AP Ready To Set Up High Court Bench in Kurnool: CM Naidu

 Vijayawada: Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu has said the state government is ready to set up a high court bench in Kurnool.

“We would pass a resolution to set up the bench in Kurnool, as part of our poll promise, and send it to the Centre for approval,” he said at a review meeting he held with officials from the law department here on Monday.

The Chief Minister asked the officials to plan the setting up of an international law school on 100 acres in Amaravati through the Bar Council of India Trust. “We must have institutions of international standards in Amaravati, like the Bengaluru-based National Law School of India University and the Goa-based India International University of Legal Education and Research,” he said.

“Initiate steps to release Rs 10,000 each as honorarium per month to junior lawyers as part of our poll commitment,” he said, and stressed the need to have an academy to train the junior lawyers.

Officials gave the CM a presentation on prosecution. Naidu asked them to ensure that the percentage of punishment to the guilty in cases goes up and investigations are expedited. The prosecution should be done in a manner that the guilty are punished, he said.

Naidu said legal officers should make efforts to protect government lands at any cost even by opting for litigation, but they should not go for litigation to complicate matters.

In a review of the activities at the minority welfare department, the CM directed the officials to restructure the schemes meant for these people. “Complete the pending works under Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas, wherein Rs 447 crore has been sanctioned,” he said.

Naidu sought early completion of construction of Shadikhanas and other structures for which funds were sanctioned during the previous Telugu Desam term.

Officials informed the CM that construction of the Haj House at Kadapa, for which an amount of Rs 24 crore had been sanctioned, was completed by 80 per cent. He directed them to expedite the works.

As for the Christian Bhavan in Guntur, for which Rs 16 crore was sanctioned earlier, officials said the works were completed by 50 per cent. Naidu asked them to complete the works soon.

The Chief Minister asked the officials to complete the survey on Wakf Board lands in two years. He agreed for a proposal to set up a Noor Basha Corporation and said government departments should not interfere in religious activities.

He directed the officials to implement the poll promise of a monthly honorarium of Rs 10,000 each to Imams and Rs 5,000 each to Mousis, and provide a financial assistance of Rs 5,000 each to mosques and Rs one lakh each to those who embark on Hajj pilgrimage.

On the allotment of sites for burial grounds to the minorities, Naidu said this should be done through the district collectors.