The Supreme Court of India has issued a contempt notice to Manipur Chief Secretary Vineet Joshi in connection with the Manipur Civil Services Combined Competitive (Main) Examination of 2016. The contempt proceedings were initiated by officers who had successfully passed the examination and were appointed to civil service positions. These officers allege that the state government has failed to comply with a Supreme Court directive issued on February 11, 2022, which ordered the state to grant them continuity of service and related benefits following their reappointment after a fresh examination was conducted.
The issue stems from allegations of irregularities in the 2016 examination, leading the High Court of Manipur to nullify the results and the appointments made under it in 2019. However, after new evidence surfaced, the Supreme Court directed that a fresh examination be conducted. The officers who passed this re-examination argue that despite the Supreme Court’s explicit instructions, the state has not implemented the necessary service continuity and benefits.
In response to the contempt petition, a bench comprising Justices C.T. Ravikumar and Sanjay Karol issued the notice to the Chief Secretary, indicating that the court found sufficient grounds to investigate potential non-compliance with its orders.
