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Orissa High Court Orders Arrest of Odisha Higher Education Secretary in ‘Aggravated Contempt’ Case

The order treats the lapse as aggravated contempt, with coercion held in abeyance if compliance arrives by January 22.

Overview

  • Justice Dixit Krishna Shripad issued a production warrant on January 16 requiring Arvind Agrawal to be brought before the court on January 22.
  • The contempt action stems from failure to act on a retired academician’s request for a notional increment despite a prior court directive.
  • In July 2025 the High Court directed the Department of Higher Education to decide the representation within eight weeks and communicate the outcome.
  • The State’s counsel assured the court on December 12, 2025 that compliance would be reported at the next hearing, but no compliance followed.
  • The order states that no coercive steps will be taken if the department reports compliance by the January 22 date.