Supreme Court refuses to stay bifurcation, adjourns hearing on petitions
Supreme Court of India (Photo: DC archives)
Hyderabad: As a big setback to leaders opposing the state’s bifurcation, the Supreme Court on Monday refused to stay the process of bifurcation and adjourned hearing on a batch of petitions challenging the Constitutional validity of the AP Re-Organisation Bill to August 20.
The three member bench comprising Justices H.L. Dattu, M.Y. Eqbal and S.A. Bobde partly heard the petitioners’ contention and issued notices to the Union government to file its counter within six weeks.
With this, the decks have been cleared for the Centre to go ahead with the Appointed Day on June 2, paving the way for the creation of the states of Telangana and residuary Andhra Pradesh.
The bench refused to grant a stay on the bifurcation process as pleaded by the petitioners. The court had taken up a batch of 24 petitions filed by several leaders including former Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy, Payyavula Kesav, Adusumilli Jayaprakash, Raghu Rama Krishna Raju and others who have been opposing the division of the state on grounds that due democratic and Constitutional processes were not followed in Parliament for the passage of the AP Reorganisation Bill 2014.
During Monday’s hearing, Rajahmundry MP Vundavalli Arun Kumar, who had enrolled himself as an advocate in the Supreme Court recently, argued on behalf of his petition, which was among the batch of petitions submitted, that while adopting the bifurcation Bill in Lok Sabha, the ruling party had acted in haste, and in an undemocratic way.
He pointed out that the government had even switched off live telecast and suspended members opposing the Bill. He pleaded with the apex court, which is vested with protection and preservation of Constitutional law, to come to the rescue and safeguard the interests of the state.
Rajahmundry MP vundavalli Arun Kumar appeals for justice
Rajahmundry MP Vundavalli Arun Kumar appealed to the Supreme Court for justice on bifurcation of the state. “If you cannot do justice, who else can do justice for us, how can we go back to the people?” Mr Vundavalli told the Bench as other lawyers too arose and asked for justice.
Intervening at this point, Justice Dattu said, “This is not the way, the court cannot be treated like a fish market; we cannot decide anything unilaterally, we will decide what to do next on August 20.”
This came as a setback for the Jai Samaikyandhra Party launched by former Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy who had addressed a number of election meetings in the state telling people that the Supreme Court would stall the bifurcation process in its next hearing (i.e. on Monday), which did not happen.
The Congress, as well as the Union government, however, would have been relieved with Monday’s proceedings as their decision to bifurcate the state was not questioned by the court. However, this might further affect the prospects of the Congress in Seemandhra whose candidates are suffering on account of the division.
( Source : dc )
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