Telangana HC pulls up CCLA for skipping appearance, warns of warrant

The Telangana High Court pulled up CCLA Lokesh Kumar for seeking exemption from personal appearance in a contempt case, citing a ministerial tour. The Court warned of warrants against officials seeking such exemptions and concluded proceedings after the refund was credited.

Legal Correspondent

 

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Hyderabad: Justice C.V. Bhaskar Reddy of the Telangana High Court on Tuesday expressed strong displeasure at Chief Commissioner of Land Administration (CCLA) Lokesh Kumar for seeking exemption from personal appearance on the ground that he was accompanying a Minister on tour. The Court warned that any such exemption plea filed by an official in future would be rejected on the same day and a warrant would be issued.

The Court was hearing a contempt petition filed by M. Vijayasimha Reddy of Musarambagh, Hyderabad, and others over the delay in refunding Rs.45.10 lakh paid towards land conversion charges. The petitioners own 7.06½ acres of land at Korremula in Ghatkesar Mandal of Medchal-Malkajgiri district. They had applied for conversion of the land for non-agricultural purposes and paid Rs.45,10,550 through e-challans on July 11, 2023. After the applications were rejected by the District Collector, they sought refund of the amount.

The High Court had earlier directed the CCLA to examine the Collector’s communication and, if the petitioners were found ineligible for conversion, refund the amount paid by them within two months. As the order was not implemented, the petitioners filed the contempt petition. During the previous hearing, the Court directed Lokesh Kumar to appear personally. When the matter came up on Tuesday, the Government Pleader informed the Court that the CCLA could not appear as he was accompanying a Minister on tour and that an exemption petition had been filed.

The Court took strong exception to this explanation and made it clear that appearing before the Court could not be avoided on such grounds. The Court directed Government Pleaders to properly advise officials and the concerned departments about the importance of court orders and to ensure that senior officials are informed immediately about orders requiring compliance. Lokesh Kumar subsequently appeared through video conference and informed the Court that the amount had been transferred to the petitioners’ accounts on Tuesday morning.

The Court observed that the money belonged to the petitioners and not to the government and questioned why the amount had been retained even for a day when it was liable to be refunded. The officials explained that there had been a delay in the release of funds by the Finance Department. Recording that the amount had ultimately been credited to the petitioners’ accounts, the Court concluded the contempt proceedings.