ITDA Project Officers Cannot Entertain Civil Suits in Agency Areas: HC

Hyderabad:The Telangana High Court made it clear that collectors of districts in the agency area, who are also known as the agents to the government, are only eligible to entertain the civil suits as per Telangana Agency Rules 1924.

The court faulted the decision of the district collector of Adilabad, delegating his powers to the additional agent to the government/project officer, ITDA, Utnoor to entertain civil suits, without any prior sanction of the governor or the state government. The court observed that the delegation of powers was beyond jurisdiction.

Justice Kaja Sarath was dealing with a civil revision petition filed by one Chavan Prakash of erstwhile Adilabad district. He complained that the Adilabad additional agent/ITDA project officer at Utnoor, dismissed his application requesting to send a document to a handwriting expert for examination. During the hearing, the authority of the project officer in dealing with civil cases was raised and the court made it clear that such delegation of powers was a violation of rules.