HYDERABAD: Justice C.V. Bhaskar Reddy of the Telangana High Court on Monday granted four weeks to the state government to come up with its legislation for regulating hookah parlors in the city. The judge was dealing with a batch of writ petitions filed by owners of hookah parlours, complaining about the
involvement of police and other government authorities in their day-to-day business affairs. The petitioners contended that despite court orders permitting them to run their business with certain conditions, the authorities were not permitting them. On the other hand, the special government pleader contended that hookah contains tobacco, and allowing youngsters to consume it would be a health hazard. He urged the court to grant additional time as the state was actively considering a statutory legislation to deal with it. In light of the submissions of the government and notwithstanding opposition from writ petitioners, the judge granted four weeks’ time by expressing “When lawmaking authorities are before us, courts have to consider the public interest”. The judge will next hear the matter on July 10.
Regularise services of 174 employed with metropolitan sessions’ judge: HC
A two-judge bench of the Telangana High Court on Monday allowed a batch of writ petitions, directing the registrar general of Telangana High Court and the state government to regularize services of 174 employees, who were working on contract, temporary or daily-wage basis. The writ petitioners contended that they were discharging their duties for the last two decades as typists, clerks, or office subordinates at metropolitan sessions’ judge, Hyderabad, and were not yet regularized. The bench was dealing with a batch of writ petitions challenging non-regularisation of the petitioners against the said vacancies or any other vacancies in accordance with the government orders inter alia terminating the petitioner's service from April 1, 2021, and to accommodate the contract employees, who were working in the special courts for the past two years on outsourcing basis till the appointment of regular employees.
HC sets aside detention order
A two-judge bench of the Telangana High Court on Monday entertained a habeas
corpus writ petition for producing one Naveen Reddy. The bench, comprising
Justice K. Lakshman and Justice P. Sree Sudha, was dealing with a plea filed by the mother of the detenu, who has been detained in exercise of the powers of the Preventive Detention Act. It is alleged that the detenu is involved in a case of gender harassment and cheating. There are multiple cases filed against him related to the same victim. It is alleged that the detenu was in a relationship and when the relationship turned sour, he abused the victim with intimate photographs. It was contended by the petitioner that the present order of the detention is to defeat bail orders granted. Naveen Reddy has been in the news and is facing allegations of cheating and outraging the modesty of a woman. The bench concluded by setting aside the detention order.
Sale of kunta lands: State given two weeks to respond
A two-judge bench of the Telangana High Court granted two weeks’ time to the
state government to respond in a PIL on the sale of kunta lands. The panel on Monday directed the state authorities and HMDA to file a counter in a matter pertaining to sale of kunta lands. The bench of Chief Justice Ujjal Bhuyan and Justice N. Tukaramji was hearing a PIL filed by Mohd Madsood Shareef questioning the action of Kings Group of Companies and PBEL Real Estate India Private, who, without the knowledge of the HMDA authorities, used their logo to sell kunta lands, which is illegal and arbitrary. The bench directed the state authorities of HMDA to file a reply and posted the matter to July 11.
Notice to two bankers accused in gold theft case
Justice G. Anupama Chakravarthy of the Telangana High Court on Monday directed Narayanguda police to issue 41 A notice to the accused in an alleged case of theft of gold ornaments from Sri Bharathi Co-operative Urban Bank Limited. The complainant, Butta Praftul, who is the president of the said bank, stated that the bank, in its regular course of business, had been accepting deposits and extending loans, including gold loans. The gold ornaments are kept in gold bags which are in turn kept in a safe vault. An annual audit report showed that one gold bag was missing. As the safe cannot be opened with one key, the two staff members having the key were accused in the said crime. The court has directed both accused to appear before the investigating officer on July 16 and cooperate in the investigation.
