On July 8, the Court found that IAS officer K Biju had passed two contradictory orders in the matter.
One order indicated the grant of sanction but added that it was the Court which had ordered the grant of such sanction.
Contempt proceedings were initiated against Biju after the Court took note of these contradictory orders.
In the July 8 hearing, Justice Badharudeen observed the first prosecution sanction order appeared to be intended to malign, ridicule and attack the judiciary.
The judge went on to opine that the executive officers who signed the contradictory orders must also be held accountable.
The matter concerns the State's repeated defiance of court orders directing a proper reconsideration of the government's earlier refusals to grant sanction to prosecute former KSCDC officers in the cashew scam case.
On July 8, the Court found that IAS officer K Biju had passed two contradictory orders in the matter. One order indicated the grant of sanction but added that it was the Court which had ordered the grant of such sanction. It further said that the accused reserved their right to file an appeal.
A revised order deleted such comments after objections were raised.
Contempt proceedings were initiated against Biju after the Court took note of these contradictory orders. In the July 8 hearing, Justice Badharudeen observed the first prosecution sanction order appeared to be intended to malign, ridicule and attack the judiciary.
"Who said this Court directed the Government to issue prosecution sanction? The Court only directed reconsideration. The Government was free to grant or refuse sanction, but the decision had to conform to the findings recorded by this Court," the judge observed at the time.
The judge went on to opine that the executive officers who signed the contradictory orders must also be held accountable.
"The officers adopted a stand favourable to the accused and attempted to help them. I am not blaming the Government. The officers are responsible," he said.
The Court, therefore, initiated contempt of court proceedings against Biju and ordered him to be personally present for the hearing of the matter on July 10.
