A trial court in Vidisha district of Madhya Pradesh has attached the chair, furniture, computer and printer of the office of Sironj subdivisional magistrate (SDM) Harshal Chaudhary over noncompliance of its order to compensate farmers for land acquired by MP Road Development Corporation (MPRDC) around 13 years ago. Police and court officials carried out the attachment order on April 23.
The SDM office remained shuttered on Wednesday and Thursday.
SDM Chaudhary, an MPPSC topper now left seatless, ran into more trouble after he allegedly reacted to debates on social media on a pending appeal in high court in the same case to ‘save public funds’. He posted, “If I am attached, too, I am willingly ready.”
The district court considers this post as contempt and has issued a notice to the SDM, seeking a reply within three days. Sources say a screenshot of the SDM’s post was produced before the trial court.
“My intention was not to offend the court. I simply clarified some wrong messages being circulated in a closed social media group and I deleted it,” Chaudhary told TOI, adding that lawyers have informed the district court about the appeal in high court.
“We are taking legal advice from seniors and legal authorities on the matter,” said the SDM.
Thirteen years ago, the district court ruled in favour of five farmers, including Kapil Tyagi (an advocate), Ashok Jain, Omprakash Jha, Rupesh Yadav and Archana Bhargava. The administration proposed compensations amounting to around Rs 40,000 for Tyagi and Rs 30,000 for Jain.
However, subsequent court orders pushed these figures higher — Rs 1.9 crore for Tyagi and Rs 80 lakh for Jain. Substantial increments were observed in the compensations awarded to Jha, Yadav, and Bhargava.
The court’s ruling, delivered on Feb 27, 2023, mandated the Sironj SDM and MPRDC to disburse the augmented compensations. However, MPRDC challenged this verdict in high court, where the matter is being heard.