Dr. Sunita Ekka Vs P. Ashok Babu, IAS and Anr. — Contempt of Court | Gauhati HC (2026)

Dr. Sunita Ekka Vs P. Ashok Babu, IAS and Anr. — Contempt of Court | Gauhati HC (2026)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Contempt petition closed following compliance with the order dated 24.09.2025; petitioner left free to assail the speaking order dated 17.03.2026 before the appropriate forum, if so advised.

Issue for consideration

Whether there was willful and deliberate violation of this Court's order dated 24.09.2025 passed in WP(C) No. 5691/2025, constituting contempt. +1 more

Ratio / Principle

Since the order dated 24.09.2025 passed in WP(C) No. 5691/2025 has been complied with through the speaking order dated 17.03.2026 passed by the Commissioner & Secretary to the Government of Assam, Health & Family Welfare Department, this contempt petition stands closed.

Key takeaways

The petitioner is left at liberty to assail the speaking order dated 17.03.2026 passed by the Commissioner & Secretary to the Government of Assam, Health & Family Welfare Department, before the appropriate forum, if so advised; the copy of the speaking order is kept on record.obiter¶7

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Gauhati High Court (Honourable Mr. Justice Arun Dev Choudhury), order dated 20.03.2026 in Cont.Cas(C)/7/2026 — Dr. Sunita Ekka v. P. Ashok Babu, IAS & Anr. (Respondent No. 2: Dr. Umesh Phangcho, Director of Health Services, Assam). The contempt petition alleged willful and deliberate violation of the Court's order dated 24.09.2025 in WP(C) No. 5691/2025, by which the Director of Health Services had been directed, without expressing any merit on the claim, to dispose of the petitioner's representation dated 28.05.2025 by passing a speaking order. A speaking order dated 17.03.2026 was thereafter passed by the Commissioner & Secretary to the Government of Assam, Health & Family Welfare Department, and counsel for the petitioner conceded compliance. The Court accordingly closed the contempt petition, observed that the petitioner shall be at liberty to assail the speaking order dated 17.03.2026 before the appropriate forum, if so advised, and kept the copy of the speaking order on record. No statute or precedent was cited.

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GAHC010287962025

2026:GAU-AS:4084

THE GAUHATI HIGH COURT (HIGH COURT OF ASSAM, NAGALAND, MIZORAM AND ARUNACHAL PRADESH)

Case No. : Cont.Cas(C)/7/2026

DR. SUNITA EKKA

RESIDENT OF STATION ROAD, WARD NO.5, OPPOSITE DISTRICT TB HOSPITAL, P.O. AND P.S. - GOLAGHAT IN THE DISTRICT OF GOLAGHAT, ASSAM, PIN -785 621.

VERSUS

P. ASHOK BABU, IAS AND ANR

COMMISSIONER AND SECRETARY TO THE GOVERNMENT OF ASSAM, HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENT, DISPUR, GUWAHATI-6.

2:DR. UMESH PHANGCHO DIRECTOR OF HEALTH SERVICES ASSAM HENGRABARI GUWAHATI-36

Advocate for the Petitioner : MS. D L DEKA, MS. I DAS

Advocate for the Respondent : MR D DEKA(R1), MRS D BORAH(R2),MR. D SAIKIA(R2)

BEFORE

HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE ARUN DEV CHOUDHURY

ORDER

20.03.2026

Heard Ms. D. L. Deka, learned counsel for the petitioner. Also heard Ms. D. Borah, learned counsel for the respondent No. 2 and Mr. D. Deka, learned counsel for the respondent No. 1.

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The present contempt petition is filed alleging willful and deliberate violation of this Court’s order dated 24.09.2025 passed in WP(C) No. 5691/2025.

By the aforesaid order, this Court without expressing any merit on the claim of the petitioner, directed the Director of Health Services to dispose of the representation dated 28.05.2025 preferred by the petitioner, by passing a speaking order.

In compliance of the aforesaid order, a speaking order dated 17.03.2026 has been passed by the Commissioner & Secretary to the Government of Assam, Health & Family Welfare Department.

In view of the aforesaid, the learned counsel for the petitioner submits that the order dated 24.09.2025 passed in WP(C) No. 5691/2025 has been complied with.

Accordingly, this contempt petition stands closed.

It is needless to say that the petitioner shall be at liberty to assail such speaking order dated 17.03.2026 passed by the Commissioner & Secretary to the Government of Assam, Health & Family Welfare Department, before the appropriate forum, if so advised.

The copy of the speaking order dated 17.03.2026 passed by the Commissioner & Secretary to the Government of Assam, Health & Family Welfare Department, is kept on record.

JUDGE

Comparing Assistant