Tripura HC Closes Contempt Cases Against Social Welfare Officials After Compliance Confirmed
The High Court of Tripura closed two civil contempt cases against senior IAS officers after petitioners' counsel confirmed the underlying court order had been complied with.
A Division Bench of the High Court of Tripura, comprising Chief Justice M.S. Ramachandra Rao and Justice S. Datta Purkayastha, closed two civil contempt proceedings on 22 May 2026 after counsel for the petitioners confirmed that the order whose alleged violation had triggered the cases had since been complied with. The respondents named in both matters included senior IAS officers holding charge of the Social Welfare and Social Education Department and the Finance Department of the Government of Tripura. With compliance placed on record, the bench discharged the respondents from further appearance.
The Contempt Proceedings
The proceedings were registered as Cont.Cas(C) No. 47 of 2025. Two petitioners had moved the court separately: Smt Smriti Rani Acharjee, a resident of Singhichara, Khowai district, and Smt Swapna Deb (Debnath), a resident of Bhati Abhoynagar, West Agartala. Both sets of contempt allegations were directed at the same three respondents.
The respondents were Sri Tapash Ray, IAS, Secretary to the Department of Social Welfare and Social Education, Government of Tripura; Sri Apurba Roy, IAS, Secretary to the Department of Finance, Government of Tripura; and Sri Tapan Kumar Das, Director of Social Welfare and Social Education, Government of Tripura. Sri Tapash Ray was present before the court on the date of hearing.
Compliance Recorded and Cases Closed
Mr. Samar Das, Advocate, appeared for the petitioners. The State was represented by Mr. S.M. Chakraborty, Advocate General, along with Mr. Mangal Debbarma and Mr. Dipankar Sharma, both Additional Government Advocates.
Mr. Samar Das informed the bench that the order whose contempt was being alleged had been complied with. On that statement, the Division Bench closed both contempt cases and held that further presence of the respondents was not necessary.
Order
The Division Bench, by its order dated 22 May 2026, closed Cont.Cas(C) No. 47 of 2025 in both matters. The respondents were relieved from further appearance before the court. The order was pronounced by Justice S. Datta Purkayastha and Chief Justice M.S. Ramachandra Rao.