Contempt for disobedience of admissions directions: Supreme Court issued notice to officers over non-compliance and misleading statements.

Alleged non-compliance with directions on surrender and reallocation of admissions seats, together with inconsistent and misleading statements about the candidates included in the Directorate's list, led the Supreme Court to require the concerned officers to explain their conduct. On the record before it, the Court considered a contempt notice appropriate because the apparent disobedience of earlier directions raised a prima facie issue under the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971. Notice was therefore issued to the officers to show cause why they should not be proceeded against and punished for contempt.

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Issues: Whether notice should be issued for contempt on account of alleged disobedience of the Court's earlier directions in the admissions matter.

Analysis: The order records that there had been non-compliance with the directions governing surrender and reallocation of seats, and also notes inconsistency and misleading statements regarding which candidates were included in the list considered by the Directorate. On that basis, the Court found it appropriate to require the concerned officers to explain their conduct.

Conclusion: Notice was issued to the concerned officers to show cause why they should not be proceeded against for contempt and punished under the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971.

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