The High Court on Thursday issued show-cause notices to the Goa government and other respondents in a contempt petition filed by the Diocesan Society of Education. The petitioner contended that state authorities have failed to comply with the High Court’s earlier directions regarding payment of salaries to staff of minority educational institutions.
The High Court rejected the State’s request to adjourn the contempt proceedings solely because a Special Leave Petition is pending before the Supreme Court.
The petitioner society submitted that, due to non-compliance with the High Court’s previous judgment, nearly 400 teachers and employees of minority institutions have been working without salaries. It argued that the continued delay amounts to wilful disobedience of the court’s binding directions.
In response, the Goa government submitted that an SLP challenging the High Court’s order is pending before the Supreme Court and listed for hearing on 25 August 2026. The State sought an adjournment pending the apex court’s decision.
Refusing to defer the matter, the High Court observed that the mere filing or pendency of an appeal does not automatically stay a High Court order. The Court noted that the State had previously sought adjournments on the same ground and, in the absence of any explicit interim stay from the Supreme Court, the High Court is duty-bound to proceed with contempt proceedings.
The High Court therefore issued show-cause notices to the respondents, including the Director of Education, directing them to explain why contempt proceedings should not be initiated. The notices are returnable on 5 October. The High Court clarified that if the respondent authorities obtain an interim stay from the Supreme Court before then, they may place it on record.
