Hyderabad, Oct. 7 -- The Telangana High Court on Tuesday, October 6, pulled up state officials for sitting on its orders and warned that any officer seeking exemption from appearing before it on flimsy grounds would face an arrest warrant the same day.

Justice CV Bhaskar Reddy was particularly displeased that Chief Commissioner of Land Administration (CCLA) D Lokesh Kumar had sought to be excused from a hearing because he was accompanying a minister on an official tour.

"If such an exemption petition is filed again, it would be rejected the same day and an arrest warrant would be issued," the judge said, adding that court cases should not be taken lightly.

The court was hearing a contempt petition filed by M Vijayasimha Reddy of Musara...