Medak district collector gets 6-month jail in contempt case, HC stays sentence for 4 weeks

Hyderabad: Telangana high court sentenced Medak district collector Rahul Raj to six months' simple imprisonment and a fine of ₹2,000 in a contempt case for wilful disobedience of its orders in a land mutation dispute. Justice K Lakshman delivered the verdict on Feb 13 and suspended the jail sentence for four weeks to enable the officer to pursue legal remedies. The case stemmed from a petition by Nallavelli Laxmi, 51, who claimed ownership of 2.22 guntas in Bonal village of Chegunta mandal through inheritance from her grandfather. After her mutation request was rejected, she moved the high court, which in June 2024 set aside the collector's earlier decision and ordered a fresh, transparent inquiry after issuing notices to all stakeholders. However, the collector again rejected her claim in Dec 2024. On reviewing official records, the court found no evidence that Laxmi had been served notice or given an opportunity to be heard, as directed. The respondent contended that notice was sent via WhatsApp, but this claim was neither mentioned in the counter-affidavit nor supported by proof of delivery. Holding that the petitioner was denied a fair hearing and forced into a second round of litigation, the court ruled that the collector had deliberately violated its directions, amounting to contempt and warranting punishment.