Chandigarh, May 18 -- The Punjab and Haryana high court has framed contempt of court charges against Punjab director rural development, Uma Shankar Gupta, in a case of delay in the promotion of an employee.

The high court bench of justice Harkesh Manuja while seeking a response from Gupta posted the matter for his response on May 22 while ordering that "charges under Sections 10 and 12 of the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971 are ordered to be framed against Mr Uma Shankar Gupta, IAS, Director, Rural Development and Panchayat Department, Punjab."

Section 10 deals with the power of HC to initiate contempt proceedings and Section 12 with punishment for the offence under the 1971 Act. If convicted, he may be fined up to Rs.2,000 or jailed for s...