Andhra Pradesh High Court pulls up and fines residents of Ippatam for misleading it

Ippatam shot to fame a few days ago when Jana Sena chief Pawan Kalyan marched to the village in filmy style.

BySNV Sudhir

Published Nov 24, 2022 | 8:16 PMUpdatedNov 24, 2022 | 8:16 PM

Jana Sena chief Pawan Kalyan before his way to the Ippatam village in Andhra Pradesh on Saturday, 5 November, 2022. (Supplied)

In an interesting turn to the ongoing Ippatam demolition saga, the Andhra Pradesh High Court on Thursday, 24 November, reprimanded the petitioners who approached it over their demolished houses, and also imposed a fine of ₹1 lakh each on all 14 of them.

Ippatam village, of Tadepalli Mandal in Guntur district, shot to fame a few days ago when Jana Sena chief Pawan Kalyan marched to the village in filmy style, after portions of some houses were demolished by civic authorities citing road-widening and other developmental works.

Pawan Kalyan termed the demolitions an act of political vendetta by the YSRCP government in the state as Ippatam’s villagers had, in March this year, provided space to the Opposition Jana Sena to hold a public meeting to commemorate the party’s foundation day.

Judge comes down heavily on petitioners

The state’s counsel had earlier informed the court that notices had been duly served before the demolitions and provided proof, which led to Justice Ravi Nath Tilhari ordering the petitioners to appear in person on Thursday.

Of the 14 petitioners, 11 were present in court on Thursday, and they admitted that notices were served, but said they were not aware of the contents. They also said they had not informed to their advocate about this.

Justice Tilhari responded by saying that facts were being suppressed and that it was a serious matter. The petitioners had misled the court and got an interim order issued, which cannot be entertained, he said.

The judge also warned the advocate that the court would not entertain such practices, and that it was his duty to verify the details.

Imposing a fine of ₹1 lakh on each petitioner for misleading the court, and directing that the amount be paid to the Legal Services Authority, the judge disposed of the matter without initiating contempt proceedings against the petitioners.

The issue involved Tadepalli municipal officials serving notices on several Ippatam property owners on 21 May that their houses would be demolished as they were built on encroached land. The land was needed for a road expansion project, they said.

On Wednesday, the house owners’ attorney testified before the court and acknowledged that the government had sent some of them notices via post and in person.

A furious Justice Tilhari had asked for a halt in the proceedings and ordered the petitioners to appear personally before the court on Thursday.

They were asked to justify their action and show cause why contempt of court proceedings should not be initiated against them for misuse of the legal system.

Pawan walked to Ippatam in filmy style

In an impromptu gesture that took everyone by surprise, Jana Sena supremo Pawan Kalyan — who was prevented from travelling to the village by car by the state police —  walked almost 3 kms to reach Ippatam on Saturday, 5 November, to stand in solidarity with its residents after civic authorities, a day before, had razed portions of at least 50 houses using heavy machinery and JCBs.

While the civic authorities claimed that the compound walls of some houses were demolished to make way for road expansion, Pawan Kalyan accused the YS Jagan Mohan Reddy government in the state of engaging in political vendetta.

In March, when no one came forward to spare land to let the Jana Sena hold its formation day meeting, a group of Ippatam residents offered 13 acres of land.

Ippatam has a population of 4,120 and 1,277 households, and Pawan Kalyan has been visiting the village or meeting its residents frequently.

He also celebrated his birthday in his party office at Mangalagiri with the residents of this village. Pawan Kalyan also donated ₹50 lakh of his own money to development works in Ippatam.

Tadepalli Municipal Commissioner U Sarada Devi said encroachers had been informed several times since April this year to remove demarcated structures built on encroached land.

“The structures demolished or removed were majorly compound walls and commercial constructions made by the encroachers on the road in front of their houses,” she said.