Maharashtra Home Minister tenders unconditional apology before HC

Mumbai, Apr 28 (UNI) Maharashtra Home Minister Sidhram Mhetre has tendered an unconditional apology before the Bombay High Court for not obeying the court directive for relocating a school run by a Trust headed by him in Solapur District.

The apology was tended last week before Justice S R Sathe, who was hearing a contempt petition filed by Mhetre's political rival, S M Patil, who is the President of Dayanand Sagar Shikshan Prasarak Mandal, and also running a school at Korsegaon village in Solapur District.

According to the petition filed by Patil, Mhetre was running Sidhram Mhetre Prasarak Mandal, an educational institution, which was relocated from Akkalkot village to Korsegaon only on paper with an aim to close down the petitioner's school.

Advocate S G Kudle, appearing on behalf of the petitioner, alleged that according to the village population there was no need for other schools in Korsegaon. Also, Mhetre's school was also non-existent.

During the hearing of the petition, the court had directed the concerned education officer to file an affidavit in this regard.

On October 26 last year, a division bench comprising Justices H L Gokhale and R S Dalvi, after examining the papers and hearing both the sides, directed Mhetre to close down his so-called school and relocate the same at Akkalkot.

However, it was not relocated following which the petitioner had filed a contempt petition, alleging that despite court directives, Mhetre had not obeyed the directive hence he is liable to be prosecuted under the Contempt of Court Act.

Meanwhile, Mhetre in the apology has stated that recently he had closed down his school, but the same was contested by the petitioner on the grounds that it was still in existence on paper.

The court, however, recorded the statement made by the petitioner and adjourned the further hearing after the vacation in June.

UNI XR-ARM KD PR BD2007