IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA MJC No.2908 of 2008 1. BIHAR VETERINARY ASSOCIATION through its General Secretary, Dr. Dharmendra Sinha, son of Shri Raghu Nath Singh, Office at Vidyapati Marg, Patna-1, P.S.-Kotwali, District – Patna, 2. Dr. Navin Chandra Mishra, son of Late Dwarika Nath Mishra, District Animal Husbandary Officer, Madhubani, P.S. – Town, District – Madhubani, 3. Dr. Janardan Prasad Singh, son of Late Bachhi Lal Singh, Retd. Research Officer, Institute of Animal Health Production, Patna-14, resident of Bindhyabasani Apartment, Shekhpura, P.S. –Shastri Nagar, District – Patna, and 4. Dr. Arvind Kumar, son of Late Sukhu Singh, working as Touring Veterinary Officer, Paliganj, P.S. – Paliganj, Distt. – Patna ……………………………………………….. Petitioners Versus 1. Shri R.J.M Pillai, Chief Secretary, Govt. of Bihar, Main Secretariat, Patna, 2. Shri Navin Kumar, the Finance Commissioner-cum-Secretary, Finance Department, Govt. of Bihar, Main Secretariat, Patna, 3. Shri Avnish Chawla, the Addl. Finance Commissioner (Resources), Finance Department, Govt. of Bihar, Main Secretariat, Patna and 4. Shri Bhanu Pratap Sharma, the Secretary, Animal Husbandry & Fisheries Department, Govt. of Bihar, New Secretariat, Vikash Bhawan, Patna ……………………………………… Opp. Party. ----------- For the petitioners:-Mr. Binod Kanth, Sr. Advocate, Mr. R.N. Mukhopadhaya, Advocate and Mr. Alok, Advocate. For the State:- Mr. Shyam Kishore Sharma, G.A.-V with Mr. Mayank Rukhaiyar, AC to G.A.-V. ------------ 4. 03.03.2010. Heard Mr. Binod Kanth, learned Senior Counsel along with Mr. R.N. Mukhopadhaya for the petitioners and Mr. Shyam Kishore Sharma, learned counsel for the 2 contemnors. The grievance in the present application for contempt is that the order passed on 11.07.2007 in LPA No. 534 of 2007 has not yet been complied with. Be it noted, in the appeal the Division Bench set aside the order passed by the learned single Judge and eventually passed the following order: “….. In the result, this appeal is allowed, order impugned as also the order passed by the state, as contained Annexure-1 to the writ application, are set aside. The State authorities will, however, be at liberty to proceed in the matter afresh after giving due notice to the Veterinary doctors from whom the non-practicing allowance has been withdrawn.” True it is, no time-limit was fixed to comply with the order but law is well settled that the same has to be complied with within a reasonable period of time. Mr. Shyam Kishore Sharma, learned counsel for the State submitted that the competent authority, which is under obligation to comply with the order, shall do so by 10th May, 2010 positively, failing which it would be open to the petitioners to initiate a fresh contempt. This Court hopes and trusts the contemnors 3 would not show any kind of deviancy to invite a second petition for contempt because the same is totally unwarranted in a State which is governed by rule of law. Let a free copy of the order be handed over to Mr. Shyam Kishore Sharma, learned counsel for the contemnors so that he can do the needful in the matter within the time stipulated hereinabove. With the aforesaid direction the proceeding for contempt stands dropped. Dilip ( Dipak Misra, C.J. ) ( Kishore K. Mandal, J. )