The judge instructed the court registry to suo motu file a contempt of court against Rao because she viewed his behaviour as disrespectful of the court.
VIJAYAWADA: On Friday, when a lawsuit against the energy department was being heard in the Andhra Pradesh High Court, an intriguing occurrence occurred. Justice B Devanand revealed APSPDCL CMD Santhosh Rao’s “excuse” of being bedridden due to illness for his inability to personally appear before the court. In order to find out where Rao was on Thursday, the judge instructed Special Chief Secretary (Energy) K Vijayanand to contact Rao from his cell phone and turn on the speaker.
Vijayanand responded by telling the court that Rao had joined him on Thursday in Eluru for a review meeting. Justice Devanand noted that officials “are not hesitant to go to any extent and say any untruth” because they are not physically present in court.
The judge instructed the court registry to suo motu file a contempt of court against Rao because she viewed his behaviour as disrespectful of the court. On January 20, the case hearing was scheduled. Justice Devanand instructed the court registry to suo motu file a contempt of court complaint against APCPDCL executive engineer Syed Abdul Karim after hearing a case against him for making disparaging remarks about the court. He moved up the case hearing to 1 February after instructing the officers to submit an affidavit with all relevant information.
The energy secretary told the court that Karim will be the subject of a government investigation. He also gave the court the assurance that going forward, all staff members will be severely ordered to carry out court orders.
Additionally, he mentioned that VL Ganapathi Granites’ power supply had been reinstated. The court was also given the assurance that CPDCL CMD Padma Janardhan and CPDCL Ongole SE KVG Satyanarayana would see to it that the court’s directives were carried out. All three officials, as well as two lower-level employees, were excused from appearing in person before the court at subsequent sessions. Karim was not exempted, though.
The judge ordered the energy secretary to demonstrate how the court orders are being “implemented” after the petitioner’s attorney Sivaramakrishna Reddy informed the court that the company’s power supply was only restored after the division bench dismissed the appeal against the single judge’s orders.
Karim apologised and said he was mistaken when the judge asked the energy secretary whether he wanted to hear the remarks he had made against the court. The court immediately enquired as to what further action will be taken against Karim. After reviewing the documents, the energy secretary responded that severe action will be taken. Justice Devanand questioned the energy secretary as to why records needed to be checked after Karim confessed his wrongdoing in front of the court. Vijayanand responded by assuring the court that departmental action will be taken against the offending employee.
NOR IMPLIED COURT ORDER TO APCPDCL
In the current instance, APCPDCL took legal action against a granite firm for failing to pay its electricity bills. Due to their failure to pay the debts, VS Ganapathi Granites of Chimakurthi had their electricity cut off. The business contacted the High Court. After hearing the case, Justice B Devanand gave the APCPDCL temporary orders to restart the company’s power supply. The petitioners’ attorney told the court that the directions had not been followed when the case was heard again on January 3rd.
