Madras High Court overturns one-month jail term for IAS officer

The Madras High Court overturned a one-month jail sentence imposed on IAS officer Anshul Mishra for contempt of court.

The case arose from a dispute over land in Chennai that two siblings have sought to reclaim for years.

The land was acquired in 1983 for public housing, but about 6.5 cents was kept for widening Nesapakkam Road after 10.5 cents was returned to the siblings.

In 2023, a judge directed an authority to consider their request, but the court found Mishra had complied before formal notice in the contempt case was issued.

The appeal judges said jail was unwarranted, while expressing strong displeasure at a delay of more than 18 months.

The appeal ruling lets Mishra withdraw ₹25,000 he had deposited during the case; the sources describe no further step.