Contempt petition closed upon recording full compliance and acknowledgment of satisfaction by the applicant.

The petitioner, an Assistant Director (Official Language) at Doordarshan Kendra, filed this contempt petition alleging willful disobedience of the Tribunal's order dated 08.09.2023 in O.A. No. 180/00233/2016

The dispute primarily concerned the revision of pay scales and the issuance of corresponding due-drawn statements

Following the original order, the matter was also subject to a judgment by the Hon’ble High Court of Kerala in OP(CAT) No. 170 of 2024 dated 02.12.2024

During the pendency of this contempt petition, the respondents issued pay fixation orders (dated 19.06.2025) and an office order (dated 10.12.2025) to satisfy the Tribunal's directions

1. Whether the respondents willfully failed to comply with the directions issued by the Tribunal in O.A. No. 180/00233/2016 regarding the petitioner's pay revision and arrears

The Tribunal exercised its powers under the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971, in conjunction with the Administrative Tribunals Act, 1985.

The court applied the principle that civil contempt proceedings are intended to enforce compliance with judicial orders; once an order is fully implemented and the grievance of the petitioner is redressed through administrative action, the contempt is considered purged, and the proceedings are liable to be closed

The Tribunal evaluated the compliance documents submitted by the 1st respondent, specifically the due-drawn statements and the office order dated 10.12.2025

The respondents contended that the pay scales had been revised and arrears calculated across multiple periods (January 2006 to July 2023 and August 2023 to August 2025), as evidenced by Annexures R-VI and R-VII

The Tribunal noted that the learned Counsel for the petitioner acknowledged the receipt of these statements and confirmed that the order had been fully complied with

Because the petitioner admitted to the satisfaction of the decree/order, the Tribunal reasoned that there was no further cause of action to maintain the contempt petition

Consequently, the Contempt Petition (Civil) was closed.

Any notices previously issued to the respondents were discharged, and no costs were imposed