NEW DELHI: Supreme Court on Tuesday expressed its displeasure at the conduct of deputy collector in Andhra Pradesh who, in his capacity as tahsildar, disobeyed directions of the high court and forcibly removed slum-dwellers' huts in Guntur district. As the officer refused to accept demotion as a punishment for contempt, the apex court said that his action "cannot go unpunished".
A bench of Justices B R Gavai and A G Masih was hearing a plea filed by the officer against a HC order which found him guilty of contempt of court and sentenced him to two months' simple imprisonment. When the officer refused to accept demotion, the bench said he would have to then serve the prison term given to him by HC in the matter.
"This can't go unpunished. After a warning of the high court, if somebody indulges in these things, howsoever high one may be, he is not above the law," the bench said.
When the officer prayed for mercy, the bench told him , "Jab 80 police walon ko lekar logon ke ghar giraye tab bhagwan ki yaad nahi aayi apko (You didn't think of God when you demolished people's homes along with 80 policemen?"
The single judge's order came on the pleas alleging the officer, who was then a tehsildar, forcibly removed hutments in the district in January 2014 despite a December 11, 2013 direction restraining him from doing it.
On the request of the officer, the court deferred the hearing to Friday.
A bench of Justices B R Gavai and A G Masih was hearing a plea filed by the officer against a HC order which found him guilty of contempt of court and sentenced him to two months' simple imprisonment. When the officer refused to accept demotion, the bench said he would have to then serve the prison term given to him by HC in the matter.
"This can't go unpunished. After a warning of the high court, if somebody indulges in these things, howsoever high one may be, he is not above the law," the bench said.
When the officer prayed for mercy, the bench told him , "Jab 80 police walon ko lekar logon ke ghar giraye tab bhagwan ki yaad nahi aayi apko (You didn't think of God when you demolished people's homes along with 80 policemen?"
The single judge's order came on the pleas alleging the officer, who was then a tehsildar, forcibly removed hutments in the district in January 2014 despite a December 11, 2013 direction restraining him from doing it.
On the request of the officer, the court deferred the hearing to Friday.
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