SC issues contempt notice against Prof Bhrigu Nath Singh, VC of RGNAU and aviation ministry officials
The Supreme Court of India has issued contempt notices against Bhrigu Nath Singh, Vice Chancellor of the Rajiv Gandhi National Aviation University (RGNAU), and senior officials of the Ministry of Civil Aviation, i.e., Samir Kumar Sinha, IAS, Secretary and Madhu Sudan Sankar (Lateral Entry, Joint Secretary). It is glaring to note that Madhu Sudan Sankar is a repeated contemnor of court orders, who came from a private company and joined on a 3-year contract as Joint Secretary.
This decisive step follows repeated noncompliance with judicial directions, including the Allahabad High Court Single Bench order (17 September 2021), the Division Bench ruling (17 December 2021), Division Bench Order by the CJ Court (22 May 2024 & 15 Jul 2024) and the Supreme Court judgment dated 21 May 2026, which categorically quashed arbitrary & illegal administrative actions against the petitioner Jitendra Singh, First Registrar of RGNAU.
The most disturbing fact is that Visitor's Orders being quashed not once but twice for the same cause is indeed unprecedented in India's constitutional and administrative history. The President of India, acting as Visitor to central universities, issues orders only after due process and advice; for those orders to be overturned twice by the judiciary underscores the depth of misrepresentation and mala fide intent involved by the officials of RGNAU & MoCA. Despite clear and binding orders from the highest judicial authorities of the state & the country, it is therefore a matter of grave concern that, despite clear directions, Prof Bhrigu Nath Singh (VC RGNAU), continues to act in open violation & wilful disregard of the law. Such misconduct by the VC also sets a dangerous precedence for students and future leaders, eroding respect for institutions and undermining the very values a university is meant to impart.
The Supreme Court has now taken cognizance of this defiance, reinforcing the principle that no authority is above the Constitution. The Court underscored that respect for judicial orders is nonnegotiable. Any defiance undermines governance, erodes public trust, and sets a dangerous precedence for India's higher education and public servants.
It is to be noted that Jitendra Singh's case was represented by country's reputed senior advocate of the Supreme Court, Paramjit Singh Patwalia, assisted by Anupam Lal Das and Raktim Gogoi. And in the Allahabad High Court, the case a argued by renowned senior advocate Dr Lalta Prasad Misra.
It is expected that the Ministry of Civil Aviation and RGNAU to respond lawfully to the contempt notices promptly. Failure to comply may attract penal consequences, including fines, removal from office, and/or imprisonment.
