Smt Dasri Sulochan Vs Gopal Krishna Dwivedi,I.a.S — Contempt of Court | Andhra Pradesh HC (2026)

Smt Dasri Sulochan Vs Gopal Krishna Dwivedi,I.a.S — Contempt of Court | Andhra Pradesh HC (2026)

What the court decided

AI extract

Outcome

Contempt Case closed, a lenient view having been taken in view of the unconditional apology tendered by the respondents; no punishment imposed; respondents cautioned to implement Court orders diligently in future; no order as to costs; miscellaneous petitions pending, if any, stand closed as a sequel.

Issue for consideration

Whether the respondents/contemnors wilfully disobeyed the order dated 06.10.2021 in W.P.No.38850 of 2018 passed by this Court, warranting punishment under the Contempt of Courts Act 1971.

Court's answer

On careful perusal of the record, there was admittedly delay in implementing the Court's order in its true letter and spirit within the time stipulated.

Ratio / Principle

When asked about the delay, the respondents who were present before the Court tendered their unconditional apology.

Key takeaways

This Court had advised the respondents a number of times to be more careful and conscious in implementing orders within the stipulated time, but there appeared to be no change in the attitude of the officers.obiter¶46
Taking the unconditional apology tendered by the respondents as bonafide, the Court took a lenient view against them in the contempt case to meet the ends of justice.ratio¶49
Accordingly, the Contempt Case is closed.ratio

Detailed headnote1 paragraphs

Contempt Case No.70 of 2023, High Court of Andhra Pradesh at Amaravati (Special Original Jurisdiction), Justice Battu Devanand, decided 06.03.2026: The petitioner, an ex-Sarpanch of Gaugubelli Gramapanchayat, alleged wilful disobedience of the order dated 06.10.2021 in W.P.No.38850 of 2018 and batch. Counsel for the respondents submitted on instructions that the order had been complied with; the petitioner's counsel endorsed compliance but contended it was not effected within the time stipulated and hence not in the true letter and spirit. The Court found admitted delay in implementation, noted that the officers tendered unconditional apology when questioned, accepted the apology as bonafide, took a lenient view and closed the contempt case, while directing the respondents to be more careful and vigilant in implementing Court orders in future. No order as to costs; miscellaneous petitions, if any, stood closed.

[3207]

APHC010724262022

IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI

(Special Original Jurisdiction)

FRIDAY,THE SIXTH DAY OF MARCH TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY SIX

PRESENT

THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE BATTU DEVANAND CONTEMPT CASE NO: 70/2023

Between:

SMT DASRI SULOCHAN, W/O DASARI RARNAKRISHNA , AGED 42 YEARS, WORKED AS EX-SARPANCH, GAUGUBELLI GRAMAPANCHAYAT, R/O GARGUBELLI VILLAGE, MANDAL, PARVATHI PURAM MANYAM (VIZAYANAGRAM) DISTRICT. CONTEMNOR/PETITIONER

...PETITIONER

AND

GOPAL KRISHNA DWIVEDI I A S, THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH, REP. BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY, PANCHAYAT RAJ AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT, SECRETARIAT, VELAGAPUDI, GUNTUR DISTRICT.

THE COMMISSIONER, PANCHAYAT RAJ AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT, 26-6-8/1, SRICHARITHA SREE BUILDING, NAKKAL ROAD, SURYARAOPET, VIJAYAWADA, KRISHNA DISTRICT.

THE ADDITIONAL COMMISSIONER, MAHATHMA GANDHI NATIONAL RURAL EMPLOYMENT GAURANTEE SCHEME (MGNREGS), GOVERNMENT OF ANDHRA PRADESH, VIJAYAWADA, KRISHNA DISTRICT.

SRI A SURYA KUMARI, THE DISTRICT COLLECTOR, VIZAYANAGRAM DISTRICT, PRESENT ( PARVATHIPURAM MANYAM).

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SRI G UMAMAHESWARI, THE PROJECT DIRECTOR, DISTRICT WATER MANAGEMENT AGENCY, VIZAYANAGRAM DISTRICT,

SMT PYDI THALLI, THE MANDAL PARISHAD DEVELOPMENT OFFICER (MPDO), GURUGUBILLI GRAMPANCHAYATI, GURUGUBILLI VILLAGE AND MANDAL, PARVATHIPURAM MANYAM DISTRICT R 6 LEAVE GRANTED AS PER COURT ORDER DT.16/03/2023. VIDE IA NO.1 OF 2023. IN CC NO.70 OF 2023.

