Jaipur, March 26 -- The Supreme Court on Wednesday stayed contempt proceedings initiated against Rajasthan government officials by the Himachal Pradesh high court in connection with the Pong Dam land allotment case. The apex court also issued notice to examine whether contempt jurisdiction can be used to grant substantive relief beyond original writ orders. The matter was heard by a bench of justices JK Maheshwari and Atul S Chandurkar. Additional advocate general Shiv Mangal Sharma said the dispute pertains to the allotment of agricultural land in Rajasthan under the Pong Dam rehabilitation scheme, located in the command area of the Indira Gandhi Canal Project. The respondent had sought allotment of a specific land parcel (murabba), while the state argued that land had already been allotted to his father under the Rajasthan Colonisation Rules, 1972, which covers the entire family, so the son was not entitled to a separate allotment. However, the high court, in contempt proceedings, went beyond its jurisdiction by ordering allotment of a specific murabba, handing over possession, and issuing coercive directions against state officials. Following the hearing, the top court issued notice and stayed all ongoing contempt proceedings. The next hearing will take place after service of notice.htc...