Shimla, Dec. 7 -- In a strong reaffirmation of judicial autonomy, the Himachal Pradesh High Court has quashed the State government's decision to deny extension-related benefits to the former Principal private secretary of a former Chief Justice, holding that the executive had no authority to override an order issued under Article 229 of the Constitution.
A Division Bench, comprising Chief Justice Gurmeet Singh Sandhawalia and Justice Jiya Lal Bhardwaj, ruled that the permission granted by the Chief Justice for a one-year extension could not be nullified or diluted by the State Finance Department.
The petitioner Prem Chand Verma had challenged the government's refusal to grant him benefits accrued from the extension period, despite having ...