Hydraa Commissioner Fined ₹50,000 by High Court
The court directed that the amount be deposited into the Chief Justice’s Relief Fund before the registry accepts the counter affidavit. The matter has been adjourned to June 15.
Court pulls up Hydraa over delay
Mohammed Shafatullah and others had filed a petition challenging Hydraa’s intervention in the disputed land in Survey No. 45 at Yousufguda and the installation of a board and fencing on the property.
The matter came up before the bench of Justice N.P. Shravan Kumar. Counsel for the petitioners argued that Hydra’s intervention in land allegedly under the petitioners’ possession was unlawful.
Petitioners cite earlier court orders
The petitioners told the court that the Supreme Court had earlier passed orders concerning the land and that the High Court had also directed maintenance of status quo.
According to the petitioners, Hydraa officials entered the land with police assistance on March 18, demolished a compound wall and installed boards stating that the property was an open space belonging to the Housing Board’s Integrated Housing Scheme.
During a hearing in April, the court granted a final opportunity to file counters and warned that Ranganath would have to appear before the court if they were not submitted.
Fine imposed for negligence
Despite the warning, Ranganath did not appear during the hearing held two days ago. The judge noted that a counter affidavit filed on June 8 had been rejected on technical grounds.
Observing that such negligence could not be tolerated, the court imposed a fine of ₹50,000 on the Hydra Commissioner.
