Two weeks jail for Prakasam DEO in contempt case

VIJAYAWADA: The AP High Court sentenced district education officer of Prakasam district V. S. Subba Rao to undergo two-week simple imprisonment and imposed fine of Rs 1,000 in a contempt of court case.

A single judge bench, headed by Justice Battu Devanand, observed that though it had issued an order on August 22, 2019 for release of encashment of earned leave of the petitioner, who was a retired second-grade teacher, within a period of two weeks, it was implemented on 06-01-2021 after a delay of 14 months. When the court asked the respondent as to why he should not be punished for non-compliance with its order, he sought pardon.

However, the court observed that such type of wilful, intentional and deliberate disrespect towards its orders were not excusable. He was found guilty of the offence which is punishable under Sections 10 and 12 of Contempt of Court Act, 1971.

However, the court at the request of respondent’s counsel suspended the sentence of imprisonment for a week from July 13.