HC Urges RBI To Come Clear on ECLGS Covid Guidelines

Hyderabad: Justice S. Nanda of the Telangana High Court required the Reserve Bank of India to reconsider and initiate instructions for implementation of the operational guidelines for Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme (ECLGS) that were issued during the Covid period. The petitioner sought implementation of Covid-19 reliefs announced by the government and the RBI. The petitioner complained that he was also entitled to ex gratia of Rs 5 crores for not implementing the moratorium circulars. The petitioner’s account was declared a non-performing asset (NPA) in 2021. According to the petitioner, standard accounts in February 2020, by virtue of the Covid moratorium, could not have been described as NPA. The Axis Bank contended that against a loan of 't3 crore, the petitioner was a constant defaulter and an initial moratorium of six months was extended in the account, but the petitioner continued to be a defaulter. Justice Nanda rejected the plea of the bank. She made it clear that the power of the court to issue writs “can be exercised not only for the enforcement of Fundamental Rights but for any other purpose as well”. The judge said that the theory of an alternative remedy is a rule of policy, convenience and discretion. The court directed the petitioner to submit a detailed representation raising all the pleas before the High Court and directed the bank to decide on merits, after giving the petitioner a reasonable opportunity. The judge also referred to specific rulings of the Supreme Court that had to be taken into account while considering the representation of the petitioner.

Why was passport not seized despite court order, top cop asked

Justice C.V. Bhaskar Reddy of the Telangana High Court on Friday directed the commissioner of police to explain its stance on why it has not seized the passport of a person in spite of the court’s direction. The judge was dealing with a writ plea filed by Sadath Jahan, contending that the officer had not initiated any action to seize the passport of one Saloni Goyal. It was observed that Saloni in an earlier round of litigation had challenged the action of the authorities in refusing to renew the passport under the guise of a crime pending against her and sought for a direction for renewal of her passport to enable her to travel abroad. Thereafter, the court allowed the same by laying down certain conditions, among which is depositing the original renewed passport before the investigating officer. After considering the submission by counsels, the judge adjourned the matter to January 12 for filing counter affidavits.

Bail plea of rape accused rejected

Justice K. Surender of the Telangana High Court rejected an application for bail filed by the principal accused in a rape case. The judge was dealing with a bail petition filed by the accused, who is charged with raping his daughter. The judge rejected the plea that the statement of the daughter was made in ignorance since she did not understand the language or the content of the statement. The judge read the detailed statement and refused to enlarge the petitioner on bail in view of the grave charge and pendency of the inquiry by the Adibatla police.