HC issues notice to Prayagraj SDM for non-compliance of writ, contempt orders

Prayagraj: The Allahabad high court has issued notice to Abhishek Kumar Singh, sub-divisional magistrate, Sadar, Prayagraj, in a second contempt petition alleging non-compliance of a writ court order and a subsequent contempt order.Justice Rohit Ranjan Agarwal, while hearing the petition filed by Basdev, observed in an order dated April 22 that a prima facie case for contempt was made out after examining the record. The court directed that the contempt notice be made returnable within a month.Basdev, a Scheduled Caste landowner, said he owns Arazi No. 73 in Chandrabhanpur, Sadar, Prayagraj through a sale deed. According to the petition, a portion of the land was acquired in 2011 for airport expansion and road widening, for which compensation was paid. The remaining land, he said, was enclosed by boundary walls and remained in his possession.The dispute arose in January 2025 when Mohd Asif allegedly installed a gate on the land, claiming ownership through purchase. Basdev alleged that Asif, in connivance with Tehsil Sadar officials, secured an ex parte order in favour of Om Asrey and Om Prakash and later got the land transferred in his own name.Basdev approached the divisional commissioner, Prayagraj, who directed the district magistrate to conduct an inquiry and take necessary action. The DM then wrote to the SDM, Sadar, asking him to redress the grievance and report back within seven days.When no action followed, Basdev moved the High Court through a writ petition. The writ court directed the SDM to act on the commissioner’s and district magistrate’s orders, complete the inquiry within two weeks and inform Basdev of the outcome.Basdev later served a copy of that order on the SDM in November 2025. After no compliance, he filed a contempt petition, in which the court granted three more months. With no order passed even then, he filed the second contempt petition now under consideration.