Hyderabad: The Telangana high court has initiated contempt proceedings against senior state officials, including chief secretary Sanjay Jaju, over allegations of wilful disobedience of its earlier order relating to elections to fishermen’s cooperative societies.The HC had on July 16 directed authorities to consider a representation filed by various fishermen cooperative societies seeking early elections to state and district bodies. The petitioners had then contended that despite earlier judicial directions, authorities failed to complete these elections. They had alleged that the state officials were contemplating nominating persons-in-charge or chairpersons instead of holding democratic elections under the Telangana Cooperative Societies Act.Alleging non-compliance with these orders, a contempt petition was filed.Hearing the contempt petition, Justice Surepalli Nanda recently issued notices to Sanjay Jaju, principal secretary (agriculture and cooperation) Surendra Mohan, principal secretary (animal husbandry, dairy development and fisheries) Illambarithi K, fisheries commissioner and MD of Telangana State Fishermen Cooperative Societies Federation Nikhila, and Chandra Mohan Reddy of the state election authority’s cooperative wing. The court directed these officials to explain why contempt action should not be initiated against them and posted the matter to Nov 20 for further hearing.The contempt case was filed by Sadu Raghu, president of district fishermen cooperative society, Mulugu.Appearing for the petitioner, counsel DL Pandu contended that the officials had wilfully violated the HC order issued in July in a writ petition.The petitioner urged the court to summon the officials and proceed against them for alleged non-compliance with its directions.Taking note of the submissions, Justice Surepalli Nanda issued notices to the respondents and directed them to show cause why action should not be taken against them under the Contempt of Courts Act.The court cautioned that if the officials failed to respond, the matter would be “heard and determined ex-parte”.
