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The Supreme Court on Wednesday summoned the Additional Chief Secretary of Maharashtra's Revenue and Forest Department, Rajesh Kumar, to appear before it to explain why contempt proceedings should not be initiated against him after noting that in an affidavit filed by him certain statements suggested that the court was not following the law.
A bench of Justices BR Gavai, Prashant Kumar Mishra and KV Viswanathan summoned Kumar personally for September 9 noting that his statements in affidavit were prima facie contemptuous. "We prima facie find such comments to be contemptuous in nature. We direct the Additional Chief Secretary to remain present before this court on September 9 and show cause as to why contempt be not initiated against him," said the bench. It prima facie found the statements in the affidavit to be contemptuous in nature and issued the contempt notice. When the bench was informed that the affidavit was filed by Additional Secretary, Justice Gavai remarked, "What sort of IAS officer is he?." The top court was hearing a matter relating to the compliance with its earlier order directing State of Maharashtra to provide reasonable compensation to people in connection with denotification of forest land at Pashan, Pune. During the hearing, the bench accused the State government of employing "dilly-dallying tactics" and warned of halting the 'Ladki Behna Yojna' today itself. "Do you want us to stop Ladki Behna today itself? What is this you are not at all serious and taking the court for a ride that is the impression. Don't be under any bonafide impression. Even affidavit was not proper," said the bench. Earlier also, the top court had said that it will stop freebies of State government like the 'Ladki Behna Yojna' if it does not pay up the compensation. (ANI)
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