GO 111: Telangana HC seeks report in 4 weeks
The panel continued to hear the petitions pertaining to the permissions and prohibitions of development activity in areas falling under GO 111
Hyderabad: A two- judge panel of the Telangana High Court comprising Chief Justice Hima Kohli and Justice B Vijaya Sen Reddy on Thursday directed the State government to place before it, the report of High-Power Committee constituted for examining GO 111 within 4 weeks, amongst various other directions.
The panel continued to hear the petitions pertaining to the permissions and prohibitions of development activity in areas falling under GO 111. The court expressed displeasure at the State government for seeking more time to submit the High-Power Committee report. Speaking for the panel, Justice Hima Kohli, commented that the committee and the government are sleeping over the report for 4 years and 7 months and remarked, ‘by seeking little more time, do you mean another decade of time?’.
It may be recalled that the GO 111 issued in 1996 prohibits industrial activities and high-rise constructions around 10 km radius of the two lakes, Himayatsagar and Osmansagar, to ensure that the drinking water supply to Hyderabad city is not polluted. Subsequently, GO 839 was issued in 2016 appointing a High-Power committee to examine GO 111 with terms of reference, including examination of EPTRI report which exempted a list of 87 parcels of land covering 948 acres around Vattinagulapally village. The said report found that the parcels of land which are falling in the non-catchment area of the land are liable to be declared as falling outside the watershed boundary.
The panel reprimanded the authorities and questioned how there could be no time limit for the committee report. The panel directed government to submit committee report within 4 weeks starting from August 13, the date on which committee assured it shall file the report. It also directed that the High-Power Committee shall specifically deal with EPTRI report which exempted certain parcels of land and the State government shall examine the same by the end of September 2021 and circulate and upload the report and its decision on the official website of the government.
It further directed the chairman of the High-Power Committee to file an affidavit within a week stating that the committee shall abide by the timeline directed by the court. The panel made it clear in the event the High-Power Committee is not able to submit the report in the said timeline fixed by the court, the committee shall be deemed to be dismantled and the concerned persons shall be at liberty to approach the court based on May 2006 EPTRI report. The panel adjourned the case to October 4 for further hearing.
Court directive on Ramappa Temple
The two-Judge Panel in a suo Moto letter taken up as a PIL pertaining to Ramappa Temple affirmed that since the Temple has received the recognition of a World Heritage Site, the steps taken by the Government for developing the area without damaging the ecology or the temple must have a fine balance. The panel opined that since the value of the land around the temple will increase, people will be rushing to buy property around it which shall not cause any disadvantage to the Heritage Site.
Further, it also opined that a system must be in place for tourists and recommendations provided by the Archaeological Survey of India must be taken into consideration. If any, the State and the Central Governments can intervene with respect to the recommendations. The Advocate General stated that a meeting is scheduled for next week to decide on these factors. The panel set forth that the area around the Heritage Site must not turn into a concrete jungle and directed the Government to file a report. The matter has been adjourned to September 29.
Ban on weed killer suspended
Justice T Amarnath Goud of Telangana High Court on Thursday suspended the GO 293 issued in May 2021 pertaining to ban of controversial herbicide glyphosate by the Telangana State government. The Agro Chem Federation of India and Crystal Corp. Protection Ltd. filed this writ petition challenging the said GO. The weed killer glyphosate is mostly used in cotton farms. The controversy on its soil pollution and health hazards, including cancers has led to the ban of weed killer in various other countries also.
Senior counsel S Niranjan Reddy representing the petitioners contended that the Agriculture Department does not have the power to impose ban on the use of herbicide under the Insecticides Act. He said, the GO is contrary to ‘right to trade and practice’ guaranteed under the Constitution of India. Further, he contended that herbicides such as glyphosate are used in the un-season to control the weed. The judge granted interim order suspending the said GO and adjourned the case by 4 weeks directing the Agriculture Department to file its counter.
HC poser to MCI on NEET Centre in Saudi
Justice Abhinand Kumar Shavili on Thursday directed the Medical Council of India to get instructions pertaining to NEET Examination for Overseas Citizens of India. In a writ plea filed by Mohd. Sulaiman Javed, currently pursuing his medicine in Riyadh, Saudi contended that due to the travel ban imposed in Saudi, it is impossible to appear for NEET which is scheduled on September 11.
Justice Abhinand Kumar questioned Medical Council of India as to why there is no centre in Saudi considering a huge number of overseas Indian citizens reside there. The counsel appearing for Medical Council of India requested the court for time to obtain instructions. The matter is adjourned to September 3.
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