The Madras High Court Bench here has accepted an unconditional apology and pardoned Revenue Divisional Officer (Madurai) M. Senthilkumari for not appearing before the court despite issuance of a statutory notice in a contempt of court application.
Disposing of the application, Justices S. Manikumar and G. Chockalingam said that they had summoned the officer and explain as to why an order passed by the court in June 2013 to issue community certificates to two children of a writ petitioner was not complied with.
“The statutory notice issued on the contempt application was acknowledged but she did not appear on the appointed date. On verification of the contempt notice, it came to light that M. Singaravelan, Revenue Assistant (L-Section), had received the contempt notice.
“Hence, further orders were issued directing the RDO to be present in the court along with Mr. Singaravelan. Pursuant to the above direction, both the individuals appeared before this court and separate affidavits have been filed by them,” the judges said.
In his affidavit, the Revenue Assistant accepted to have received the statutory notice issued in the contempt petition. He also stated that he failed to place the notice before the RDO immediately since he was not aware of its importance and pleaded with the court to pardon him. The RDO also reiterated the same stand in her affidavit and tendered unconditional apology for not appearing on time. She also stated that the orders passed by the court in 2013 were complied with after the receipt of the statutory notice. The judges recorded her submission and closed the contempt application.
