Judge Reserves Verdict in Srimanthudu Copyright Complaint

Hyderabad: Justice K. Surender of the Telangana High Court reserved verdict on a bunch of quash proceedings challenging allegations of copyright violation by the cast and crew of the Telugu movie ‘Shrimanthudu’. R.D. Wilson, alias Sarath Chandra, filed the complaint against Mahesh Babu Entertainment Pvt Ltd, Yerneni Naveen and Koratala Siva. The petitions are filed challenging the complaint and the order of the VI additional metropolitan magistrate, who, in January 2017, took cognizance of the complaint. The petitioners complained that there cannot be copyright of a concept and the entire claim of the complainant was based on the premise that his concept had been violated.

HC directs notice in quo warranto against CAT member

A two-judge bench of the Telangana High Court ordered notice in a quo warranto writ petition challenging the appointment of Sudhi Ranjan Mishra judicial member of the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) as unconstitutional. The bench, comprising Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice N.V. Shravan Kumar, was hearing a writ plea filed by B. Gurudas. The petitioner pointed out the qualifications for appointment as chairman, vice-chairman and other members and assailed the validity of Section 6(2)(b) of the Administrative Tribunals Act, 1985, which provides that a person shall not be qualified for appointment “as a judicial member, unless he is qualified to be a judge of a High Court or he has for at least two years held the post of a secretary to the government of India in the department of legal affairs or the legislative department, including as member-secretary, Law Commission of India or held a post of additional secretary to the government of India in the Legal Affairs and Legislative departments at least for a period of five years.”

CCS police told not to harass Leo Meridian employees society

Justice C.V. Bhaskar Reddy of the Telangana High Court on Friday directed the Central Crime Station (CCS) police not to harass members of Leo Meridian Employees Society for a compromise.  The court also issued personal notice to G. Satyam, inspector of CCS, and adjourned the matter to December 15. The society filed a writ petition complaining that the police are not filing a chargesheet for a crime registered by them in February this year. The petitioner contended that the named persons in the complaint Damodar Reddy and others trespassed into the property and had physically abused them. The case of the petitioner is that the police, not the intruders, also demanded money and threatened that false cases would be filed against them if they failed to oblige. They further contended that the police were regularly calling the petitioner to compromise the matter. The government pleader informed the court that he would require some time to seek instructions.

Adilabad lorry owners body faces criminal action

Justice C. V. Bhasker Reddy of the Telangana High Court on Saturday directed Station House Officer, Second Town police station, Adilabad, to investigate into alleged wrongful restraint by the Adilabad Lorry Owners Association. The judge was hearing a writ petition filed by Tirupathi Trading Company. It is the case of the petitioner that they are engaged in trading and supplying crops like pulses, rice, wheat, etc. to parts of Telangana, Karnataka, and Maharashtra. The petitioner alleged that the association had been wrongfully restraining the company’s trucks in Adilabad district with a view to coerce them to hire the services of the said lorry association, while the police was not taking cognizance of the complaint made by the company.  Police authorities contended that it had already registered a crime against the respondents and would be initiating action against them. The court, after hearing the parties, directed the police to immediately start an investigation and file a chargesheet within three months.