it was not complied with by the authorities prompting him to file the contempt of court petition.
