Hyderabad High Court wants state-level panel to help out farmers

Hyderabad: The Hyderabad High Court on Monday suggested to the AP and TS governments to constitute a state-level farmers commission to prevent farmers’ suicides. A division bench comprising acting Chief Justice Dilip B. Bhosale and Justice S.V. Bhatt made the observation while hearing PILs filed separately by Vyavasaya Jana Chaitanya Samithi, Pakala Srihari Rao and others challenging the inaction of the state governments in curbing farmers’ suicides in Telangana and AP.

S. Sharath Kumar, special counsel for Telangana, placed the suggestions made by intellectuals, agricultural scientists, petitioners and other stakeholders in a meeting conducted by the Telangana state government on farmers’ suicides. After perusing the suggestions, the bench said many of the participants have made valuable and meaningful suggestions for the welfare of the farmers’. If the suggestions are implemented there would be improvement of conditions of the farming community in both states.

It was of the opinion that there should be a deeper examination of the suggestions as some of them are related to policy matters and some of them related to financial issues, the bench expressed displeasure at the AP government for not making an effort like Telangana. P. Venugopal, advocate general of AP, placed a report explaining the steps being taken to prevent farmers’ suicides. The bench adjourned the hearing for six weeks to enable both the states to initiate steps in accordance with the suggestions made by intellectuals and others.

Plea against TRS MLA dismissed
The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed a plea questioning the right of TRS Vemulavada MLA Chennamaneni Ramesh to cast his vote in the MLC elections from MLA constituencies in August 2015.

The court delivered the verdict after going through the verdicts filed by Mr Ramesh and the election commission. The plea had been filed by Mr Adi Srinivas, who had lost to Mr Ramesh in the elections. Earlier, on September 14 last, the court had pulled up the MLA for casting his vote despite a conditional stay on his election pending before it.

On Monday, the bench dismissed the petition stating the reasons to restrain Mr Ramesh from voting in Assembly proceedings were limited to his earlier term between 2009-14, and not his current term. Mr Srinivas had alleged that Mr Ramesh had obtained his Indian citizenship in a fraudulent manner by giving false information.

He said Section 5(1) of the Indian Citizenship Act entitles a person to apply for Indian citizenship if he resides in India for a continuous period of 365 days.

Mr Srinivas had alleged that Mr Ramesh had stayed in the country only for 91 days but had secured his citizenship through fraudulent means. He subsequently contested and won in the 2009 elections.

Set up panel for  sand mining: High Court
The Hyderabad High Court on Monday sought to know from the governments of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana about the progress on its suggestion to set up a high powered committee headed by a retired High Court judge to deal with complaints of illegal sand mining.

A division bench comprising acting Chief Justice Dilip B. Bhosale and Justice S.V. Bhatt while dealing with a PIL seeking to direct the authorities to stop illegal mining in Guntur district asked counsels for both states about the progress in constituting the committee.

Earlier the bench had suggested to the governments to set up the committee according it powers to cancel the sand mining licences if the lease holders turn out to be the errant players.

High Court raps Telangana on state schools
Maintaining that the situation in government schools will improve only when a judicial order is passed directing government officials to send their children to state-run schools, the Hyderabad High Court on Monday granted time to furnish all the details with regard to availability of teachers and facilities in certain schools in Mahbubnagar district.

A division bench comprising acting Chief Justice Dilip B. Bhosale and Justice S V Bhatt was dealing with a taken up case based on 1,667 letters of the students of Boyyalagudem upper primary school and other students in Kesavaram, Chintala Kunta, Mittadoddi, Yellamdoddi, Chagadona and Argigadda of Mahbubnagar district.

M Vijay Kumar Goud advocate of High Court who has been asked to assist the court to deal the matter submitted a report after making a surprise visit to the concerned schools in Mahabubnagar district to ascertain whether teachers are available in them.

He brought to the notice of the court that many of students complained about lacking of furniture, drinking water, toilets and other basic facilities.
He said that they also complained about non-availability of English and Hindi teachers and non –supply of school uniform and books.

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