Hyderabad: A two-judge bench of the Telangana High Court on Tuesday set aside the order of a single judge on a search and seizure effected by the Enforcement Directorate on companies of Mussadilal Gems and Jewellery Pvt. Ltd. The single judge had allowed a writ petition questioning the search and seizure made on the company on October 17 last. According to the petitioner, the CBI had registered a case against Sukesh Gupta and officials of Metals and Minerals Trading Corporation (MMTC). The petitioner contended that neither Mussadilal Jewellers nor its directors was related to Suresh Gupta. Senior counsel appearing for the ED pointed to certain illegalities leading to the agency to entertain a reasonable belief that violations had occurred under Section 17 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. The single judge allowed the writ petition, releasing jewellery, cash and other articles seized by the ED but left it open to the agency to take fresh action if deemed necessary. The ED successfully contended before the division bench that the reason to believe apprehension emanated from the additional director and not the deputy director. The bench of Chief Justice Ujjal Bhuyan and Justice N. Tukaramji accordingly allowed the ED appeal and upheld the its action.
HC orders child to be produced in court
A two-judge bench of the Telangana High Court hearing a habeas corpus petition directed the Langer Houz police to produce a six-year-old child in court on April 18. The bench was hearing a writ petition filed by Asma Rasheed Shareef complaining that her child has been in the illegal custody of his father Mirza Salman Baig of Tolichowki. She alleged that the father had been arrested in connection with a rape case. The bench wondered why the petitioner was moving the court now if the child was with the father for three years. The petitioner stated that she faced a life threat from her husband and was unable to pursue the custodial issue of her child. Reiterating that child welfare was pivotal, the bench directed the police to produce the child on April 18.
HC clears promotion of Brigadier
A two-judge bench of the Telangana High Court on Tuesday cleared the decks for the promotion of Brigadier Vikram Ahuja to Major General. Brig. Ahuja had challenged before a single judge the action of the authorities in not considering his case for promotion. It was contended by the Additional Solicitor General that for the panel year 2018, Brig. Ahuja’s case could not be considered for want of vigilance clearance. In the subsequent year, it was denied in light of a vigilance ban. The single judge rejected the stand and allowed the writ petition. It was pointed out that there was no vigilance ban at the relevant point in time and therefore non-consideration of promotion was illegal. Brig. Ahuja is Director at the Directorate General Quality Assurance and would now be considered for promotion to the rank of Major General.
HC orders status quo on ZP school land
A division bench of the Telangana High Court comprising Chief Justice Ujjal Bhuyan and Justice N. Tukaramji directed the revenue authorities to maintain status quo with regard to the land at the Zilla Parishad High School at Mutiyampet in Kamareddy district. The bench made an interim order while dealing with a public interest litigation filed by Venkata Laxmi and another contending, inter alia, that land of two acres and 11 guntas was donated to the school by K. Venkat Ram Reddy. By obtaining fake permission, private individuals were trespassing onto the land and constructing a building on the school ground.
