- (1.) Despite repeated orders and opportunity having been granted by this Court, the Stales of Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Jammu and Kashmir have not filed affidavits. It is a matter of record that despite a contempt petition having been filed, the concerned authorities of the States have not taken care to comply with the orders of the Court. Such attitude of the State Administration hierarchy needs to be deprecated. Counsel appearing for the State of Jammu and Kashmir and Uttar Pradesh state that their affidavits are ready and the same could be filed. This is hardly an excuse. The order was passed on 16th January, 2012 to file affidavits within a period of four weeks. The noncompliance of the order cannot be ignored. Thus, we direct the Secretaries of the concerned Department i.e. Secretary (Health & Social Welfare) of the above States to remain present in this Court on the next date of hearing.
(2.) Liberty is granted to file affidavits within one week from today subject to payment of costs of Rs. 10,000/- to be recovered from the erring officers of the respective States.
(3.) Learned Additional Solicitor General appearing for the Union of India submits that as recorded in the order dated 2nd April, 2012, the appropriate bill has already been introduced in the Parliament namely, "Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Bill, 2012" and is scheduled as item No. 12 for today. Contempt Petition No. 132 of 2012:;