Overview

• The Madras High Court revoked the Rs 1 lakh fine on July 10 after Commissioner J Kumaragurubaran offered an unconditional apology in person.
• The penalty had been imposed a day earlier for his failure to enforce the court’s December 2021 instructions on illegal constructions in Royapuram Zone 5 and other zones.
• The bench ordered the fine to be deducted from Kumaragurubaran’s salary and donated to the Adyar Cancer Hospital.
• Advocate and former councillor Rukmangathan filed the contempt petition that led to the hearing and the bench’s questioning of bureaucratic accountability.
• The resolution underscores the court’s reliance on personal appearances and apologies to enforce compliance, following similar contempt action against IAS officer Anshul Mishra in May.