MR JAGADEESH, GURUGUBILLI GRAMAPANCHAYATHI REP.BY ITS SECRETARY GURUGU BELLI VILLAGE AND MANDAL ,PARVATHI PURAM MANYAM DISTRICT (VIZAYANAGRAM)

...CONTEMNOR(S):

Petition under Sections 10 to 12 of Contempt of Courts Act 1971 praying that in the circumstances stated in the affidavit file herein the High Court may be pleased to pleased to punish the respondents/contemnors under the provisions of the Contempt of Courts Act for willfully, wantonly. and deliberately of violating the Order dated 6-10-2021 passed in W.P.No.38850 of 2018 in the interest of justice. and pass

IA NO: 1 OF 2023

Petition under Section 151 CPC praying that in the circumstances stated in the affidavit filed in support of the petition, the High Court may be pleased pleased to dispense with petitioner the filing of the /Original/Certified copy of the Order, dt.6-10-2021 passed in W.P.No.38850 of 2018 and take the CC NO OF 2022 on file, and pass

IA NO: 2 OF 2023

Petition under Section 151 CPC praying that in the circumstances stated in the affidavit filed in support of the petition, the High Court may be pleased Pleased to implead the proposed respondents as respondent No. 6 i.e. existing 6th respondent and Replace the implead 6th respondent Namely smt. G Pydi thalli in CC.No. 70 of 2023 in WP No. 38850 of 2018 in IA.No. of 2023 and to pass

IA NO: 3 OF 2023

Petition under Section 151 CPC praying that in the circumstances stated in the affidavit filed in support of the petition, the High Court may be pleased pleased to grant leave to correct typographical mistake/s therein 6th

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respondents cause title from "6. The Sri P V V Mohan Kumar the mandal parishad development officer (MPDO) Mathalabpeta Village Sarubujjili mandal Srikakulam District ." instead of typing it as "6. Smt Pydi Thalli the mandal panshad development officer(MPDO) Gurugubilli Gramapanchayathi Gurugubelli Village and Mandal ,Parvathi puram manyam District" and pass

IA NO: 1 OF 2026

Petition under Section 151 CPC praying that in the circumstances stated in the affidavit filed in support of the petition, the High Court may be pleased May be pleased to dispense with my personnel appearances in the C.C.No.70 of 2023 and to pass

Counsel for the Petitioner:

1.KRISHNA RAO M

Counsel for the Contemnor(S):

1.KIRAN KUMAR VADLAMUDI

2.OMKAR D

The Court made the following:

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THE HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE BATTU DEVANAND

CONTEMPT CASE No.70 of 2023

ORDER:

This contempt case is filed complaining the wilful disobedience of the order dated 06.10.2021 in W.P.No.38850 of 2018 and batch passed by this Court.

Heard learned counsel for the petitioner and learned counsel for the respondents.

Learned counsel for the respondents, on instructions, would submit that the order of the Court is complied with.

Learned counsel appearing for the petitioner also endorsed the same, but would submit that the order of the Court is not complied with within the time stipulated by the Court and, as such, the compliance is not in the true letter and spirit.

On careful perusal of the record, it reveals that admittedly there is delay in implementing the order of the Court in its true letter and spirit within time stipulated by the Court. In fact, this Court number of times advised the respondents to be more careful and conscious in implementing the orders of the Court within the time stipulated. However, it appears that there is no change in the attitude of the officers. In the present case also admittedly there is delay. When this Court asked the respondents who are present before this

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Court about the delay occurred in implementing the orders of the Court, they tendered their unconditional apology.

Taking into consideration of the unconditional apology tendered by them as bonafide, this Court intends to take lenient view against them in this contempt case to meet the ends of justice.

Accordingly, this Contempt Case is closed.

It is made it clear that the respondents shall be more careful and vigilant in implementing the orders of this Court in its true letter and spirit in future.

There shall be no order as to costs.

As a sequel, miscellaneous petitions pending, if any, shall stand closed.

__________________________ JUSTICE BATTU DEVANAND

Date: 06.03.2026 JLV

6

189

THE HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE BATTU DEVANAND

CONTEMPT CASE No.70 of 2023

Dt.06.03.2026

JLV