Shillong, September 13: In a recent development, the Patna High Court has imposed a fine of Rs 20,000 on K.K. Pathak, who serves as the additional chief secretary of the education department.
As per IANS, this ruling comes in response to a case related to the recruitment of contractual teachers within the state. The case was initiated by a job aspirant named Sangeeta Kumari, and the high court rendered its decision on September 9.
The petitioner’s lawyer, Kundan Kumar, alleged that the education department had displayed partiality during the recruitment process for contractual teachers, resulting in the non-selection of his client for the job. Following the recruitment in 2020, the education department remained silent on further recruitment matters, even after the petitioner lodged a case in the high court. The court had previously directed the education department to provide a response within two months, a directive that went unanswered.
Consequently, the double bench of Justice P.B. Bajanthri and Justice Arun Kumar Jha deemed this a case of contempt of court and imposed a fine of Rs 20,000 on the additional chief secretary of the education department.