Jharkhand HC penalizes Sahibganj Additional Collector for contempt

THE JHARKHAND STORY DESK

Ranchi, June 11: The Jharkhand High Court has imposed a fine of ₹2,000 on Gautam Bhagat, the Additional Collector of Sahibganj, for violating its orders in the ferry ghat auction case. The court has also directed that the penalty be recorded in his service book and ordered departmental proceedings against him.

The case originated from a petition filed by Ankush Rajhans, who challenged the terms of the ferry ghat auction announced by the Sahibganj district administration. He objected to the tender referring to the district name instead of the specific ghat name.

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The matter was heard by a bench comprising Chief Justice M.S. Ramachandra Rao and Justice Deepak Roshan. After considering all arguments, the court ordered that future ferry ghat tenders must mention the specific ghat name.

In compliance, the district administration issued a tender for ferry operations from Garam Ghat to Manihari Ghat. However, the tender was again challenged in court on the grounds that Garam Ghat is not a notified ferry point and hence should not be tendered.

Following this, the High Court stayed the tender on January 15 and scheduled a hearing in March. Despite the court’s order, the Sahibganj district administration proceeded to issue a tender from the non-notified Garam Ghat. Ankush Rajhans then submitted an interlocutory application (IA) informing the court of this violation.

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Taking cognizance of the facts mentioned in the IA, the court initiated contempt proceedings against the Additional Collector, considering the tender as a violation of its directive.

On June 11, the court found the Additional Collector guilty of contempt, imposed a fine of ₹2,000, and ordered that the offence be recorded in his service book along with the initiation of departmental action.