HC Disposes of Poll Contestant's Plea for Security

Hyderabad: Justice C.V. Bhasker Reddy of the Telangana High Court on Wednesday recorded the police protection accorded to a BSP candidate and closed a writ plea for police protection.

The judge heard a writ plea for police protection filed by Sunkara Naresh, a contesting candidate from the BSP for the upcoming assembly elections from the Uppal Assembly constituency. He sought a grant of 2+2 police security to him till the elections in the state are completed.

The counsel for the petitioner argued that in light of a threat perception from the rival candidates, the petitioner requested the Telangana state police to increase the security. In spite of his request to bear the cost, he claimed it was not considered.

The government pleader appearing for the home department contended that as per the Election Commission guidelines 1+1 police security is already being provided to the petitioner.

The court after hearing both sides, on acceptance of the petitioner, disposed of the petition by observing that in wake of the police security already being extended to the petitioner, no further orders are needed.

HC issues notices on faster trial in Jagan cases

A two-judge bench of the Telangana High Court, comprising Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice N.V. Sravan Kumar, directed the issuance of notice in a Public Interest Litigation for the early disposal of cases against Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, the Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister.

The PIL was filed by Chegondi Venkata Harirama Jogaiah, a former MLA of the erstwhile combined state of Andhra Pradesh, seeking a direction to expedite the trial pending in the criminal cases against Jagan Mohan Reddy.

On an earlier occasion, the office of the High Court raised an objection as to the locus of the petitioner as the petitioner is also a politician. The court had then directed the petitioner to amend the part of the affidavit, to which the objections are raised and incorporate the documents in order to substantiate the averments made in the writ petition and to disclose the stage of cases pending against Jagan Mohan Reddy. Today, when the case came up for hearing, the counsel for the petitioner informed the court that the required amendments are carried out in the petition. Subsequently, the bench ordered notice and directed the PIL to be numbered.

High Court orders OU to grant leave for professor to contest polls

Justice P. Madhavi Devi of the Telangana High Court on Wednesday cleared the decks for a law faculty member to contest the ensuing Assembly elections. The judge suspended the order disallowing the request of a professor for grant of extraordinary leave to contest general elections 2023.

The petition was filed by Dr Anuradha Gummadi, assistant professor of law, PG College of Law, Osmania University, at Basheerbagh, challenging the denial of grant of extraordinary leave and to leave the headquarters in order to contest the elections.

Counsel for the petitioner contended that the petitioner is contesting the general elections from the Yellandu Constituency of Bhadradri Kothagudem district. He argued that the denial of leave is contrary to Rule 16 of the Osmania University Employees Conduct Rules and also violates the fundamental rights of the petitioner. The court after hearing both sides directed the respondents to provide extraordinary leave and permit the petitioner to contest elections.

HC to examine cap on enrolment fee for advocates

A two-judge bench of the Telangana High Court will examine the levy of an enrolment fee of Rs 27,500 on advocates at the time of entering the bar. The bench of Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice N.V. Shravan Kumar ordered issuance of a notice in a writ petition filed by aspiring lawyer Vijay Gopal, who appeared as a party in person. The petitioner pointed out that the Advocates Act provides that the Bar Council shall charge a fee of Rs 750 only. He would contend that the amount being charged is contrary to a capped amount of Rs 750 and therefore the action of the state bar council is contrary to the Advocates Act. The bench accordingly ordered notice to the bar council and the state to respond.

HC asks petitioner to move PF board

A two-judge bench of the Telangana High Court comprising Justice Abhinand Kumar Shavili and Justice J. Anil Kumar disposed of a writ plea relating to the transfer of the M. Hedayatullah Warsi, Regional Provident Fund commissioner from Hyderabad to Thane.

Earlier, the order of transfer was challenged by the petitioner before the Central Administrative Tribunal. The Tribunal though granted an interim order initially vacated the same and dismissed the petition.

Aggrieved by the same, the official on transfer moved the High Court. It is the case of the petitioner that the transfer was at the behest of Vaishali Dayal, Additional Central Provident Fund Commissioner. He would contend that she was prejudiced because he had failed to respond positively to certain demands made by her. It is also the case of the petitioner that his name was wrongly included in the “agreed list” which enlists those employees facing allegations.

The bench left it open to the petitioner to move the provident board within a period of two weeks. Both on the transfer and his name being in the “agreed list” the board headed by the minister would dispose of his representation within a period of four weeks.