HC wants Chief Secretary’s appearance if Bench order not complied by November 4

The Telangana High Court directed the Chief Secretary to be present before it on November 4 if the order (passed by a Division Bench of the HC more than four years ago), to consider a 43-year-old woman for the post of a teacher, was not complied with.

A Bench of Acting Chief Justice P. Sam Koshy and Justice N.V. Shravan Kumar, while hearing a contempt of court case filed by an unemployed woman Kondra Sandhya, wanted the Chief Secretary to appear before it along with Principal Secretary of School Education Department Yogita Rana on the said day.

The Principal Secretary appeared before the Bench on Monday in the backdrop of HC order issued on September 23 in the contempt of court case. On September 23, the Bench expressed dissatisfaction over the Principal Secretary’s response in proceeding with the direction issued by the Division Bench, more than four years ago.

The Principal Secretary, through an affidavit, informed the Bench on Monday that the Bench’s order was complied in part, with necessary approval by the Finance Department. The senior IAS officer, however, stated that approval of the competent authority “was still awaited”.

The Bench noted that “it was surprising” that there was inaction on the part of the government in deciding an officer of the rank of Principal Secretary being summoned for framing charges under contempt of court. Referring to the government counsel’s request for short adjournment to ensure full compliance with the order, the Bench posted the matter to November 4.

The Bench made it clear that if the order was not enforced by the said date, the Chief Secretary should be present and explain why contempt of court proceedings should not be initiated against him.