HC admits contempt petition against Minister

Mumbai, Aug 18 (UNI) Bombay High Court has admitted a contempt petition against Minister of State for Home Siddharam Mhetre, for not closing down a school despite the orders of the court.

The contempt petition was moved by Dnyansagar Sikshan Prasarak Mandal and Bahuddeeshiya Sanstha, Solapur constituted attorney Sidramappa Malkappa Patil.

The petition was admitted yesterday by Justice D G Karnik and would come up for hearing on September 13.

Justice Karnik observed that a prima-facie ''breach of order of the division bench is established.'' Petitioner's advocate S G Kudle pointed out that the act of the Minister was a clear violation of Bombay High Court's order of October 26, 2005, which asked the school to close down.

He said the Minister allegedly exercised his influence and power on the Government to shift a non-functioning school at Korsegaon where his political rival (Sidramappa Patil's) school is functioning. The petitioner's school is functioning since the academic year 2000-01 at Korsegaon.

However, Mr Mhetre, with a view to cause obstruction to the functioning of the petitioner's school, abdicated his duty by taking law in his own hands, Mr Kudle alleged.

Mr Mhetre had obtained permission to start a secondary school at Akkalkot in 2000-01, but the school has not seen the light of the day. Later he succeeded in shifting the school to Korsegaon in a bid to liquidate his political rival.

However, the court foiled this attempt on October 26 last year by asking him to close down the school. But, he allegedly did not do so and the same was viewed seriously of the court, hence, the admission of the contempt petition, Mr Kudle said.

The contempt petition being admitted is yet another blow to the Congress-NCP Government in the State, as in the past former Transport Minister Surupsinh Naik had to resign and undergo imprisonment for contempt of the Supreme Court.

Mr Kudle pointed out that it was their case that the Minister did not start functioning of his school - Siddharam Mhetre Prashala - at Akkalkot at any point of time. And despite that, misusing his powers, he succeeded in getting shifted the said school at Korsegaon. The said order of shifting has been quashed and set aside by the High Court.

Mr Mhetre continued functioning of the school by way of allowing students to appear in the SSC examination in March this year, Mr Kudle further alleged.

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