Contempt Notice to School Education Commissioner

 Hyderabad: Justice T. Madhavi Devi of the Telangana High Court ordered notice to the commissioner and director of school education, Telangana, and others, in a contempt case filed against them. The judge was hearing a contempt case filed by E. Venkata Narasimha Murthy, working as a school assistant for Social Studies, ZPHS, RC Puram, Medak district. The petitioner alleged that the respondent authorities wantonly disobeyed the orders of the court. Earlier, the judge, on a writ plea filed by the petitioner, passed an interim direction to the respondent authorities for keeping on post unfilled in the cadre of Headmaster Grade II. The petitioner complained that despite orders, the respondent authorities failed to comply. The judge after hearing the petitioner posted the matter for further adjudication.

Trader complains of interference by Dundigal Municipality

Justice T. Vinod Kumar of the Telangana High Court took on file a writ plea complaining about the illegal restriction and obstruction of business in chicken waste by Dundigal Municipality and others. The judge was dealing with a writ plea filed by M/s Al Jafri Traders engaged in the business of purchasing, collecting and lifting of chicken wastage products in Dundigal and Medchal Malkajgiri district. The petitioner alleged that the respondents were restricting and obstructing his business. They also alleged that the respondents were arbitrarily interfering with the activities of their business in violation of various articles of the Constitution. After hearing from the petitioner, the judge directed the respondent authorities to file their reply within two weeks and posted the matter for further adjudication.

Civic bodies cannot unilaterally claim title to property: HC

A two-judge panel of the Telangana High Court ruled that it was for the civic authorities to establish their claim of a property being open land. The panel ruled that it was not open to shift the burden on a private citizen who claimed contra title to the property. The panel was hearing a PIL on the conversion of open space earmarked for the public park at Reddy Enclave, Alwal Village, and an individual writ petition challenging the action of the Deputy Commissioner in requiring the citizen to establish that the property in question was not open space. The panel, after perusing the material, quashed an order of the deputy commissioner, Alwal, declaring the 667 sq. yards of land at Reddy Enclave, Sri Venkateswara Colony, Alwal as open space.

HC admits plea for SC committee to verify authenticity of certificates

Justice Surepalli Nanda of the Telangana High Court took on file a writ plea seeking the appointment of a committee to decide claims of the social status of scheduled castes. The judge was hearing a writ plea filed by Telangana State Mala Maha Sabha president Chanda Laxman and several others. The petitioners sought a direction to the Principal Secretary of the Telangana Scheduled Castes Development Department and other departments for appointing a three-men committee, presided over by a retired High Court judge, to look into the claimed and unclaimed social status of SCs as per the Presidential orders in the SC list, published vide the Constitution Scheduled Castes Order 1950. The petitioners contended that the same needs to be done to avoid any illegal claims raised by persons not belonging to the SCs. Counsels representing respondent authorities sought time to file their response and accordingly the judge posted the matter for further adjudication.

Revenue official challenges punishment in case of illegal revenue entries

Justice Pulla Karthik of the Telangana High Court took on file a writ plea challenging the actions of the Telangana Chief Commissioner of Land Administration (CCLA) and the District Collector, Warangal, in unjustly imposing the punishment of stopping annual grade increments with cumulative effect. The judge was hearing a writ plea filed by Salvadi Sarveshwar, a village revenue officer in Warangal. The petitioner alleged that the District Collector imposed the punishment of stopping three annual grade increments with a cumulative effect based on a perverse inquiry report. He contended that the District Collector was predetermined that the petitioner was guilty of making illegal pahani entries to the extent of six acres. The petitioner further alleged that the CCLA in consequential appeal reduced the punishment to stoppage of two annual grade increments with cumulative effect thereby depriving the promotion of the petitioner for the post of senior assistant. The court directed the respondent authorities to file their response in four weeks.