The Hindu : Court calls for action against top official

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, May 03, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Andhra Pradesh

Court calls for action against top official

By Our Legal Correspondent

HYDERABAD MAY 2. J. Chalameshwar, a judge of the High Court, found fault with the action of Bharat Chandra, Principal Secretary, Home Department, State of Andhra Pradesh in entering a police station and confiscating the case diary in October last and directed the Chief Secretary to take action against him.

The judge was dealing with a writ petition filed by Kanthi Paper Products which was the complainant in a crime registered against a local businessman Mukund Kakani. It may be recalled that Bharatchandra, holding the post of Home Secretary, entered the Ramgopalpet Police Station, seized the Case Diary and the General Diary on October 26 and there were allegations that he had taken away the accused Mukund Kakani from the police station. The writ petitioner complained that the senior officer had no role to play when the crime was registered and the accused was being questioned by the police. The judge lamented that "the conduct of the Principal Secretary Home entering the police station and confiscating he CD and GD of Ramgopalpet Police Station is not only high handed but also illegal.''

The judge further declared that the senior office's action was not bona fide. The judge commented that the officer seemed to believe that he had unlimited powers and reminded everyone that in the present constitutional set-up no person had such powers.

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