An IAS officer who wilfully disobeys a court order should be thrown behind the bars. The stinging observation has been made by the Madurai branch of the Madras High Court.
In such cases, held Justice S Vaidyanathan, “ Imposition of fine should only be secondary and imprisonment should be primary.” Justice Vaidyanathan was hearing a petition filed by one Mathavadiyan, seeking direction to the authorities to consider an appeal filed by him to make correction in the entries in his `patta’. Justice Vaidyanathan stated that officials should adhere to time limit while dealing with applications filed under Tamil Nadu Patta Passbook Act, 1983.
The Judge further held: “It is made clear that the time limit specified in law must be adhered to in disposing of the applications, failing which the authorities concerned will have to face departmental proceedings for their misdemeanor/ deviant/ misconduct, dereliction of duty, lack of devotion to work and lack of integrity, so as to deprive them of their entire terminal benefits, which will be an eye-opener for others not to follow the errant officials…If those applications are disposed of by the authorities concerned in time, the parties need not unnecessarily approach this court for such specific directions. It is not known as to why an order of the court is required for the authorities to do their job… for which salary is provided to them.’’
