KCR moves High Court against Justice Narasimha Reddy Commission
KCR files a writ petition, arguing that the Commission's formation violates natural justice principles.
Hyderabad: BRS president and former Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao approached the High Court to annul the Justice L Narasimha Reddy Commission, constituted by the State government to investigate power purchase agreements and the construction of new thermal power plants in Telangana during the BRS regime. He filed a writ petition, arguing that the Commission’s formation violates natural justice principles.
In his petition, Chandrashekhar Rao asserted that power purchases were carried out as per the rules. He objected to Justice Narasimha Reddy‘s biased remarks by holding press conferences and unisided actions, without conducting an indepth probe into the allegations. The Commission, Justice Narasimha Reddy, and the Energy department of Telangana have been named as respondents.
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The State government formed this single-member inquiry commission under the Commission of Inquiries Act, 1952, on March 14 to scrutinise power purchase agreements and thermal power plant construction over the past decade during the BRS rule. The Commission has already questioned around 25 current and former officials from Telangana‘s electricity companies.
In response to a notice issued to him, the former Chief Minister also issued a 12-page detailed letter to the Commission, questioning the commission’s validity. He also raised strong objection to Justice Narasimha Reddy’s biased remarks before the media, without comprehensive examination of the issues raised and urged him to recuse himself from the commission. He responded point-by-point to the government’s mission terms and the comments made by Justice Narasimha Reddy in a press conference. Chandrashekhar Rao argued that it was illegal to establish an inquiry commission on decisions taken by the Electricity Regulatory Commission (ERC), which is a judicial body. He expressed disappointment that Justice Narasimha Reddy accepted the commission’s responsibilities without advising the government of its illegality.
Narasimha Reddy panel serves second notice to KCR
The Justice L Narasimha Reddy Commission, investigating the alleged irregularities in the power sector during the previous BRS regime, has reportedly issued a second notice to BRS president and former Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao seeking more details about power purchases and power plants.
According to sources, the Commission issued a notice on June 19 asking Chandrashekhar Rao to give more details about the Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) made with Chhattisgarh and details of the Bhadradri and Yadadri power plants. The commission has asked the former Chief Minister to reply by June 27. Chandrashekhar Rao, who moved the High Court against the Commission on Tuesday, has mentioned the second notice as well in his petition.
Earlier, the commission had sent a notice to Rao along with 25 others, seeking a response on alleged irregularities in PPAs made during his tenure as Chief Minister. The Commission had sought a reply from Rao by June 15. However, Rao questioned the credibility of the judicial inquiry by the Justice Narasimha Reddy Commission into the alleged irregularities and on Tuesday.
