Telangana courts to shift to virtual mode from Jan 18

Hyderabad: The Telangana High Court on Monday directed the State government to conduct one lakh Covid tests and strictly follow all guidelines issued by the Centre. The panel comprising Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Abhinand Kumar Shavili, hearing a batch of Covid PILs, also announced that all courts in the State will shift […]

Hyderabad: The Telangana High Court on Monday directed the State government to conduct one lakh Covid tests and strictly follow all guidelines issued by the Centre.
The panel comprising Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Abhinand Kumar Shavili, hearing a batch of Covid PILs, also announced that all courts in the State will shift to virtual mode of hearing from Tuesday till February 4. The announcement was made by the Chief Justice in the open court minutes after the court assembled after a week-long Sankranti vacation.

Senior Counsel L Ravichander pointed out to the court that from the report placed before the court, it was clear that the government was not conducting one lakh RTPCR tests as directed by the court in May last year. Reiterating that this was not adversarial, he pointed out that while the government was doing its bit, it wasn’t doing enough. The Chief Justice directed the government to strictly follow all guidelines issued by the Centre. The government would now be required to submit its next report on January 24.

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Earlier in the day, the Chief Justice also acknowledged resolutions made by the Senior Counsel and the Telangana State Bar Council requiring the court to move to virtual mode. The panel directed the government to ensure that strict policing of social distancing is carried out.

Pleas seek ban on ‘RRR’

The panel directed the Central Board of Film Certification to consider representation of Alluri Sowmya in a PIL filed by her seeking to ban the picturisation of the life history of two legendary patriots, Martyrs Alluri Sitarama Raju and Komaram Bheem, contrary to their lifestyle in the film ‘RRR’. She also sought a direction not to issue censor certificate to the film and to ban its release which was originally scheduled on January 7. The panel while declining to ban the release directed the Central Board of Film Certification to consider the representation of the petitioner made to it on December 29 and posted the matter for hearing on January 20.

PIL on illegal mining

The panel heard a PIL filed by Pandhiri Madhava Reddy alleging illegal mining and blasting carried out at Peddagutta in Atmakur of Suryapet. The petitioner alleged that the civic authorities as well as the State government were keeping quiet in spite of several complaints given by villagers regarding illegal activities being carried out in the area. He further said even the required environmental clearances were not obtained for carrying out mining and blasting activities. Special Government Pleader A Sanjeev Kumar submitted that a detailed report was received from the District Collector as per the directions of the court in the matter. The panel directed the report to be filed while the matter will be heard on January 24.

On revival of heritage monument

The panel directed HMDA to make a fresh representation to GHMC Heritage and Precincts Committee for revival of notified heritage monument Hill Fort Palace in a PIL filed by Hyderabad Heritage Trust. The petitioner Trust complained that despite several representations, the civic authorities were not taking any interest in revival of the Palace which hitherto had housed Hotel Ritz. It also requested that if the civic authorities are reluctant to take up the restoration works it was ready to take it up on its own. The panel while directing the HMDA to make representation to the GHMC Heritage and Precints Committee directed the Committee to act on it within 10 days failing which the Chairman of the Committee shall personally appear before it on February 1.

Govt told to file counter

The panel directed the State government to file its counter within six weeks in a PIL filed by Kare Madhu and another challenging the action of Tahsildar, Nandigam mandal, Ranga Reddy, in setting up a dumping yard and crematorium in the land forming part of FTL of Kundeti Kunta Cheruvu in Mamidipalle village. The petitioner also sought to restore the entire extent of the FTL area in the PIL.