The Hyderabad High Court has summoned District Collector Pravin Kumar for contempt of court. Justice P Naveen Rao of the Hyderabad High Court has admitted a contempt petition against the Collector. The Justice has even ordered a notice asking him to appear in court.
The Collector has allegedly ordered demolition of 14 huts in Bharatnagar slum in Visakhapatnam irrespective of the orders of the court suggesting otherwise. The judge passed the order after hearing the contempt plea by Molli Santhamma and 12 others. The petitioners have urged the court to punish the Collector under the Contempt of Courts Act.
The counsel for the petitioners, KV Satya Rama Chandra Rao reportedly stated that the GVMC officials have conspired with the neighbouring flat owners to plan the demotion of these huts at Bharatnagar. The existence of 30-feet road has been stated for the order of demolition, but there seems to be no such possibility as the petitioners have been living there for the last 40 years. He further stated that the GVMC was acting on behest of the flat owners.
The petitioners previously approached the High Court to challenge the move and the court had directed GVMC to survey the area. The survey was to find out if the 30-feet road exists in the place the huts were located. The civic body could go ahead with the eviction only in the scenario that it was so. However, the Collector reportedly allowed the demolition of these huts without any survey ordered.
On Saturday, Justice Naveen Rao admitted the contempt plea and ordered a notice to the Collector.
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