CHENNAI: The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court has imposed a fine of `1,000 on Devadhas Bose, Revenue Divisional Officer (RDO), Thanjavur for his ‘wilful disobedience’ of its earlier order.
While passing orders on a writ petition, filed by one M Sundari, on March 14 this year, the court had directed the RDO to consider her representation, dated December 24, 2007 for issuance of patta for her land in Nanjikottai village in Thanjavur district, within eight weeks.
In his counter, the RDO blamed the petitioner by stating that the petitioner did not turn up on July 31,the date fixed for an inspection. The RDO also disputed the claim of the petitioner that her land had been encroached upon and added that, in pursuance of the High Court’s direction, an order was passed on August 7, which was not received by the petitioner.
He, however, tendered an unconditional apology for the delay in complying with the Court order.
The Court held that the belated compliance order amounted to contempt of court. But taking into account the fact that the RDO is set to retire from service on April 30, 2015, the judge took an lenient view and imposed a fine of just `1,000 on him.