HYDERABAD: The Hyderabad High Court on Tuesday imposed `2,000 penalty on senior IAS officer Somesh Kumar in a contempt case. Justice MS Ramachandra Rao was passing this order in a contempt petition filed by Syed Manzoor Ahmed seeking action against the officers concerned for failure to implement the order passed by the court earlier.
Last year, the judge while dealing with a petition by Syed Manzoor Ahmed complaining nonpayment of pensionary benefits after his retirement in excise department of TS, directed the authorities to pay the benefits to the petitioner if there was no case pending against him. When the authorities failed to implement the order, he filed the petition. Petitioner’s counsel K Ramalingeswara Rao told the court that the authorities had failed to provide the pensionary benefits to his client though the court had passed the order a year ago. The judge issued notice to Somesh Kumar for personal appearance.
Later, the government issued a GO providing pensionary benefits to him. Not satisfied with the GO, petitioner told the court that the government had failed to provide full pensionary benefits to him. Taking the issue seriously, the judge directed the senior officer to give explanation for delay on the issue. In reply, Somesh Kumar told the court that the benefits were not provided on time due to preoccupation with urgent works. Expressing displeasure with the explanation, Justice Rao said the officer did not have any respect to the court orders.