Telangana HC Issues Notice to State Govt Over MLA Funds

HYDERABAD: The Telangana High Court on Friday issued notice to the state government wanting to know why it had not released amounts under the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) for the development of the Mulugu constituency, even though amounts were sanctioned on paper.

Dr Justice Chillakur Sumalatha was responding to the complaint of Danasari Anasuya Seetakka, Mulugu Congress MLA, who contended that the state government has not sanctioned funds that would have been used for the development of her constituency.

She alleged that her pleas were being ignored because she belonged to the Congress party and had a Maoist background.

The court issued notices to the chief secretary, principal secretaries of planning, finance, roads and buildings, tribal welfare, women and child welfare departments, and the district collector of Mulugu district and sought a response within ten days.

Senior counsel Sripada Prabhakar and Naguluri Krishna Kumar Goud, representing the petitioner, said that the client’s tenure ends by January next and funds allotted under CDF will lapse.

Although the state government has enhanced the CDF amounts to each constituency, it has sanctioned a measly budget to the Mulugu constituency because of which people in the district are being deprived of any developmental works.  

Harender Pershad, special counsel for the government, sought two weeks to file a counter affidavit. The judge did not agree and set October 9 as the date for further hearing.

Meanwhile, Prabhakar informed the court that a similar writ petition is pending before the High Court. This was filed by M. Raghundandan Rao, BJP MLA. Though the collector has been approving developmental works sent by the petitioner, the minister for tribal welfare, women and child welfare has not been approving any developmental works for the constituency, contended the petitioner.