Shimla (Himachal Pradesh) [India], September 10 (ANI): The Himachal Pradesh High Court on Thursday issued notices to the chief secretary, commissioner of Shimla municipal corporation, deputy commissioner, and Superintendent of Shimla Police in a matter regarding the construction of illegal sheds on the government land in Downdale, Phagli, Shimla and intimidating the complainant-- who is a leprosy patient.

New Delhi Aug 23 PTI The Supreme Court Monday expressed shock over the conduct of Himachal Pradesh in litigating a sensitive matter relating to allegations of sexual assault by a man on his minor daughter and imposed a cost of Rs 25000 on the state for the delay in filling the plea before it The apex court noted the 636-day lag in filing of the petition by the state against the December 2018 judgement of the Himachal Pradesh High Court which acquitted the accused and said there was not even a semblance of explanation for the delayA bench of Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Hrishikesh Roy which said it would not dismiss the petition on limitation due to seriousness of the issue involved in it condoned the delay subject to cost of Rs 25000 to be deposited with the Supreme Court group C non-clerical employees welfare association within four weeksBut that is no excuse why the state should not be made accountable of such inordinate delay and the persons responsible for the same the bench said On our query as to what is the reason counsel seeks to contend it is because of COVID The order was passed on December 5 2018 and thus we asked the counsel as to which year was the world affected by COVID 2019 or 2020 to which counsels answer initially was 2019 possibly to cover the delay but realizing that it was 2020 he states that the papers were not received by him the bench noted in its orderThe top court directed the state to hold inquiry fix responsibility and recover the amount from the officers concerned for the delay and said the certificate of recovery should also be filed before itTo say the least we are shocked at the conduct of the petitioner-state and the manner of conducting the litigation in such a sensitive matter There is not even a semblance of explanation for delay the bench saidThe bench issued notice and sought response from the man who was acquitted in the case on the petition filed by the state challenging the high court verdictThe high court had delivered the verdict on an appeal filed by the man against the trial court August 2017 order convicting him for the alleged offences punishable under the provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences POCSO Act He was sentenced to 10 years jail by the trial court An FIR was lodged in July 2016 alleging that the accused had physically and sexually assaulted his minor daughter after the death of his wife The accused was arrested after the FIR was lodgedThe high court had allowed the appeal filed by the man against the trial court order saying the prosecution has failed to prove its case against the accused beyond all reasonable doubt PTI ABA SA