Telangana told to explain delay for debt relief panel

Hyderabad: The Hyderabad High Court on Friday expressed displeasure at the Telangana government’s failure to co-nstitute a Telangana State Commission for Debt Relief despite its assurance to the court that the commission would be constituted. 

A division bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Ramesh Ranganathan and Justice J. Uma Devi dealt with a case of contempt filed by senior BJP leader N. Indrasena Reddy. 

Mr Reddy informed the court that on August 21, 2017, the state government had assured the court that it would constitute a State Commission for Debt Relief (for small farmers, agricultural labourers and rural artisans) within three months.

The bench asked the chief secretary to explain why the court should not issue contempt proceedings agai-nst him for failing to file the affidavit despite its notice. 

Y. Balaji, counsel for the petitioner, told the court that the three-month period ended in November 2017, and when the petitioner filed the case of contempt in December, the government sought an extension of two months, which was not granted by the court.

He said that despite the occurrence of farmer suicides in the state, the government did not take any steps to constitute the commission. 

The counsel for the state government requested the court to grant another three months for the constitution of the commission. 

S. Sharath Kumar, special counsel for the state government, said the process of constitution of the commission was underway and that they needed some more time for completion of the process. 

The bench pointed out that when the original three-month period ended, on November 21, 2017, the state government had       not filed an application seeking an extension, and sought an explanation for the same. 

While directing the chief secretary to file a counter affidavit within two weeks, the bench adjourned the matter.