HC directs 4 IAS officers to appear before it on contempt plea

The Madras High Court today directed personal appearance of four IAS officers, including the state chief secretary, by tomorrow in a contempt petition filed in connection with the re-conveyance of land acquired by the government.
The division bench comprising justice K K Sasidharan and justice P Velmurugan gave the direction on a contempt petition filed by A B Somu and 11 others seeking action against the officials for their failure to implement an earlier court order directing re-conveyance of the land.
The matter relates to acquisition of the land of the petitioners in the city.
Earlier, the court, after verifying the records rendered, found that the land was not used for the purpose for which it was acquired, had ordered that it should be re-conveyed to the petitioners.

The Supreme Court had also dismissed a plea challenging the high court order. The apex court had also dismissed a review petition filed against the order.
The high court bench today observed that the contempt petition was a "classic example" as to how the state is flouting the order passed by the court.
It directed Girija Vaidyanathan, state chief secretary, Dharmendra Pratap Yadav the then secretary to Housing and Urban Development Department, Vijaya Rajkumar Member Secretary to Chennai Municipal Development Authority and S Krishnan Principal Secretary to Housing and Urban Development Department to appear before it at 10.30 am tomorrow.