CAT Closes Vice-Principals’ Contempt Petition After Authorities Issue Speaking Order on Their Representations

In the original application, the Tribunal directed the competent authority to decide the petitioners’ representations by a reasoned and speaking order within 45 days of receiving a certified copy of the order dated 12 August 2026.

The petitioners filed this contempt petition alleging non-compliance.

The respondents stated that they had disposed of the representations by a speaking order dated 16 October 2026 and placed a copy on record.

The Tribunal applied the principle that contempt proceedings concerning non-compliance with a judicial direction may be closed once the direction has been complied with.

It also recognised that an aggrieved party may challenge the subsequent speaking order through an appropriate remedy before the competent forum.

The direction in the original application required the competent authority to decide the representations through a reasoned and speaking order.

The respondents produced a speaking order dated 16 October 2026 disposing of those representations.

On that basis, the Tribunal found that its direction had been complied with and that nothing further survived in the contempt petition.

Any challenge to the substance of the speaking order was left to an appropriate proceeding.

It left the petitioners at liberty to challenge the speaking order dated 16 October 2026 before the appropriate forum in accordance with law.