Judge breaks down in court

Narsapur (West Godavari): The District Additional Sessions Judge (Narsapur) P Kalyana Rao expressed his agony and anger over the supply of polluted drinking water to people of Narsapur and Palacole towns on Tuesday. He broke down and shed tears on the bench while reacting to the state of affairs in these two towns. He was moved by the plight of the people in respect to drinking water supply.

Justice Kalyana Rao entered the court hall around 10.30 am and started proceedings of the court. The court hall was packed to its capacity with lawyers and officials. From the beginning, the judge appeared serious. After the proceedings started, the judge poured out his feelings in the court hall. He showed the plight of present society through his laptop and read out some songs on the social awareness.

At one stage, he literally wept on the bench. He turned emotional and said, even after 69 years after Independence, we are not even in a position to supply protected drinking water to the people. He blamed the officials and people’s representatives for the apathy.

Behind the outburst of the judge, there was a reason. He had visited Palacole town to examine the arrangements of 10K Legal Run on Friday. He was accompanied by Palacole judicial officers P Kesavacharyulu and A Naga Sailaja. The local people met the judge and complained him that drainage water was leaking into drinking water supply lines and they were getting polluted water. Swiftly reacting on the problems of the Palacole people, the judge sought clarification from the Municipal Commissioner.

The Commissioner, K Sairam, explained the judge that Rs two lakh was needed to supply protected water to the people. Immediately, the judge directed the Sub-Collector, A S Dinesh Kumar, to submit report within three days after taking special steps to improve the sanitation and solving the drinking water problem.

Again, on Saturday, the judge, Kalyan Rao, along with Narsapur Senior Civil Judge P Kesavacharyulu reviewed the situation at Palacole. The judge was furious as there had been no steps taken to improve the drinking water supply and sanitation. The judge reiterated that it was the responsibility of the administration to see people get fresh air and protected water.

In this backdrop, on Tuesday, the judge literally wept on the Bench over the state of affairs in Palacole and Narsapur towns. The lawyers and others who were present in the court were stunned and shocked by the reaction of the judge.

After some time, the judge pacified and asked the Commissioners of Palacole and Narsapur towns to attend before him immediately.

The judge announced Rs1.5 lakh to each municipality towards his personal donation to settle the drinking water issue and the sanitation. He directed the municipal Commissioners of these two towns to submit their report on the action taken by 10.30 am on Friday. He warned the officials that the court would deal sternly with them, if they ignored their duties.

He handed over cheques for the sum donated to Nasapur and Palacole Municipal Commissioners Ramesh and Sairam respectively and directed them to take up the works on a war footing.

He informed the officials about the plight of 30,000 odd people at Sub-Registrar office area in Palacole town and it was not good on the part of officials to neglect such problems. He directed the Commissioners to submit the Action Taken Report (ATR) by Friday morning to the court.