Chennai: Condemning the attitude of the municipal administration and water supply department secretary K. Phanindra Reddy for having disregarded a directive from court relating to the services of a subordinate officer in the department, the Madras high court has imposed a cost of Rs 50,000 on him.
Passing orders on a contempt application filed by one Lawrence, Justice T. Raja said, “K. Phanindra Reddy, IAS, secretary to government, municipal administration and the water supply department, appeared on Saturday by filing a belated affidavit dated March 10, 2017, tendering unconditional apology for the delay in implementing the order of the court dated March 11, 2016. This belated affidavit was filed only after this court indicated that there was no affidavit of apology from him. Such an affidavit of the contemnor cannot compensate the wasting of precious time of the court and also the financial loss caused to the exchequer towards litigation expenses”.
Imposing a cost of Rs 50,000 on him and directing him to pay the amount to the Tamil Nadu Legal Services Authority within four weeks, the judge said it was the duty of the court to uphold and maintain its dignity.
Lawrence was issued with a charge memo in 2008. Since no action was taken till 2014, he moved the High Court, which had on December 15, 2014, directed the authorities to pass appropriate orders on the merits. As the charges were not proved, it was recommended to the government to drop the disciplinary proceedings pending against him. However, the secretary, Municipal administration and the water supply department did not pass any order.
Therefore, Lawrence initiated the second round of litigation and the High Court had on March 11, 2016, directed the secretary, municipal administration and the water supply department to pass appropriate orders in accordance with law. Since there was no response, the petitioner filed the present contempt petition.
