HC Again Tells Cops Not to Intervene in Civil Disputes

HYDERABAD: The Telangana High Court has yet again found it necessary to police the police from interfering in civil disputes. Justice C.V. Bhaskar Reddy was hearing a writ plea filed by Younus Mohd Khan and others complaining of police interference in their personal liberty by constantly calling them to the police station regarding a property dispute with third parties over land situated in Begumpet village. It was contended that the petitioner and complainant are involved in a civil suit pending with regard to the title and the very complaint is being used to assert police influence on the petitioners. The court observed that such interference was unwarranted and accordingly directed Begumpet police station house officer not to interfere in civil dispute.

Hindi teachers posts: HC slams govt’s callousness

A two-judge bench of the Telangana High Court faulted the state government for non-application of mind and passing orders in a casual and callous manner in determining the parity of Hindi Vidwan/Madhyama/Visharada as equivalent to the degree conferred by the University Grants Commission (UGC) for the posts of language pandit (Hindi) and school assistant (Hindi). The bench of Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice N.V. Shravan Kumar was dealing with a batch of writ petitions filed by Venu Gopala Chary and about 450 others assailing the validity of the rules for direct recruitment for the posts of teachers, 2017. They questioned an order passed by the state government in December 2017, by which their qualification was not equal to the UGC degree. Earlier, candidates with the said qualifications were considered eligible. Senior counsel G. Vidya Sagar, appearing for the petitioners, pointed out that the qualifications for the post had been prescribed by the NCTE under the 2014 Regulations. The state government was under an obligation to act as per the notification and could not give effect to any contrary rule. On consideration of relevant provisions and Supreme Court orders, the bench pointed out that it was evident that the UGC itself has clarified that the equivalency of qualification cannot be decided by the UGC but by the state government as it cannot take a view against the petitioners on the ground that the UGC has not recognised their qualifications. The bench said the government was required to decide whether the Hindi Vidwan/Madhyama/Visharada is equivalent to a UGC degree. The bench made it clear that it was a speaking order, and in case the qualification held by the petitioners was found to be equivalent to the UGC degree, the case of the petitioners for appointment to the post of teachers, subject to vacancy, shall be considered.

Restore Bhadradri choultry to contractor: HC

Justice C. Sumalatha of the Telangana High Court set aside orders of the endowment authority seizing the licenced premises of Sri Rama Nilayam Choultry at Bhadrachalam and directed its restoration to the petitioner. The judge allowed a writ petition filed by Golla Manmadha Rao challenging the cancellation of the licence without proper consideration of his reply to the showcause notices. The contractor was awarded a tender to run the choultry for three years from January 2023. Based on a raid conducted by the executive officer, a notice was issued to Rao alleging violation of tender conditions. The temple also chose to exercise a condition in the tender empowering it to take back possession of the choultry for construction or development purposes. Though an explanation was given, a final notice was again issued on July 10. The petitioner sought more time. However, the executive officer wrote to the endowments commissioner leading to the impugned order of seizure and withdrawal of the contract. The judge faulted the commissioner and endowments authorities for acting unilaterally and in violation of the principles of natural justice.