You are officers, not kings: High Court reprimands two IAS officers

 

 

 

 

The Madhya Pradesh High Court, on Saturday reprimanded two IAS officers, stating firmly “You are officers, not kings.” Delivering a historic verdict in a contempt case, the High Court penalized the officers and also imposed fines on them. After delivering the punishment, the court immediately handed both officers over to the police custody from the court room. However, both officers were later released following the stay order given by the division bench comprising Chief Justice, Ravi Malimath and Justice Vishal Mishra. The case is related to the transfer of District Coordinator Rachna Dwivedi from Chhatarpur to Bada Malhara in 2021. She challenged this transfer in the court. Her move angered the then Chhatarpur Collector, Shilendra Singh, who subsequently dismissed Rachna from service after issuing the transfer order.

 

The hearing took place in Justice G S Ahluwalia’s court, where both IAS officers were present. The petitioner’s counsel, D K Tripathi submitted that Rachna Dwivedi, a District Coordinator in Chhatarpur, was transferred to Bada Malhara. She challenged this transfer in the court. In response, she received a stay order from the court. Even after the court’s order, she was directed to go Bada Malhara again. She also received a stay order from the court. However, she was sent to Bada Malhara despite the stay order. Again, the court sided with her. The High Court granted her a stay on termination as well. After receiving the stay on termination, Rachna Dwivedi continued to make pillar and post of the offices of the District Panchayat CEO, Amar Bahadur Singh and Collector, Shilendra Singh, but she wasn’t allowed to join her duty. Both officers did not facilitate her joining despite the High Court’s order. Not only this, despite sending legal notices from the High Court to then Collector and District Panchayat CEO, Rachna Dwivedi was not granted relief. The court heard the case on Friday and not only reprimanded both IAS officers but also handed down a punishment and imposed fines on them.