VIJAYAWADA: The Andhra Pradesh High Court imposed costs on three officials in separate cases for failing to file their counters. The HC had earlier warned that it would impose costs in every case where counters were not filed in time.
On Wednesday, the HC imposed costs of Rs 50,000 on the regional manager of Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL), and Rs 10,000 costs each on the Chief Secretary and the Principal Secretary (Home) in separate cases. The bench of Chief Justice Dhiraj Singh Thakur and Justice Venkata Jyothirmai Pratapa issued the orders and asked the officials to deposit the amount with the legal services authority.
The first case related to a PIL filed by advocate Tandav Yogesh against the government for its failure to instal CCTV cameras in the court as per the orders of the Supreme Court. As the counter was not filed, the bench imposed costs on the Chief Secretary.
When Special Government Pleader S Pranathi prayed for relief from costs, the bench said it had already given time twice for filing the counter but it was not filed and went ahead with imposing costs. The matter was posted for further hearing after four weeks.
In another PIL filed by Tandav Yogesh against the non-appointment of public prosecutors and assistant prosecutors in trial courts leading to pendency of cases, the bench imposed Rs 10,000 costs on the Principal Secretary (Home) for failing to file counter.
The third case related to a PIL filed by A Bhima Naga Ramesh of Rajahmundry last year seeking the CBI probe into the sale of petroleum products that were supposed to be sold in Puducherry and Yanam being sold in Andhra Pradesh.
The court had earlier directed the petroleum companies and the Centre and the State government to file their counters. When the PIL came up for hearing, the bench asked the respondents whether they have filed their counters.
Representing HPCL, advocate VR Reddy said they prepared the counter but did not file it as it was not in the right format. Expressing its displeasure, the bench imposed Rs 50,000 costs on the regional manager even as Reddy sought relief. When the counsel prayed for reducing the cost amount, the bench said HPCL is a rich oil company and there was no dearth of funds with it.