DC impact: Acting on report, Madras High Court hauls up IAS officer, RDO

CHENNAI: Based on a report in Deccan Chronicle, the Madras high court has initiated suo motu contempt proceedings against an IAS officer and an RDO in Dharmapuri district.

A Division bench of Justices Satish K. Agnihotri and P. Devadass said “already contempt proceedings were on against the RDO Kavitha. P Annamalai IAS, secretary to Government, Adi-Dravidar and tribal welfare department, has been impleaded as a respondent.

In the report published in DC on November 5, “IAS officer in dock for ‘defaming’ Madras high court judge’ it was revealed that the senior IAS officer was in the dock for allegedly passing defamatory statements against a Madras high court judge and advocate-general during a conversation with tribal representatives and CPI (M) MLA P. Dillibabu.

The bench said Perumal filed an affidavit stating that the said RDO Kavitha made a complaint to Annamalai that the court is threatening her. The IAS officer made scandalous and slanderous remarks against the counsel and judge.

The bench ordered notices to Kavitha and Annamalai, the contemnors, as to why criminal contempt proceedings should not be initiated against them for making such scandalous remarks and also for interfering with the administration of justice. The bench directed them to be appear before the court on Noveber 24 and adjourned the matter.