Telangana in war mode for High Court

Hyderabad: The Telangana government is intensifying pressure on the Governor and the Central government for setting up a separate High Court for Telangana.

Peeved at the Centre’s indifference, TRS parliamentary party leaders met Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan on Thursday and requested him to take up the matter with the Centre as well as Andhra Pradesh government immediately.

TRS MPs announced they would stall the monsoon session of Parliament beginning July 21 till the Centre sets up separate High Courts for Telangana and Andhra Pradesh as per Constitutional norms at par with other states in the country.

The TRS parliamentary party led by TRS secretary general and parliamentary party leader K. Kesava Rao, who led the MPs delegation to the Governor, expressed dismay over the delay in bifurcation of the HC and sought his intervention.

“Every state should have its own High Court according to the Constitution. We brought the issue to the notice of the Governor since he has to take the initiative, adhere to Constitutional norms and is a link between the state and the Centre. We reminded him of the letters written by Union law minister Sadanand Gowd to the Governor and AP Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu where he asked them to take immediate steps for bifurcation of the High Court,” Dr Rao said.

According to B. Vinod Kumar, TRS deputy floor leader, the Governor told the delegation that he would speak to AP Chief Minister and ask him as to where he would set up the High Court. “He promised to take necessary measures in this regard,” Vinod Kumar added.

Mr Kumar alleged that Telangana lawyers and people do not seem to have faith in the present High Court and lawyers have been protesting for long for a separate HC.

TRS Lok Sabha floor leader A.P. Jitender Reddy said they told the Governor that the High Court bifurcation was delayed due to malafide intention and they would request the Centre during the parliament session to divert all Telangana cases from Andhra judges till the High Court is bifurcated.

“The High Court which heard a PIL recently said AP should take steps to have its own High Court. AP CM should take steps within six months. But AP did not adhere to constitutional norms,” Dr Keshava Rao alleged.