Hyderabad: The Telangana High Court on Wednesday expressed dissatisfaction with senior IAS officer Sandeep Kumar Sultaniaover non-compliance with its earlier orders in a contempt case related to pending payments under the Mission Bhagiratha project.
The court’s observations came during the hearing of a petition filed by NCC Limited seeking release of over ₹180 crore in certified dues.
Court Pulls Up Officer Over Non-Compliance
The contempt proceedings stem from the alleged failure of the state government to clear long-pending dues despite clear judicial directions.
Sandeep Kumar Sultania, currently serving as Principal Secretary, Finance Department, was held accountable for not ensuring compliance with the court’s earlier order directing timely payment of dues.
Justice T. Madhavi Devi noted the delay and expressed displeasure over the lack of adherence to court directives.
Read also: Haryana Govt Transfers 2 IAS Officers; Anupama Anjali Named Mahendragarh DC
State Assures Partial Payment by April 23
Appearing for the state, Advocate General A. Sudarshan Reddy submitted that:
- At least 30% of the outstanding dues would be cleared by April 23, 2026
- A detailed schedule for clearing the remaining dues would be presented before the court
Taking note of this undertaking, the Court temporarily dispensed with the personal appearance of Sultania.
However, the Court issued a clear warning that failure to comply within the stipulated timeline would require his mandatory personal appearance on the next hearing date.
Matter Posted for Compliance Hearing
The case has been listed for April 28, 2026, when the Court will review compliance with its directions.
The contempt petition arises from a writ filed by NCC Limited, which claimed that despite issuance of payment tokens, dues amounting to over ₹180 crore remained unpaid for works executed under the Mission Bhagiratha project.
Earlier, the High Court had directed the State to clear the admitted dues within two months along with 6% annual interest. Alleging non-compliance, the company approached the Court again through contempt proceedings.
Who Is IAS Sandeep Kumar Sultania?
Sandeep Kumar Sultania is a senior Indian Administrative Service officer from the 1998 batch of the Telangana cadre, known for his strong financial and administrative expertise.
Personal Profile
- Date of Birth: November 20, 1971
- Hometown: Bihar, India
- Qualifications: Chartered Accountant (CA), Cost and Management Accountant (CMA), ICWAI
- Higher Education: Alumnus of Duke University
- Languages: English and Hindi
Key Administrative Roles
Over his career, Sultania has held several high-impact positions in the Telangana government, including:
- Principal Secretary, Finance Department
- Principal Secretary, Planning Department (recent assignment in 2026)
- Secretary, Energy Department
Also served as CMD of TS Genco and TS Transco
- Secretary/Principal Secretary, Panchayati Raj & Rural Development
- Secretary to the Chief Minister of Telangana
- Secretary, Sports and Youth Services
- District Collector, Karimnagar
- Senior roles in Transport, Tourism, and Animal Husbandry
Reputation and Expertise
Widely regarded for his financial acumen and administrative efficiency, Sultania’s background as a Chartered Accountant has been a key strength in managing complex fiscal responsibilities and policy planning in the state.
Read also: ‘Not a New Practice’: Supreme Court Backs ECI Transfer of Bengal IAS/IPS Officers Amid Elections
