The Indian Express: Hyderabad: Thursday, 11 December 2025.
In 2023, Vaddam Shyam had filed an RTI application seeking information on an occupancy certificate issued by the then chief city planner of the Serilingampally zone.
The Telangana High Court
has issued notices to Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC)
Commissioner R V Karnan and his predecessor K Ilambarithi in a contempt
proceeding and directed the two IAS officers to file a counter-affidavit on or
before January 9, 2026, failing which the court would impose Rs 10,000 towards
costs.
The contempt case against the two officials was filed by petitioner Vaddam Shyam for the alleged “wilful and deliberate disobedience” of a previous court order.
The court had previously directed the GHMC commissioner to dispose of Shyam’s RTI application the 2023 plea sought information on an occupancy certificate issued by the then chief city planner of the Serilingampally zone on merits and strictly in accordance with the RTI Act within four weeks.
On December 5, Justice Nagesh Bheemapaka, after hearing the arguments, passed an order directing the registry to issue notice to the respondents. The notice, dispatched on December 8, directs the respondents to “show cause as to why they should not be punished under the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971, for non-compliance of the aforesaid order”.
The notice directed the two IAS officers to show cause, either appearing in person or through advocate duly instructed, on January 9, 2026, at 10.30 am. “It is made clear that if the counter-affidavit is not filed on the date specified, the same shall not be accepted without payment of costs of Rs. 10,000/- to the Registrar (Judicial) by the respondents,” the order stated.
The court warned that if they fail to appear or respond, the case will be heard and determined ex parte. The matter is now listed on January 9, 2026.
In 2023, Vaddam Shyam had filed an RTI application seeking information on an occupancy certificate issued by the then chief city planner of the Serilingampally zone.
The contempt case against the two officials was filed by petitioner Vaddam Shyam for the alleged “wilful and deliberate disobedience” of a previous court order.
The court had previously directed the GHMC commissioner to dispose of Shyam’s RTI application the 2023 plea sought information on an occupancy certificate issued by the then chief city planner of the Serilingampally zone on merits and strictly in accordance with the RTI Act within four weeks.
On December 5, Justice Nagesh Bheemapaka, after hearing the arguments, passed an order directing the registry to issue notice to the respondents. The notice, dispatched on December 8, directs the respondents to “show cause as to why they should not be punished under the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971, for non-compliance of the aforesaid order”.
The notice directed the two IAS officers to show cause, either appearing in person or through advocate duly instructed, on January 9, 2026, at 10.30 am. “It is made clear that if the counter-affidavit is not filed on the date specified, the same shall not be accepted without payment of costs of Rs. 10,000/- to the Registrar (Judicial) by the respondents,” the order stated.
The court warned that if they fail to appear or respond, the case will be heard and determined ex parte. The matter is now listed on January 9, 2026.
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