In Brief
A daily-wage forest worker sought regularization and minimum pay through contempt proceedings after the Department rejected his claim citing service breaks. The Supreme Court held that once the Department exercises administrative discretion by passing an order, the remedy must be a Writ Petition, not contempt. The Court found the High Court exceeded contempt jurisdiction by summoning officers and directing administrative actions. The Court dismissed the contempt application, holding that substantive issues about break in service cannot be reopened in contempt once finality is attained. The judgment reaffirmed that contempt jurisdiction is limited to ensuring Court order compliance and that summoning public officers impedes government functioning and violates separation of powers.
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