Telangana HC terms publication of Kaleshwaram report improper without Assembly debate, asks govt to take it down from public domain

The Telangana High Court directed the State government to remove the P.C. Ghose Commission’s Kaleshwaram project report from public platforms, observing it was premature before Assembly debate. The court heard pleas by K. Chandrashekhar Rao and T. Harish Rao, posting the case for five weeks later.

Hyderabad: The Telangana High Court on Friday faulted the State government for putting the PC Ghose Commission report on the Kaleshwaram project in public domain, before discussion in the Assembly. The State government has been directed to take down the official report or its summary from public domain. The court has posted the matter for hearing after five weeks.

The HC Division Bench, comprising Chief Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh and Justice GM Moinuddin, was acting on writ petitions filed by BRS chief and former Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao, and former Minister T Harish Rao, seeking a direction to the Telangana Government not to act upon the report on the Kaleshwaram project.

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During the arguments, Advocate General A Sudharshan Reddy made a categorical submission that no action would be taken on the report until it was placed before and discussed in the Assembly, as mandated by the Commission of Inquiries Act. In view of the written submission by the State government, the bench noted that the petitioners’ apprehensions of immediate action were misplaced. It held that no interim directions were necessary at this stage.

However, the court observed that since the government had accepted the report for Assembly debate, uploading it on official websites was improper and impermissible, and in violation of principles of natural justice. “When the government has decided to accept the report and place it before the Assembly, the same or its summary should not have been uploaded on the official website. In case it is placed on any official website, it should be taken down,” the bench said.

The State government has been directed to file detailed counter writ petitions within three weeks, while BRS president and former Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao and former Minister T Harish Rao have been given one week thereafter to file their responses.