APHC010219962025 IN THE HIGH COURT OF ANDHRA PRADESH AT AMARAVATI [3329]

(Special Original Jurisdiction)

FRIDAY,THE TWENTY EIGHTH DAY OF NOVEMBER TWO THOUSAND AND TWENTY FIVE PRESENT THE HONOURABLE SRI JUSTICE VENKATESWARLU NIMMAGADDA CONTEMPT CASE NO: 2280/2025 Between:

1. P ALLI KUMAR RAJA, S/O. ADIYYA, AGED 46 YEARS, R/O. D. NO.4-

181, VANAPALLI , KOTHAPALLI MANDAL, DR. B.R. AMBEDKAR KONASEEMA DISTRICT.

...PETITIONER AND

1. B ONTHU SRINIVASA RAO, THE EXECUTIVE ENGINEER, WATER RESOURCES DEPARTMENT, GODAVARI CENTRAL DIVISION, AMALAPURAM, DR. B R AMBEDKAR KONASEEMA DISTRICT.

2. A NIL KUMAR SINGHAL, PRINCIPAL SECRETARY, FINANCE DEPARTMENT, GOVERNMENT OF ANDHRA PRADESH, SECRETARIAT BUILDINGS, VELAGAPUDI, AMARAVATHI, GUNTUR DISTRICT.

3. R MAHESH KUMAR, DISTRICT COLLECTOR, DR. B.R. AMBEDKAR KONASEEMA DISTRICT, AMALAPURAM.

...CONTEMNOR(S):

Petition under Sections 10 to 12 of Contempt of Courts Act 1971 praying that in the circumstances stated in the affidavit file herein the High Court may be pleased to pleased to punish the respondent under Sec.10 to 12 of Contempt of Court Act for deliberate and willful violation of the orders dated 04-11-2023 passed in WP. No. 15627 of 2023passed by this Hon'ble Court and pass IA NO: 1 OF 2025 Petition under Section 151 CPC praying that in the circumstances stated in the affidavit filed in support of the petition, the High Court may be pleased pleased to condone the delay of 81 days in re-presenting the appeal and pass IA NO: 2 OF 2025 Petition under Section 151 CPC praying that in the circumstances stated in the affidavit filed in support of the petition, the High Court may be pleased pleased to dispense With the filing of the certified copy of the petition in W.P.

No. 15627 of 2023 and pass Counsel for the Petitioner: 1. T V S PRABHAKARA RAO Counsel for the Contemnor(S):

1. .

The Court made the following:

THE HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE VENKATESWARLU NIMMAGADDA CONTEMPT CASE NO:2280 OF 2025

ORDER:

This contempt case is filed against the respondents for willful disobedience of the orders dated 04.11.2023 passed by this Court in W.P.No.15627 of 2023.

2. Heard the learned counsel for the petitioner.

3. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that this contempt case is filed alleging that orders of this Court dated 04.11.2023 are not complied with as directed by this Court.

4. On perusal of the petition filed by the petitioner, the orders of this Court were served upon the respondents on 19.01.2024. While disposing of the Writ Petition, this Court fixed six (06) weeks time period for release of the amount in favour of the petitioner and to comply with the orders of this Court dated 04.11.2023. If that is so, the order dated 04.11.2023 should be implemented on or before 02.03.2024. As per Section 20 of the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971 the contempt should be filed within a period of one year from the date when the contemptuous act said to have been committed by the respondents. Therefore, the contempt case should be filed on or before 02.03.2025, but admittedly this contempt case is filed on 24.04.2025 without assigning any reasons for the delay caused in sworn affidavit filed in support of the contempt case.

5. For better understanding Section 20 of the Contempt of Courts Act, is extracted hereunder:

“20. Limitation for actions for contempt.—No court shall initiate any proceedings of contempt, either on its own motion or otherwise, after the expiry of a period of one year from the date on which the contempt is alleged to have been committed.”

6. In view of the reasons stared above and on perusal of the Section 20 of the Act, 1971, the contempt case is not maintainable. Accordingly, the contempt case is closed. No order as to costs.

Consequently, Miscellaneous Petitions, if any, pending in the contempt case shall stand closed.

________________________________ VENKATESWARLU NIMMAGADDA, J

28.11.2025 BSP HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE VENKATESWARLU NIMMAGADDA (closed)

CONTEMPT CASE NO:2280/2025

28.11.2025 BSP