Follow law, Telangana HC tells Gajwel cops

Hyderabad: Justice C.V. Bhaskar Reddy of the Telangana High Court yet again required the police to follow the statutory provision of giving a notice to people who are accused in cases where the punishment is less than seven years. The judge disposed of a writ filed by Chinta Srinu and six other residents of Gajwel against whom a case was registered for alleged disobedience to orders of a government servant, wrongful restraint, criminal force and unlawful assembly. According to the prosecution, the petitioners gathered as a mob at the Ambedkar Chowrasta and stopped the complainant, sub-inspector Y. Naresh, from carrying out his official duties and causing the traffic jam. Counsel for the petitioners, Karuna Sagar, pointed out that the police had not met the statutory requirement under Section 41A of CrPC of issuing notice.

HC refuses to close PIL against HCA

A two-judge bench of the Telangana High Court on Tuesday did not see merit in the closure of a public interest petition (PIL) which sought a full-fledged inquiry into alleged financial irregularities in the Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA). A bench of Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice T. Vinod Kumar was dealing with a writ plea filed by advocate-cum-cricketer Govind Reddy who in 2017 had moved the High Court complaining that the Lodha Commission report was not being implemented. It was represented on Tuesday that much water had flown since the filing of the writ petition over the appointment of former Supreme Court judge Justice L. Nageshwar Rao to oversee the functioning of the HCA and the alleged implementation of the Lodha committee recommendations were cited as grounds to close the petition. However, it was pointed out that the petition included allegations regarding financial irregularities of about '100 crore warranting the need for an investigation by the Serious Fraud Investigation Office or the CBI. The bench accordingly required the parties to place a chronological list of events and said the matter would be heard on August 10.

HC disapproves of stance on tyagi pension

Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice T. Vinod Kumar of the Telangana High Court disapproved of the attitude of the Centre in not granting freedom fighter pensions to nonagenarians, on a petition filed by Chilukuri Venkata Ram Reddy, 90. Earlier, a division bench was livid at the stance of the Centre for saying it would cause a financial burden. The freedom fighter was denied pension on the ground that there was an error in the dates mentioned in the ‘non-availability of records’ certificate issued by the state government. The petitioner had successfully canvassed that the order of denial of pension was in violation of the principles of natural justice. The CJ bench granted two weeks to the Centre.

Land for tribals revoked by Centre

A two-judge bench of the Telangana High Court took on record that the Centre had revoked an order earmarking land for a vocational training centre for tribals in Adilabad district. The bench of Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice T. Vinod Kumar disposed of a writ petition filed by lawyer and environmentalist Anju Kumar Reddy complaining that the land, measuring 1,200 guntas in Nirmal, was being converted into an idgah. Despite a police complaint, the abuse had continued. Initially, the Centre had kept the allotment in abeyance. On Tuesday, Praveen Kumar, deputy solicitor general, said that the Centre had revoked the allotment on April 21.

Language pandit appointment upheld

Justice Abhinand Kumar Shavili and Justice Pulla Karthik of the Telangana High Court rejected a writ plea of the state government with regard to the appointment of a language pandit. A candidate had approached the State Administrative Tribunal stating that a person with 71 marks who ought to be considered under the reserved category of local candidates was appointed in the open category. Under the Presidential order, local candidates are entitled to 80 per cent of seats while others must compete in the open category. The tribunal agreed, in 2012. It was the case of the applicant before the tribunal that if the candidate selected with 71 per cent marks was considered in the open category, the resultant vacancy in the category would fall to the petitioner who obtained 68 per cent. Justice Abhinand Kumar Shavili noted that the reasoning of the tribunal was right and accordingly dismissed the writ petition.

Cancellation of PwD admission quashed

Justice M. Sudheer Kumar of the Telangana High Court set aside the orders cancelling the allotment of seats to students with different disabilities. The judge upheld the plea of students whose admissions were cancelled after selection, on the ground that they had passed four of the five subjects in the qualifying examinations of intermediate. The Joint Seat Allotment Authority had purportedly relied on the service rules. The petitioners relied on the Right of Persons with Disabilities Act and contended that their eligibility should be based on the qualification acquired by them (pass in Intermediate). The respondents said that the exemption was optional, and several candidates with disabilities had appeared for all five subjects without claiming exemption. The court ruled in favour of the petitioners, stating that they were qualified in the Intermediate examination and had the required percentage. The court directed the respondents to provide admission to the petitioners based on their merit in the JEE (Mains)/JEE (Advanced).

HC orders notice on Prime 9 plea

Justice M. Sudheer Kumar of the Telangana High Court required the Centre to respond by next week on the cancellation of transmission licence to RTV News channel / Prime 9 News. The judge was hearing a writ plea filed by Rayudu Vision Media challenging the revoking of the permission for uplink and downlink despite its licence validity until 2027. The petitioner said the action of the I&B ministry was unlawful, and that he had not been given a hearing. The ministry said it had issued a showcause notice for forging a trademark applied by a broadcasting channel, and the reply was unsatisfactory.