Telangana High Court Demands Answers on Three-Year Payment Delay to Fish Seed Suppliers
The Telangana High Court delivered a stern rebuke to the state government on Friday, demanding to know how many more years it would require to settle outstanding bills owed to contractors who supplied fish seeds. This inquiry came despite the issuance of a Budget Release Order (BRO) specifically allocated for these payments.
Judicial Shock and Contempt Proceedings
Justice T. Madhavi Devi, presiding over the case, expressed profound shock at the inordinate delay in clearing the dues. The judge highlighted that payments had not been made even after explicit court directives and the initiation of contempt of court proceedings against officials found negligent in their duties.
The court was hearing a batch of contempt petitions filed by the aggrieved seed suppliers. During a previous hearing, Justice Devi had ordered the personal appearance of Finance Secretary Sandeep Kumar Sultania to explain the persistent delays.
Government's Request Denied, Final Deadline Set
Government counsel informed the court that Sultania could not appear due to preparations for the upcoming state budget. They requested a four-week extension to issue tokens to the suppliers and subsequently process the payments. Tokens are formal documents issued to payees after the government clears bills for payment.
The court firmly declined this request. However, Justice Devi granted a final four-week period for the government to complete all payments and submit a compliance report. While Sultania's appearance on Friday was dispensed with, the judge directed that he must be present in court on the next hearing date if the compliance report is not filed. The matter has been adjourned to March 6 for further proceedings.
Financial Hardship and Government Response
During the hearing, the petitioners' counsel, DL Pandu, detailed the extreme financial distress faced by the suppliers for over three years due to the non-payment of their legitimate dues. This prolonged delay has severely impacted their livelihoods and business operations.
In response, government counsel stated that Budget Release Orders for amounts totaling ₹8 crore and ₹17.3 crore had indeed been issued. They argued that some time was needed to issue tokens and additional time to finally disburse the payments.
Court's Stern Observations on Accountability
Justice Devi pointed out a troubling pattern observed in many cases, where the implementation of court orders only begins after contempt proceedings are initiated and officials are summoned to court. The judge noted that ample opportunities had already been provided to the authorities since the contempt petitions were filed in July 2025.
Emphasizing that requesting more time at this juncture was inappropriate, the court underscored that these payments were for seeds supplied three years ago and were not any form of gratuitous payment to the petitioners. The judge's remarks reinforced the principle of judicial accountability and the necessity for timely compliance with court directives to uphold the rule of law.
