Show cause notices not liable to be entertained: High Court

Read Order: Rohtash & others v. State of Haryana & others 

 LE Correspondent

Chandigarh, July 14, 2021: The Punjab and Haryana High Court has refused to interfere in the show cause notice served on a group of government employees for their alleged wrong doings.

“It is a settled principle that show cause notice is not liable to be entertained by this Court, being premature. It is always open to the petitioners to file a reply to the said show cause notice and justify their stand,” the HC said.

The order came in response to a petition where a group of government employees challenged a show cause notice whereby they were asked to explain why the entire excess amount wrongly drawn by them, to which they are not entitled, should not be recovered from them.

Reply was sought within 15 days by the District Education Officer. The same has not been placed on record by the counsel, the HC noted.

Deciding the matter, a bench of Justice G.S. Sandhawalia stated that “In such circumstances, this Court is of the opinion that the present writ petition is not liable to be entertained, being premature and the same is disposed of, with liberty to file reply. It is expected that the concerned department shall take into account the said reply filed by the petitioners and pass necessary orders, in accordance with law”.