HC orders arrest of Jajpur, Balasore DEOs for contempt of court

Cuttack: The Orissa High Court on Friday ordered the arrest of two District Education Officers (DEOs) for violating its order in connection with the transfer case of a Madrasa teacher.

Hearing the petition filed by one Khaleduz Jama Rehman, the HC directed the State government to arrest Kapilendra Mishra and Prakash Joshi, DEOs of Jajpur and Balasore districts respectively and present them before the Jajpur Chief Judicial Magistrate. The court also noted that Joshi and Mishra can be granted bail by furnishing personal bail bond of Rs 1 lakh each.

“Besides, the HC, in its order, asked the DEOs to be present in person before it on the next hearing scheduled for April 4,” Rehman’s counsel Biren Shankar Tripathy said.

According to the applicant’s lawyer, Rehman was sent on deputation to Binjharpur Madrasa in Jajpur district from its parent institution in Balasore. But the institution didn’t receive him following which he was not able to continue his services. Rehman filed a writ petition in HC over the matter and the court on June 25, 2012 directed the Jajpur DEO to send Rehman back to his parent institution.

As the order was not obeyed by the officials, on April 21, 2013, Rehman filed a contempt of court case.