Telangana high court
In Aug 2019, the high court directed the Miyapur police to provide protection for implementation of the decree. However, alleging continued interference and failure of the police to enforce the court’s orders, the petitioners approached the high court again in 2023 seeking contempt action.
“Despite repeated complaints and court directions, the police failed to prevent unauthorised persons from interfering with their property and even facilitated construction activity,” the petitioners contended. “A mere visit to the property and an instruction to stop construction did not amount to effective police assistance,” the court observed. Hyderabad : A former station house officer (SHO) of Miyapur police station has been sentenced to four weeks’ simple imprisonment by the Telangana high court for wilfully disobeying its directions to provide police protection in a long-running property dispute, with the court holding that police officials cannot ignore binding judicial orders. The court, however, held that once the judicial order had been brought to the officer’s notice, he was duty-bound to ensure its implementation.
“The officer was occupied with election duty that day and visited the property on Nov 9, directing those present to stop construction. Justice CV Bhaskar Reddy passed the order in a contempt petition filed by A Shekhar Babu and seven others, while suspending the sentence for two weeks to enable the officer to seek relief before a higher forum. He also tendered an unconditional apology,” govt counsel informed the court.
The case pertains to a 700 square yard disputed property at Gokul Plots, Hafeezpet. The petitioners had secured a permanent injunction decree from a civil court in 2013 restraining others from interfering with their possession. The decree was later upheld by an appellate court, and the high court declined to stay its operation.