Four officials were arrested after their alleged negligence led to leakages in the district court and flooding in judges’ quarters here on Friday.
City Municipal Council commissioner Shakeel Ahmed, Public Works Department executive engineer Malli Shashikant and two other engineers Shivaraj Patil and Mukthar A. Ahmed were arrested following the orders of Hanchate Sanjiv Kumar, Principal District and Sessions Judge. They were released on bail by evening.
Judges were unable to conduct business for some time after water started leaking from a roof level ventilator. Advocates said the glass fixed to the ventilator had been broken and they were not replaced.
Staying at home
Twin quarters on Janawada Road were flooded early morning. Two judges who reside in them had to stay home.
The district judge ordered the police to book cases against the officers, as they had failed to maintain and repair the structures, despite several reminders. Cases under IPC 426, 427, 432 and 288 (causing mischief and negligence) were filed against them. By evening, the officers were released after they produced personal bonds of Rs 40,000 and an undertaking each.
An engineer who in not involved in the case, said the judicial quarters on Janawada Road was very old and had no basement built of trap stone.
They were built at least 35 years ago. Later, when the road in front of their houses was upgraded to Wanamarapalli -Raichur State Highway, the level of the road was raised. This led to flooding of the front yard of the houses. “Our officers, however, could have built drains and a large ground level sump in front of the houses to drain out water during excess rainfall. This did not happen, as it was never planned,” he said.
Official quarters of two judges were flooded after water started leaking from a roof level ventilator
