Telangana HC recalls arrest warrants for MPDO, panchayat secretary after officials attend court

Hyderabad: On Monday, the Telangana High Court recalled the non-bailable warrants (NBWs) issued to an MPDO and a gram panchayat secretary after the two officials attended the court.

In an earlier hearing, the High Court issued non-bailable warrants against Mandal Parishad Development Officer (MPDO) Vani and gram panchayat secretary Srinivas for failing to file a status report on illegal encroachments and constructions in Majidpur village, Shameerpet mandal in Medchal-Malkajgiri district. The officials neither appeared before the court in person nor filed a status report, explaining the reasons for not complying with its orders.

The Chief Justice Bench on Monday, while recalling the NBWs issued against the two officials, expressed concern and distress over the ‘careless approach of the government officials in adhering to its orders, because of which the court had to go to the extent of issuing NBWs for compliance of its orders.’

The Division Bench, comprising Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice Anil Kumar Jukanti, was adjudicating a PIL filed by S Ashok Reddy, MPTC Majidpur village, seeking a direction to the district collector of Medchal Malkajgiri to conduct a detailed probe into the illegal encroachments and constructions. The petitioner had said that a portion of land in survey numbers 40 and 48 in Majidpur, earmarked for people belonging to weaker sections, has been encroached upon by private persons.

On June 20, this year, the CJ Bench directed both officials to file a status report on the illegal encroachments and constructions on the said land and list the steps taken by them to stop such constructions.