Telangana HC relief for Irrigation official

Hyderabad: A two-judge Bench of the Telangana High Court comprising Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice P Madhavi Devi on Tuesday expressed displeasure at an irrigation officials for failing to follow court orders. The Bench was dealing with an appeal filed by P Radha Krishna Rao, Executive Engineer, Irrigation Department, Nizamabad district challenging the […]

Hyderabad: A two-judge Bench of the Telangana High Court comprising Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice P Madhavi Devi on Tuesday expressed displeasure at an irrigation officials for failing to follow court orders. The Bench was dealing with an appeal filed by P Radha Krishna Rao, Executive Engineer, Irrigation Department, Nizamabad district challenging the single judge order which sentenced him to undergo two weeks imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 2,000. “When power goes into the head of the authorities, they deserve to be punished,” the Bench opined. The single judge had held the official in contempt for laying a road and dumping waste on agricultural land belonging to one B Praveen Kumar and others against court orders. The Bench expressed dissatisfaction with the official for disobeying the court order. However, on rendering unconditional apology, the Bench modified the order and imposed Rs 50,000 fine and set aside the imprisonment.

Collector reprimanded

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Justice T Vinod Kumar of the Telangana High Court expressed serious dissatisfaction with the Siddipet Collector Venkatrami Reddy for his remarks warning Agriculture Department officials and seed sellers that they would be suspended, and shops closed if even one kg of paddy seeds were sold in the district. “It is very unfortunate that an executive magistrate of the district said he would not care High Court or Supreme Court order,” the Judge said. The Judge questioned, “Is he above the law? He should not forget he should also approach the court in case of grievance”. One Bathula Narayana, a farmer filed the case questioning the authority of the officer. The judge called the Advocate General to assist the court. The judge questioned the Advocate General whether the sale of paddy seeds was prohibited under any Act? Responding to the query, the Advocate General said the State had not issued any order prohibiting or restricting the sale of paddy seeds. Reprimanding the executive officer for his high-handed attitude, the Judge made clear there was no ban or restriction on paddy cultivation or selling seeds in the district. Observing that the statements made by the officer are prima facie appearing to be in criminal contempt, the judge directed the Registry to place the matter before Chief Justice.

Detention challenged

A two-judge panel of the Telangana High Court comprising Justice P Naveen Rao and Justice Sudha Rani on Tuesday reserved orders in a preventive detention case. One N Veerabadram filed the case seeking his son to be produced before the court. He said his son was wrongly implicated under the Telangana Prevention of Dangerous Activities of Bootleggers Dacoits Drug Offenders Goondas Immoral Traffic Offenders and Land Grabbers Act 1986. He further said the detainee was a driver and he was implicated in multiple cases after taking him into custody. The counsel for the petitioner SP Chakravarthy argued that the detainee was a driver and was not directly involved in any crime. While there was a law to deal with offences related to the transport of drugs, the action of authorities in initiating preventive detention against detainee was illegal, the counsel said. He pointed out that public order was not disturbed in these individual offences and that the detainee was only a driver.