GHMC sits on court reply for 10 years

HYDERABAD: The Telangana High Court cautioned all government departments and authorities responsible to submit contentions to courts in litigation that they would not be spared if there is a delay in filing counter-affidavits. This was made clear by the court, which said it would impose fines on all those responsible for such delays.

A division bench comprising Chief Justice Hima Kohli and Justice B. Vijaysen Reddy on Thursday imposed Rs10,000 fine on authorities, in two cases for delay in filing counters.

In a service matter regarding promotions of nursing subordinate services, the court fined the Director of Medical Education Rs 10,000 as he had delayed filing the counter by two years, with regard to the government’s contention in the petition filed against GO No. 232 issued by the medical, health and family welfare department in 2019.

In another case, the court imposed a fine of Rs 10,000 against a GHMC official from Nacharam for the delay in filing the counter even after a decade. The petition was filed by HMT Nagar Colony Welfare Association in 2011 against laying of a road on walkers track at Pedda Cheruvu.

The court made it clear as the fine amount shall be paid from the pockets of the ‘errant’ officials, the amount would be deposited in the advocate welfare fund for use to treat corona patients.