HYDERABAD: A two-judge bench of the Telangana High Court on Tuesday deferred by three weeks the hearing of a Public interest litigation against alleged illegal mining in Nizamabad challenging illegal quarrying carried out by M/s Geo Stone industries and another. The bench comprising Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice T. Vinod Kumar is hearing PIL filed by Aleti Mallikarjun Reddy and another alleging that M/s Geo Stone Industries is extracting 15 lakh cubic metres of rock as against the approved quantity of 9,280 cubic metres. Earlier, the bench noted that the Telangana State Pollution Control Boad had made a statement that it has initiated steps for the closure of the industry which is stated to be operating without environmental clearance. The bench granted three weeks to M/s Geo Stone Industries to file their reply.
Land allotment to political parties upheld
Justice B. Vijaysen Reddy of the Telangana High Court disposed of a batch of about 222 writ petitions filed by Harijana Asha and others challenging the alienation of prime lands of 10 acres at Trishul Park Bowenpally Village Hyderabad and 11 acres at Kokapet Village, Gandipet mandal, in favour of political parties i.e., the Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee and Bharat Rashtra Samithi respectively. Counsel for the petitioner contended that such alienation of land for a considerably lesser value is illegal and arbitrary and ought not to have been done. On the other hand, the government argued that it was a policy decision and petitioners have no locus standi as neither the land of the petitioner was alienated, nor it was acquired for the said purpose. The petitioners claim to be poor landless persons residing in the vicinity of the properties. Justice Vijaysen pointedly asked counsel for the petitioner if they were being displaced. Senior counsel Harender Prasad appearing for the government pointed out that they were not and in any event that was the premise of the writ petitions. Counsel for the petitioner Subramanyam Darobina also sought a direction from the court that the poor persons be allotted houses under the 2BHK scheme. The judge said that such a direction was completely out of the scope of the present writ petition the judge made it clear that if at all petitioners are aggrieved about any specific alienations they are at liberty to make a separate representation under 2BHK allotment policy of the government.
HC clears deck for HWP election results
Justice P. Madhavi Devi of the Telangana High Court directed the returning officer of Heavy Water Plant, Manuguru, HWP(M) to declare the results of the elections conducted to the HWP(M) Employees Association. The judge was hearing a writ plea filed by the HWP(M) Employees Association challenging the notification directing to specify the prior elected positions of the candidates contesting for different posts. Counsel for the petitioner T. Swetcha argued that such a condition cannot be imposed as it restricts the number of times a candidate can hold a given post. She further stated that the bar is against the bye-laws of the association recognised by the respondents and also against the law of trade unions under which the association is registered. On the other hand, counsel for the respondent contended that Central Service Rules restrict an employee to hold a post multiple times. Earlier, the court directed authorities not to ask for details of candidates about their earlier posts. On Tuesday, it was informed to the court that results of the elections are being withheld, and the court directed the returning officer to release the results immediately. However, the judge made it clear that such results will be subject to the outcome of the writ petition.
Junior line man selection challenged.
Justice P. Madhavi Devi of the Telangana High Court issued notice to the TSSPDCL and Transco in a writ plea challenging lesser weightage marks for the selection of junior line man. Petitioner Dudala Prashant filed a writ petition questioning the actions of the TSSPDCL. The petitioner contended that awarding them 15 weightage marks instead of the stipulated 20 for their previous service is illegal. The petitioner further argued that the action of authorities in excluding them on this basis from the further selection process is unjust and illegal. The petitioner also contended that he is working in Transco since 2013 and for the service rendered to Transco, he should give 20 marks, even according to the notification. After hearing the contentions of the petitioner, the court issued notice to the Southern Power Distribution Company of Telangana Limited and Transco.
Yadgirigutta barber recruitment stay
Justice Chillakur Sumalatha of the Telangana High Court stayed the recruitment of barbers connected to the temple service of Sri Laxmi Narasimha Swamy Devasthanam temple. The judge made the interim order while dealing with a writ filed by Nagavelli Sridhar challenging the notification issued in August 2023 by the Commissioner of Endowments and under the impugned notification the Devasthanam called for an application for making an appointment of a barber for the purpose of temple tonsure. The authorities would contend that it was not a complete exclusion he said that if local barbers are not available nonlocals will be considered. The court stayed all further proceedings and adjourned the matter to August 29.
