Hyderabad High Court notices on BE college fraud

Hyderabad: The Hyderabad High Court on Friday issued notices on a PIL seeking an inqury into alleged fraud committed by private engineering colleges in obtaining approval. The notices were issued to the Centre and the state government, the All India Technical Education Council and 92 private engineering colleges. A division bench comprising Justice V. Ramasubramanian and Justice M. Ganga Rao was dealing with a PIL by Quality Foundation, an NGO represented by its general secretary V. Praveen. The PIL stated that the engineering colleges had submitted forged documents and plans of constructions and the AICTE had granted approval without verifying the documents.

Mr Praveen informed the court that the NGO had lodged a complaint on June 26, 2017, with the AICTE informing it that the managements of 185 engineering colleges had got approval with forged documents and plans. He told the court that the NGO submitted proof that the managements had not obtained permission from the HMDA to construct the buildings nor sought urban land ceiling clearances. While issuing notices, the bench posted the case for hearing after four weeks.

PIL on seizure of Wakf papers: A public interest petition was moved before the Hyderabad High Court seeking to declare as illegal the seizure of Wakf Board office records and sealing of the office on the midnight of November 17. City advocate M.A.K. Mukheet, who moved the PIL. said the government did not have any authority under the Wakf Act, 1995. He said the only power vested with government was to issue a direction under Section 97 of Wakf Act, 1995. It also had the power to supersede Wakf Board under Section 99 of Wakf Act, 1995 and appoint a special officer to oversee its functioning. He said in this case the government and its officials had “highhandedly” seized the records of the Board. He said that the government action would jeopardise the interest of Wakf institution.

Tjac told to file fresh plea: The Hyderabad High Court on Friday told the Telangana Joint Action Committee to make a fresh application to the police seeking permission to conduct its Amarula Spoorthy Yatra, a road show in various districts of the state. Justice S.V. Bhatt was disposing of a petition filed by TJAC challenging the action of the police in refusing permission to take out the yatra in Nalgonda, Yadadri, and Suryapet and Bhongir districts. Mr S. Sharath Kumar, special counsel for the government, said the police had rejected permission personnel had been deployed for Assembly security.

Ms B. Rachna Reddy, counsel for the petitioner, objected to the condition of the police that TJAC chairman Prof. Kodanda-ram be held personally responsible for any damage to public property during the yatra, stating that it was vindictive. The judge asked the TAJC to make a fresh application before the authorities concerned annexing the route map of the yatra and names of organisers and leaders participating in the show. The judge directed the authorities to pass orders within three days from the date of receipt of applications.

State seeks time on TRT: The government sought time from the Hyderabad High Court till Monday to spell out its stand on allowing candidates holding BEd and DEd degrees in special education to appear for the Teachers Recruitment Test. A division bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Ramesh Ranga-nathan and Justice Abhi-nand Kumar Shavili was dealing with a petition by Mr D. Bheema and 48 aspirants challenging the government decision not to recognise the degrees.

Mr J. Sridhar, counsel for the petitioner, said there were 25,000 candidates who had BEd and DEd in special education. The bench said it had special sympathies towards the teachers who teach physically-challenged children. The bench stated that the Right to Free Education Act mandated compulsory education for all children. If those holding degrees and diplomas in special education were not allowed to take the test, who would treat the physically challenged children, the court asked. The bench asked Additional Advocate General J. Ramachandra Rao whether was there was any chance for reviewing the decision by the government and extension of the last date for applications in case it allowed these candidates. Mr Ramachandra Rao sought time till Monday to ascertain the stand of the government.