PU hostel row: HC tough on two officers

Patna: The Patna high court on Wednesday initiated criminal contempt against S M Raju, secretary, welfare department, Bihar government and Surendra Prasad Chaurasia, district welfare officer, Patna, in a case related to alleged attack on autorickshaw pullers by boarders of the B N College hostel on July 27, 2015.
The two officers had written to the Patna University VC asking him that until an alternative arrangement was made, the inmates of Shimla Bhawan should be allowed to reside there.The letter dated August 19, 2015 was received by the Patna University registrar on September 19. Meanwhile, the court had on September 15 directed the official concerned to rid the hostels from unauthorised occupants by September 19.
A division bench of Patna high court comprising acting chief justice Iqbal Ahmad Ansari and Justice Chakradhari Sharan Singh also directed that considering the urgency of the situation and keeping in mind the interest of justice, the officials concerned should issue a warrant of arrest against the two officers. They also directed the duo to appear in the court on Thursday.