A division bench comprising Chief Justice Madan B. Lokur and Justice P.V. Sanjay Kumar of the High Court on Tuesday directed a sand quarry contractor of Adilabad district to pay a penalty of Rs 73 lakh for quarrying illegally in the area not allotted to him. The bench also granted stay on sand quarrying in Godavari River at Kistapur village of the district till further orders. Adilabad residents Pappi Reddy and two others had moved the court, alleging that contractor Bodige Venkatesham was carrying on illegal quarry of sand in area not allotted to him and that the authorities were not taking any action.

Their counsel M.A.K. Mukheed told the court that the due to illegal quarrying not only people, even birds and cattle wee also deprived of drinking water in the area.

EOs’ mistakes: Endowment babu pulled up
Justice Nooty Ram Mohan of the High Court on Tuesday pulled up the Endowments Commissioner for not taking action against erring Executive Officers who were not giving necessary details to the court in pending cases. Earlier, the judge ordered the presence of Ramalingeswara Swamy temple commissioner G. Balaramiah and EO Sandhya Rani on a plea challenging the continuation of an archaka in service even after attaining the age of superannuation. The commissioner assured that he would conduct a meeting of the executive officers and put things in order. The judge insisted that Ms Sandhya Rani be present in court on Wednesday to give details.