HC issues contempt notices to 2 IPS officers

HYDERABAD: Expressing displeasure with the attitude of authorities for taking a lenient view in implementing the court order, a division bench of the Hyderabad High Court on Friday issued notices to two senior IPS officers who included Telangana home secretary Rajiv Trivedi and director general of fire services Rajiv Ratan seeking their explanation for not implementing the earlier court order with regard to payment of dues to the state by the Hyderabad Exhibition society.

The bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Ramesh Ranganathan and Justice Shameem Akther was dealing with a contempt case filed by Khaja Aijazuddin, an advocate of the city, seeking action against the respondent authorities who included Rajiv Trivedi, Rajiv Ratan, Hyderabad district fire officer M Srinivasa Reddy and society secretary Aditya Margam for contempt of court for willfully disobeying the court orders. As the petitioner put it, the society has to pay dues of Rs 90 lakh for the period between 2011-2017.

Though the court has directed it to pay all the dues, the society has paid only `40 lakh to the state.  In fact, the court had also directed the state to recover the dues from the society. 
However, the senior officials concerned have shown scant regard towards the court order since the president of the society happens to be the state minister Etela Rajender. Besides, the respondents have turned a deaf ear to the petitioner’s plea with regard to payment of dues.
The bench issued contempt notices to all the respondents.