Overview

• Justice Anil Kumar Jukanti set aside the cheating case against Vanapatla Kavitha, calling the district administration’s actions an overreach and an abuse of process.
• The court found the Collector had no jurisdiction to spur criminal proceedings and said the conduct reflected disrespect for the rule of law and infringed Article 21 liberties.
• Inquiries recorded by the court showed the Collector wrote to the RDO, who told the Tahsildar to lodge a complaint that led Vemulawada town police to register an IPC 420 FIR.
• The Bench directed the Chief Secretary to reprimand Collector Sandeep Kumar Jha and noted it was refraining from harsher action in view of his long tenure.
• The case traces back to a November 22, 2023 HC order recognizing Kavitha as eligible for R&R benefits, with her contempt plea over non-implementation and the state’s writ appeal still pending.