Ankur Sarkar and Ors. v. Nikhil Kumar, Ias, Chief Secretary (Health)
Case brief
What is this about?
Delhi High Court, CONT.CAS(C) 360/2026, decided 09.03.2026 by Anil Kshetarpal and Amit Mahajan, JJ. Contempt petition by Ankur Sarkar and Ors. against Nikhil Kumar, IAS, Chief Secretary (Health), alleging wilful disobedience of interim order dated 18.07.2025 in W.P.(C) 1300/2025 directing release of unpaid salary to contractual employees (unpaid since January 2025). Court held Contempt of Courts Act, 1971 jurisdiction must be exercised sparingly with caution; declined to invoke contempt jurisdiction as the writ petition remains pending; granted liberty to move an application in the pending writ petition. Petition disposed of. Keywords: civil contempt, disobedience of interim order, salary dues, contractual employees, contempt jurisdiction sparing exercise, disposed.
What did the court decide?
No relief; contempt jurisdiction declined at this stage. Petitioners left free to file an application to the same effect in the pending W.P.(C) 1300/2025.