SC flays Andhra officer for defying HC orders on Hyderabad slum eviction
The court was shocked that the officer "deliberately disobeyed" the High Court order and took 80 policemen along to execute the eviction, ignoring judicial directives
The Supreme Court has come down heavily on a senior Andhra Pradesh official for defying a 2013 Andhra Pradesh High Court order that barred the demolition of slums in Hyderabad.
The court was shocked that the officer "deliberately disobeyed" the High Court order and took 80 policemen along to execute the eviction, ignoring judicial directives.
"You took 80 policemen with you to violate court orders? How were the slums demolished despite a High Court order?" Justice BR Gavai asked sternly, adding that such disregard for court authority would result in immediate arrest.
The bench made it clear—disobedience of the judiciary will not be tolerated.
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Justice Gavai’s warning
Justice Gavai, who will soon take over as the Chief Justice of India, warned against playing with the dignity of the court.
“Does he consider himself above the High Court?” he asked, underlining that “no concession” would be given to those who disrespect the law.
The demolition carried out during the volatile period of Andhra Pradesh’s bifurcation protests, has now returned to haunt the officer, who is currently in jail on contempt of court charges.
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Plea for relief
The officer had approached the Supreme Court seeking relief from jail, citing his current role as the state protocol director and family obligations, including two children.
But the bench was unsparing. “Did he think about the children whose houses he demolished?” asked the court, unmoved by pleas for leniency.
The court even hinted at demoting him back to his former position as tehsildar and warned of imposing “heavy costs” for the damage caused to slum dwellers. However, the top court has decided to hear the officer’s petition despite its sharp reprimands.
Wider context
The case unfolds against the backdrop of the Supreme Court facing criticism from Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar and BJP MP Nishikant Dubey for the alleged judicial overreach.
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Their comments follow a recent Supreme Court ruling that rapped governors for delaying state bills, a verdict some see as the judiciary placing limits on the authority of the president and the governors.
Vice President Dhankhar, who also served as the Governor of Bengal, said, "We cannot have a situation where you direct the President of India. Article 142 has become a nuclear missile against democratic forces."