Contempt notice to tribunal officer

HYDERABAD: High court judge L Narasimha Reddy has issued a contempt notice to E Jacob R Daniel, presiding officer of the Debts Recovery Tribunal, Hyderabad and the chief manager of the Indian Bank asking them to explain why they should not be proceeded against for contempt of court.The judge was dealing with a plea by Kishore Pokala challenging a GO not to register a property on Road No. 10, Banjara Hills belonging to N Sarasa Devi, the alleged mastermind in Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan scam.The petitioner claimed that he had purchased the property in an auction by the Indian Bank and when he approached the Joint Sub-Registrar I, Hyderabad (South), he refused to register it as it was under attachment by the Crime Investigation Department (CID).Earlier, the CID approached the Chief Judge, City Civil Court and secured orders to attach the property which Sarasa Devi allegedly acquired with diverted public funds. The Debt Recovery Tribunal allowed the bank to auction the property mortgaged by Sarasa Devi as she failed to repay the loan. The Tribunal held that the order of the civil court was not binding on the bank and was invalid. After seeking assistance from special counsel for the government N Sridhar Reddy, the judge decided to initiate proceedings for the blatant violation of orders of the Civil Court.