HC rejects Medchal Collector’s plea for exemption from personal appearance

By Our Legal Correspondent 

Hyderabad: Justice C.V. Bhaskar Reddy of the Telangana High Court on Wednesday observed that seeking an exemption from personal appearance—as mandated by a court order—on the grounds of being occupied with official duties is not justifiable.

The Court stated that the Collector has a personal responsibility to provide factual and legal details regarding the matters specified by the Court. Consequently, the Court dismissed the application filed by the Medchal-Malkajgiri District Collector seeking an exemption from personal appearance.

The hearing has been adjourned, with the Court directing the Malkajgiri Police Commissioner to ensure the Collector’s presence before the Court on the 25th of this month. A private employee from Hyderabad, Arjuna Rao, had filed a contempt of court petition, alleging that officials failed to properly implement orders issued on July 8 of last year concerning a land dispute in Bachupally.

In April, the Court had directed the District Collector, the RDO, and the Bachupally Tahsildar to protect the land in question and ensure that no construction takes place there.

The Court further instructed the officials to examine any representations submitted by the petitioner regarding the status of the land and their potential merger with the government, and to issue appropriate orders in accordance with the law within eight weeks.

Additionally, the Court issued an interim order prohibiting the granting of any building construction permits or approvals for the lands in question.

On October 27, the government pleader informed the Court that the land belonging to Arjun Rao had been acquired under the Telangana Land Reforms (Ceiling on Agricultural Holdings) Act.

In response, the High Court directed the District Collector, the RDO, and officials from the Land Reforms Tribunal to appear in person on November 11 to clarify the legal provisions under which the land was acquired, the details of the process followed, and the total extent of the land currently under government possession.

The District Collector filed an application seeking an exemption from personal appearance, citing his preoccupation with election-related duties—in his capacity as an election official and District Collector—as well as the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and other administrative responsibilities.

After hearing the arguments, the judge clarified that being occupied with election duties or other official responsibilities is not a sufficient ground for granting an exemption from personal appearance.

The court also noted that the Collector had previously been granted exemptions from personal appearance on February 27 and April 2.

The application was dismissed, with the court stating that it could not accept another request for an exemption, especially given the clear directives issued on October 27.

The Court adjourned the matter to November 25 and directed the Malkajgiri Police Commissioner to ensure that the District Collector appears in court on the next date of hearing.