Hyderabad: The Telangana High Court sentenced Medak District Collector Rahul Raj to six months of simple imprisonment in a contempt case for failing to implement its orders. The Court also imposed a fine of Rs 2,000.
Justice K Lakshman passed the order while hearing a contempt petition. However, the Court suspended the prison sentence for four weeks from the date of the order.
The Judge criticised the Collector’s conduct in strong terms. He observed that the officer made a woman in her fifties run from pillar to post for over two years over 2.22 acres of land. Moreover, the Court noted that despite specific directions in earlier rounds of litigation, the officer deliberately violated its orders.
Telangana High Court finds wilful disobedience
The dispute concerns land in Bonal village of Chegunta Mandal in Medak district. The petitioner, Nallavelli Lakshmi, claimed 2.22 acres as a successor to the property.
She approached the Telangana High Court after the Collector failed to consider her representation. Instead, he referred the matter to a civil court. According to her, the officer did not follow the procedure established by law while deciding her claim.
Consequently, the Court held the Collector guilty of wilful disobedience of its earlier directions and pronounced the sentence.