Ensure HYDRAA chief’s presence before Bench in contempt case: HC to DGP

The Telangana High Court, on Wednesday, directed Director General of Police C.V. Anand to ensure the presence of HYDRAA Commissioner and IPS officer A.V. Ranganath before a Bench on November 17 in a contempt of court case.

Earlier, Justice C.V. Bhaskar Reddy directed the HYDRAA Commissioner and Shamshabad Tahsildar to be present before the Bench on Wednesday, having issued Form-I notices to them. The Commissioner and the Tahsildar filed an interlocutory application seeking exemption from appearance. Not convinced by the reasons cited by the two officials, the judge directed the DGP to ensure their presence on November 17.

The Telangana High Court on Wednesday directed the Principal Secretary of Finance Sandeep Kumar Sultania to clear bills to the tune of ₹51.35 crore to be paid to persons whose lands were acquired by the government for various projects in Narayanpet district, within eight weeks.

Passing the direction, Justice N.V. Shravan Kumar instructed the officer to file a comprehensive additional affidavit explaining the payment mode and time required for clearing the remaining bills. The Principal Secretary, appearing before the Bench in virtual mode for hearing a batch of six contempt of court cases, informed that the State was in a precarious financial position and was not able to pay compensation at once to all the petitioners.

The judge observed that courts cannot be casual in contempt cases especially in matters connected to payment of compensation to citizens who gave away their lands for government projects.

The Telangana High Court on Wednesday issued notices to SPECTRA group entities in real estate business to respond to the contentions raised by Right Society in a PIL petition alleging that the group owners indulged in real estate scam.

Senior counsel B. Rachna Reddy appearing for the petitioner contended that the group owners took nearly 10,000 home buyers for a ride in Bhongir, Hyderabad, Shadnagar, Yadadri, Narkatpally, Balanagar and other areas.

The matter was adjourned to December 23 for next hearing.