Probe Your Investigating Officer: HC to Lokayukta

HYDERABAD: A two-judge bench of the Telangana High Court comprising Chief Justice Alok Aaradhe and Justice T. Vinod Kumar on Thursday directed the Lokayukta to look into a complaint against one of its personnel and act in accordance with the law. According to the petitioner, they had lodged a complaint before the Lokayukta. Instead of finding a solution, they found a new problem when the investigating officer, Mathew Koshy, who is on the rolls of the Lokayukta, started harassing the petitioners. As the allegations pertain to a Lokayukta official, the High Court directed the statutory authority to look into the matter and act in accordance with the law.

Restoration of Ambedkar statue: HC seeks govt response

A two-judge bench of the Telangana High Court on Thursday urged the state government to place its stance on reinstalling Dr B.R. Ambedkar statue at Punjagutta circle, within four weeks. The bench, comprising Chief Justice Alok Aaradhe and Justice T. Vinod Kumar, was dealing with a PIL filed by advocate Rapolu Bhaskar. The petitioner contended that the statue was removed unauthorisedly and despite several attempts seeking its reinstallation, the government and civic authorities had not responded positively. The petitioner contended that reinstalling the statue at Panjagutta crossroad would be a reverential salutation to the father of the Indian constitution.

Mahavir hospital asked to submit details of minimum wages

A two-judge bench of the Telangana High Court, comprising Justice Abhinand Kumar Shavili and Justice J. Anil Kumar, sought further details from the Bhagwan Mahavir hospital and research centre on payment of minimum wages to its workers. The bench was dealing with a writ appeal filed by the staff of the hospital. Earlier, in a dispute before the labour court, the management was directed to pay the petitioners wages on par with lab technicians. The management successfully challenged the action before a single judge contending that the labour court had proceeded beyond the point of reference. The single judge recorded a finding that the employees were not qualified under the Para Medical Board Act to be employed as lab technicians and therefore could not be paid on par wages. Aggrieved by the order of the single judge, the present writ appeal was filed by the staff.

HC restores child’s custody to the mother

A two-judge bench of the Telangana High Court, comprising Justice Lakshman and Justice K. Sujana, restored possession of an 11-year-old girl to the mother. The bench was hearing a habeas corpus petition filed by the mother complaining that her husband, with whom she had differences, was not permitting her to meet their daughter. Earlier, the husband had filed a complaint before the Kukatpally police complaining that his wife had gone missing. After registration of the complaint, she appeared before the police. She later filed a habeas corpus for custody of the child. The bench heard the minor and the parents and recorded the wish of the child to be with the mother.

HC allows cardamom plucking in Munnar 

A two-judge bench of the Telangana High Court partly allowed an appeal under the Arbitration and Conciliation Act and required lessees of about 300 acres of cardamom plantation in Kerala’s Munnar district to pluck the spice, subject to paying the licence fee. The bench, comprising Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice T. Vinod Kumar, was dealing with a commercial appeal filed by SSPDL, a group of four companies. According to the appellant, it had entered into a leave and licence agreement with Binoy Varghese and family. It was stated that the licensee family removed the Arabica coffee plantation without permission and had failed to pay the licence fee. The application for interim relief pending arbitration was dismissed by a commercial court on the grounds that one of the four companies had not entered into an arbitration agreement. The bench, as an interim measure pending application for arbitration and reliefs, permitted the lessees to pluck cardamom over 300 acres on payment of the licence fee, which according to the appellant is in default. The bench said the activity shall be carried out under the supervision of the manager appointed by the appellant. Counsel P.S. Rajasekhar contended that the commercial court failed to apply the group company concept to the arbitration.