HC recalls order imposing costs on two ministers

Mumbai, Sep 21 (UNI) The Bombay High Court today recalled its earlier order imposing costs of Rs 5,000 each on two ministers in the State Cabinet -- Cooperation and Rehabilitation Minister Patangrao Kadam and Irrigation Minister Ajit Pawar -- and two state officials, after all of them tendered an unconditional apology.

A division bench comprising Justices J N Patel and Amjad Sayyad had on September 5 directed the ministers as well as the Rehabilitation Secretary and Collector of Ratnagiri district to pay a cost of Rs 5,000 each for failing to file a reply on a public interest litigation seeking rehabilation of 400 families affected due to Poysar dam in Ratnagiri district.

The state government had moved an application tendering unconditional apology on behalf of all of them, saying that the delay in filing reply was caused due to technical difficulties at the High Court level and was not deliberate. The court today accepted their apology and recalled the September 5 order.

UNI