VIJAYAWADA: The Andhra Pradesh high court on Wednesday issued a non bailable warrant (NBW) against agriculture department special chief secretary, Poonam Malakondaiah.
The high court had summoned Poonam Malakondaiah and others in a contempt case for personal appearance. As she neither appeared in person nor filed an application for dispensing with appearance, the high court took serious note and issued the NBW against her.
A group of 17 retired employees had moved the high court, contending inaction of the officials in implementing the high court’s orders. The petitioners who worked as full-time contingent employees since 1993, in the department of sericulture, earlier moved the high court seeking for regularisation of their service and pensionary benefits post retirement. The high court on February 28, 2020 passed orders in their favour and directed the state government to pay pensionary benefits.
They moved a contempt petition against the special chief secretary of the agriculture department, finance secretary and commissioner of sericulture for not complying with the court orders. The high court had earlier summoned the respondents for personal appearance.
On Wednesday, when the matter came up for hearing, only finance secretary S S Rawat and commissioner of sericulture Chiranjeevi Chowdary appeared before the court. The government pleader told the high court that they have filed an application for dispensing with appearance on behalf of Poonam Malakondaiah. However, the application was not found in the court records.
Justice Battu Devanand took a serious view of the issue and observed that the officials wilfully did not comply with the court’s orders. He said a final order will be given on September 29 and issued an NBW against Poonam Malakondiah.
