Telangana HC closes petition in lawyer couple’s murder case
The High Court had taken suo moto cognizance of the incident and had been monitoring the investigation
Hyderabad: A two-judge panel of Telangana High Court comprising Chief Justice Hima Kohli and Justice B Vijaysen Reddy on Friday closed the suo moto writ petition in connection with the murder of lawyer couple Gattu Vamana Rao and wife Nagamani.
The panel took note of the fourth status report filed by Advocate General (AG). It may be recalled that the lawyer couple was brutally murdered in broad day light while they were returning to Hyderabad. The High Court had taken suo moto cognizance of the incident and had been monitoring the investigation. The Advocate General through the latest status report informed the court that the investigation was completed and a comprehensive charge-sheet had been filed on May 19. The Advocate General further stated that the matter was to be taken up by Sessions Court, Karimnagar, on June 10. The panel accordingly closed the case.
‘Constitute security panel in 4 weeks’
The panel also ordered conditional appearance of Principal Secretaries of Home, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, before it after four weeks. The panel expressed displeasure on their failure in constituting a State Security Commission and a Public Complaints Authority.
The High Court had ordered the constitution of said authorities in 2017. However, the same has not seen the light of day. On the request of the governments for six more weeks to implement the same, the panel expressed dissatisfaction and pointed out to the delay of three years.
The panel then directed Principal Secretaries of Home of both the States to implement the order within four weeks. In the event of non-implementation, both the Secretaries will appear in person before the court and explain the reasons for non-implementation. The panel adjourned the case by four weeks.
Agri Gold’s proposal rejected
A two-judge panel of Telangana High Court comprising Justice MS Ramachandra Rao and Justice T Amarnath Goud on Friday hearing a batch of petitions concerning Agri Gold properties rejected the Joint Venture proposal of Agri Gold. The Agri Gold stated it can rack up Rs 2,000 crore with the proposed development plan involving 23 companies.
The panel expressed doubt on the proposal and said it would not be possible for the court to monitor the sale of developed plots. The Agri Gold pointed out that the court was able to raise only Rs 50 crore in the past six years and expressed its concerns. The panel then said it would have accepted the proposals for sale and auction of the said properties instead of the development plan. Agri Gold then stated it would come up with the proposal suggested by the court.
Case adjourned
The panel expressed dissatisfaction at Telangana government for its inability to hand over 150 acres to Narendar Reddy, an auction purchaser, though he had purchased it in 2019 for about Rs 15 crore. When the government requested for more time to file its counter, the panel reprimanded the State for not filing the same.
The panel then stated it would hear these cases along with the application pertaining to sale of Rs 23 crore shopping mall in Vijayawada next Friday and adjourned the case.
State told to consider remission
Justice K Lakshman of Telangana High Court, in a verdict of far reaching import, directed the State authorities to consider grant of remission to convicts suffering life imprisonment in line with the policy and to have a human approach. “Life convicts should be eligible for release into society once they have served sufficient period of time in the prison to mark the seriousness of their offences. Sentences for whole life without a chance of review amount to crucial and degrading treatment,” Justice Lakshman pointed out.
The judge pointed out that the authorities had to consider certain factors of antecedents; conduct of the lifers during incarceration; likelihood to abstain from crime. The judge was dealing with a bunch of writ pleas filed by kith and kin and close relatives of lifers for grant of remission.
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