In a key development, the Madras High Court on Thursday suspended a one-month simple imprisonment sentence handed to senior IAS officer Anshul Mishra (2004 batch, Tamil Nadu cadre) in a contempt of court case linked to a long-standing land dispute.
A Division Bench comprising Justices M.S. Ramesh and V. Lakshminarayanan granted the interim relief while directing Mr. Mishra to deposit ₹25,000 with the court’s Registrar (Judicial) within three weeks. The matter is now scheduled for the next hearing on July 21, 2025.
The Bench clarified that the deposit order does not reflect adversely on Mr. Mishra’s service record, which otherwise remains clean.
Background: Contempt Over Delayed Decision in Land Reconveyance Case
The contempt proceedings arose from a petition filed by two elderly siblings, R. Lalithambal and K.S. Viswananthan, who have been fighting a prolonged legal battle to reclaim a portion of land acquired by the Tamil Nadu government in 1983. The 17 cents of land, located near Nesapakkam Road in Chennai, was acquired for Tamil Nadu Housing Board projects but remained unused for decades.
Following court intervention, the government reconveyed 10.5 cents to the petitioners but retained 6.5 cents for road widening. Dissatisfied, the siblings approached the court again. On November 22, 2023, Justice P. Velmurugan directed Mr. Mishra—then serving as Member Secretary of the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA)—to consider the reconveyance plea and issue appropriate orders within two months.
When the order was not implemented within the given timeframe, the petitioners filed a contempt plea.
Court Criticizes Delay, Finds Officer Guilty of Contempt
Although the CMDA eventually complied after the contempt petition was filed, the court expressed serious concern over the delay. Justice Velmurugan ruled that the nearly two-year delay exemplified a recurring pattern of bureaucratic indifference toward judicial directives. He held Mr. Mishra in contempt and sentenced him to one month of simple imprisonment, which was initially stayed for a month to allow time for appeal.
Appeal Admitted, Sentence Put on Hold
Mr. Mishra challenged the sentence in the High Court. The Division Bench on Thursday suspended the jail term pending a final decision, with the case to be heard again on July 21, 2025.
