TSPDCL levy under judicial scrutiny

 Hyderabad: Justice Surepalli Nanda of the Telangana High Court took on file a writ plea challenging imposition of penal charges of over Rs 1 crore on Radha Smelters Private Limited by Telangana Southern Power Distribution Company Ltd (TSPDCL). The judge was hearing a writ plea filed by the firm, which alleged that TSPDCL had imposed the penal charges on the grounds of variation in calculation of the units of electricity used by the petitioner. The petitioner’s counsel argued that the state load dispatch centre should have undertaken the account of energy for each time block on a monthly basis as per the applicable laws. However, the respondent picked up an intermittent period for calculation of electricity charges and thus there was variation in time block period calculations as the electricity fluctuates often, he argued. The petitioner alleged that the said penal charges were arbitrarily charged by the respondent authorities and was thereafter approved by the Consumer Grievances Redressal Forum I of TSPDCL and further upheld in appeal by the state vidyut ombudsman. After hearing the petitioner, the judge directed the respondent authorities to file their response and posted the matter for further adjudication.

Conviction of 4 bizmen set aside

Justice K. Surender of the Telangana High Court set aside the conviction of four businessmen for causing for grievous injuries and attempt to murder offences. One Mohammed Siddiq, a resident of Talabkatta, lodged a complaint that the appellant Sadain Ali, Inteshaw Ali, Mohammed and Abdul Waheed, along with another person, had in 2007 forcibly taken away his motorcycle, mobile phone and a gold ring although he had cleared the loan amount to Sadath Ali. The other accused are related to Accused No. 1. However, when they were seized on the day of the crime, all the accused and others attacked him with iron rods, sticks and a sword. A1 attacked with a stick and hurt his right leg. When he fell down, A1 attacked with a sword on the head. The sessions judge, having considered the evidence on record, found that the appellants had in fact inflicted injuries on PW1 and 3, as narrated by them and accordingly convicted the accused. Justice Surender observed that according to the prosecution immediately after the attack, the victims went to Osmania General Hospital, where they were treated by a doctor. According to him, no fractures were found. However, four days later, the doctor examined him and sutured wounds on the head. Such discrepancy in the wounds is not explained by the prosecution. Dealing with the evidence of the principal witnesses, the court observed “there are several improvements that were apparently to implicate the appellants. Though, it was specifically mentioned that apart from the Appellants/ A1 to A4, three others were present,” the court said. “Apparently, the discrepancies in the statements made during the investigation and developments during trial would go to the root of the case and reflect falsity of witnesses and their attempt to implicate the appellants,” the judge said.

Lab techs seek weightage in hiring

Justice Pulla Karthik of the Telangana High Court took on file a writ plea challenging the non-awarding of weightage marks to the service rendered by workers on outsourcing basis. The judge was hearing a writ plea filed by Pinjari Bindu and nine others, working as lab technicians in hospitals in Hyderabad. The petitioners alleged that despite GO dated June 07, 2022, the services rendered in government hospitals by the petitioners on outsourcing basis were not being considered by the state department of health, medical and family welfare and other authorities. The petitioners also alleged that the said actions of the respondent authorities were illegal and in violation of the Constitution. After hearing the petitioner, the judge directed the government pleader to get instructions and posted the matter for further adjudication.

Encroachment of Sangareddy temple land challenged

Justice N.V. Shravan Kumar of the Telangana High Court took on file a writ plea challenging the demolitions ordered by the commissioner of endowment department over alleged encroachment of Sri Bramaramba Mallikarjuna Swamy Devasthanam temple land, situated at Beeramguda in Sangareddy district. The judge was hearing a writ plea filed by Asima Begum, who alleged that her house situated at Sriramnagar Colony of Ameenpur village was demolished by the respondent authorities without issuing notice. The petitioner complained that the action of the respondent authorities violated her rights under the Constitution. She further sought a direction against the respondent authorities from interfering in her property or demolishing it without following due process of law. The respondent authorities pointed out that the property was in the prohibitory list under Section 22 of the Telangana Charitable and Religious Institutions and Endowments Act, 1987. The judge directed the government pleader to seek clarifications from the endowment department by the next date of hearing and posted the matter for further adjudication.