Telangana asks Centre to intervene in allocating judicial officers

Hyderabad: The TS has sought intervention of the Union Law Minister in allocation of subordinate judicial officers between AP and TS and also in appointment of judges to the High Court.

Special Representatives of the TS government in Delhi, S. Venugopala Chary and Ramachandra Tejawat, met Law Minister Sadananda Gowda and submitted a representation.

During the meeting, both the representatives complained to the minister that neither the Governor nor the Acting Chief Justice consulted the TS Chief Minister while recommending nine names for the appointment of High Court judges. However they consulted the AP Chief Minister.

Through the representation, they brought to the notice of Mr Gowda that, knowing fully well that Acting Chief Justice is on transfer by elevating him to the post of Chief Justice and another judge, Justice G. Chandraiah is retiring soon, the collegium met on April 30, 2016 and recommended nine names of judicial officers and advocates for posts of judges of High Court.

They told the minister that out of nine persons recommended for the post of High Court judges, only three were from Telangana. Referring to recent provisional allocation of subordinate judicial officers between both states, they said that 95 officers of district judge cadre were allotted to Telangana state, of whom 46 are natives of AP.

The special representatives said that as against 140 district judge cadre posts in AP only 110 officers were allocated, leaving 30 vacancies. Similarly, allocations were made leaving vacancies in the cadre of senior civil judges and junior civil judges.

They urged Mr Gowda not to accord sanction or process the judges’ recommendations unless the TS Chief Minister is also consulted on the issue. They requested that steps be taken to rectify the situation. After the meeting, Mr  Chary and Mr Tejawat said that Mr Gowda responded positively and promised that he will examine the matter.

Meanwhile T-Advocates JAC on Wednesday announced that it would launch a massive state-wide agitation from June 1 for creation of a separate High Court for AP and also in protest against provisional allocation of judicial officers among both states.

T. Sriranga Rao, Goverdhan Reddy and other leaders of TAJAC on Wednesday said that the Centre has been showing discrimination against TS in all aspects, including power, irrigation projects and bifurcation of the Common High Court.

Claiming that BJP and Congress leaders of TS were responsible for the affairs prevailing in the state, they demanded that the Centre take immediate steps to constitute separate High Court for AP.

While recalling the assurance given by Mr Gowda during his visit to Hyderabad that the Centre would take immediate steps for separation of Common High Court, the TAJAC leaders alleged that the Centre betrayed the Telangana people.

Mr Sriranga Rao demanded that the Centre bring out an ordinance if necessary for establishment of separate High Court for AP similar to what was done earlier in merger of seven mandals of TS with AP.

The TAJAC leaders warned the Centre that a massive agitation will be launched from June 1 along with employees of judiciary and judicial officers if the Centre fails to take steps to constitute the separate High Court and rectify the provisional allocation of subordinate judicial officers.