High Court issues notices to senior IAS and IPS officers in Salkam Cheruvu case

The Telangana High Court issued contempt notices to five senior IAS and IPS officers for failing to submit a detailed enquiry report on alleged illegal constructions in and around Salkam Cheruvu, despite earlier court directions. The case was filed by activist Vijay Gopal, and the matter has been adjourned to August 11.

By Our Legal Correspondent

Hyderabad: Justice NV Shravan Kumar of the Telangana High Court on Friday issued notices to five senior IAS and IPS officers in a contempt case alleging wilful disobedience of its earlier directions requiring submission of a detailed inquiry report into alleged illegal constructions in and around Salkam Cheruvu in the city.

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The Court was hearing the contempt case filed by Advocate and Party-in-Person Vijay Gopal, who alleged that despite the Court’s order dated April 30, the authorities failed to furnish the detailed enquiry report by the next date of hearing, prompting initiation of contempt proceedings under Sections 10 to 12 of the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971.

The writ petition was filed seeking demolition of alleged illegal constructions within the Full Tank Level (FTL) and buffer zone of Salkam Cheruvu, prosecution of encroachers under the GHMC Act and Telangana building laws, recovery of demolition costs from violators, and action to prevent further encroachments.

The High Court had directed the Principal Secretaries of the Revenue, Irrigation, Municipal Administration and School Education Departments to conduct a detailed enquiry against officials who allegedly failed to act against the construction of an educational institution within the Salkam Cheruvu lake area and to place a comprehensive report before the Court by the next date of hearing.

Alleging wilfull disobedience of the Court’s order the Petitioner moved a contempt petition against Special Chief Secretary, MA&UD (Municipal Administration & Urban Development) Jayesh Ranjan, HMDA Lake Protection Committee Chairman AV Ranganath, Principal Secretary, School Education Dr. Yogita Rana, Principal Secretary, Irrigation & CAD E. Sridhar, and Principal Secretary, Revenue Lokesh Kumar. The Court after a detailed hearing ordered notices to the respondents and adjourned the matter for further hearing to August 11.