In Brief
The State of Odisha challenged a High Court order directing contempt proceedings against officials for alleged non-compliance with directions in a writ petition concerning employee regularization. The Supreme Court held that since the petitioner's claim for regularization was considered and rejected on merits by the Principal Secretary, the High Court erred in taking cognizance of the contempt case. The Court emphasized that when an administrative authority decides a matter on merits, the appropriate remedy is to challenge that decision itself, not pursue contempt proceedings. The appeal was allowed and the contempt case dismissed.
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