Gujarat HC Rebukes Vadodara Collector While Police Crush Rs 2 Crore in Seized Liquor
Vadodara made legal headlines this week as the Gujarat High Court sharply rebuked district collector Anil Dhamelia, refusing to accept his apology over remarks made against a sitting judge. Separately, Vadodara police carried out a court-ordered destruction of seized illegal liquor worth over Rs 2 crore at the Darjipura area, reinforcing the city administration's ongoing efforts against prohibition violations.
🗳️ Gujarat HC Calls Vadodara Collector Affidavit Scandalous Over Remarks Against Judge
The Gujarat High Court delivered a sharp rebuke to the Vadodara district collector this week, rejecting his apology over remarks he allegedly made against a sitting judge. Justice Niral Mehta of the Gujarat High Court called collector Anil Dhamelia's submitted affidavit scandalous, signaling that a mere expression of regret falls far short of what the court expects. The bench told the collector to keep his bureaucratic conduct confined to his office and out of the judiciary's affairs, invoking the pointed admonition to keep bureaucracy out of the courtroom. The court also called upon the state's disciplinary authority to explain what action it intended to take against the collector, warning that the matter could escalate to a formal departmental inquiry if the response was inadequate. The case highlights growing concern about the relationship between executive officials and the judiciary in Gujarat. Courts have been increasingly assertive in holding government officers accountable for statements and conduct deemed disrespectful to the bench. The incident has drawn significant attention from legal circles across the state, with the High Court's stern language signaling that contemptuous behavior toward judges cannot be remedied by simply tendering an apology. The disciplinary authority's formal response is expected to determine whether departmental proceedings are initiated against Dhamelia, making this a closely watched governance and judicial accountability matter in Gujarat. [1]
🗳️ Vadodara Police Crush Over Rs 2 Crore in Seized Illegal Liquor at Darjipura
Vadodara police carried out a large-scale court-ordered destruction of seized illegal liquor on Friday, October 23, in the Darjipura area of the city. The operation saw liquor worth approximately Rs 2 crore crushed using heavy machinery deployed at an open area, with JCB machines and rollers systematically breaking the bottles. The seizure had been made across multiple police stations operating under DCP Zone-4 in Vadodara, namely the Karelibag, Harni, Bapod, and Sama stations. The seized stock had been kept in an open space at Darjipura pending the court's formal permission for its disposal. Once the court order was obtained, officials from the relevant departments assembled at the site to supervise the entire destruction process, ensuring legal compliance throughout. The use of heavy machinery underscored the significant volume of liquor involved in the operation, with vast quantities processed in a single session. The move was part of Vadodara police's ongoing legal disposal process for contraband goods seized during anti-liquor enforcement drives. Gujarat is a prohibition state, and the periodic court-authorized destruction of seized liquor stocks is a standard law enforcement practice. The action was highlighted as evidence of the police's continued commitment to enforcing prohibition laws and disposing of illegal contraband through proper judicial channels. [9]
Sources: [1] Deccan Herald · [9] Gujarat Samachar