Telangana high court sentences ex-Miyapur station house officer to four weeks in jail in contempt case | Hyderabad News

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.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.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.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.The officer denied any wilful disobedience, stating that he had assumed charge only in July 2023 and became aware of the 2019 order only after it was brought to his notice by the petitioners on Nov 7, 2023.“The officer was occupied with election duty that day and visited the property on Nov 9, directing those present to stop construction. He also tendered an unconditional apology,” govt counsel informed the court.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. “A mere visit to the property and an instruction to stop construction did not amount to effective police assistance,” the court observed.Rejecting the officer’s apology, the court found him guilty of civil contempt and sentenced him to four weeks’ simple imprisonment along with a fine of ₹2,000. If he fails to secure suspension of the sentence from a higher court within two weeks, he has been directed to surrender before the registrar (judicial-I). It is learnt that the officer has already filed an appeal, which is yet to be taken up for hearing.