Reddy has to face court cases despite quitting: Experts

Hyderabad: Despite opting for voluntary retirement from civil services on Monday, former Siddipet collector P. Venkatarami Reddy cannot escape the contempt of court proceedings pending against him in the Telangana High Court, according to legal experts.

Only recently, on November 3, the High Court recommended criminal contempt proceedings against Reddy for his threats issued to seed dealers in his capacity as Siddipet collector that their licences would be cancelled, shops seized and they would be sent to jail if they sold paddy seeds to farmers in the district. He even openly stated that he would not honour the Supreme Court or High Court orders even if the dealers obtained orders from courts against his decision on ban on sale of paddy seeds.

A farmer moved the High Court against the collector's orders. The High Court took a serious view of Reddy's threats and referred the issue of contemptuous behaviour of the collector to the Chief Justice of the High Court. This case is pending in the High Court.

In March this year, the High Court convicted Reddy, in a contempt case related to land acquisition for construction of a reservoir. It also imposed a fine of Rs 5,000 on Reddy for failing to file a counter affidavit in this contempt case.

Senior lawyer Jandhyala Ravishankar told this newspaper, "By merely quitting from civil services, he cannot escape contempt cases he is facing in courts while he was working as collector. This is because contempt cases are filed on an individual and not his posting. He has to face contempt proceedings in his individual capacity even after voluntary retirement from government service."
Another senior lawyer Suresh Kumar Potturi also echoed similar views. “He has to face contempt cases in courts as usual irrespective of whether he continues to be in civil services or not. Any person, be it in government service or private, has to face contempt cases pending against them even after they quit from their existing positions."

The recent land auctions conducted by the state government in July to sell off Kokapet lands also landed Venkatarami Reddy in controversy after Rajapushpa realty company bagged two plots, which is owned by Reddy's family.