The Telangana government’s decision to bear the legal expenses of CMO official Smita Sabharawal was challenged in Hyderabad High Court.

Vatsala Vidyasagar, a social activist, filed a PIL in the Court urging the court to quash the GO issued by Telangana government sanctioning Rs 15 lakh to meet the legal expenses in the defamation case the IAS officer filed against the magazine Outlook. Smita filed the defamation suit against the magazine for publication of objectionable snippet along with a cartoon that allegedly bordered on obscenity.

According to the petitioner the GO was unconstitutional. The GO, issued on August 20, only stated the refund of the amount if she wins the case. But, the GO was silent on what if the case is lost. So, the petitioner argued that spending public money on meeting the legal expenses in cases meant to settle the personal scores by officers is unconstitutional and unlawful. She requested the court to quash the government order.