Telangana HC dismisses pleas against HCA officials

According to the complaint lodged by Sagar Cricket Club , there has been gross mismanagement of funds in the construction of Uppal stadium

Hyderabad: Justice K Lakshman of the Telangana High Court on Tuesday dismissed a batch of criminal petitions arising from a criminal complaint lodged by Sagar Cricket Club against the officials of HCA. According to the complaint, there has been gross mismanagement of funds in the construction of Uppal stadium.

The complaint pointed out that for the bucket seats alone, the committee has paid Rs 2.07 crore excess by taking huge kickbacks from the supplier. There is misappropriation of amount with regard to the erection of floodlights in Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium and that a unilateral decision has been taken to purchase land at Nandigama village in Patancheru mandal of Medak district. In all, there were 15 allegations in the complaint. The petitioners included Arshad Ayub, BS Chalapthi, John Manoj and R Devraj.

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“Demands of institutional integrity are, therefore, heavy and need to be met suitably in larger public interest. Individuals are birds of passage while institutions are forever. The expectations of the millions of cricket lovers in particular and public at large in general, have lowered considerably the threshold of tolerance for any mischief, wrongdoing or corrupt practices which sought to be weeded out of the system,” Justice Lakshman said.

The court rejected the plea that the HCA is not a public authority and also that the investigating officers have not considered the relevant material and not conducted the investigation in a fair and transparent manner. The alleged omissions and contradictions in the statements of the witnesses cannot be considered in a petition filed to quash the trial, he said.

“The petitioners have to face trial and take the said defences during trial and prove their innocence,” the judge said. “Prima facie, there are serious allegations against the petitioners herein. However, whether the HCA has received any aid or financial assistance, whether the office bearers of HCA have discharged public duty and whether they are the public servants as defined under the provisions of the PC Act is a question of fact and triable issues,” Justice Lakshman said.

Regulating private hospitals

A two-judge panel, comprising Chief Justice Hima Kohli and Justice B Vijaysen Reddy, directed the Director, Public Health, Telangana, to remain virtually present for the hearing scheduled on June 2. It stated that the questions raised by the panel on May 17 remain unanswered or remain answered ambiguously.

The panel stated that the primary issue concerning the need for regulation of private hospitals through the issue of a fresh government order needs to be addressed by the Director of Public Health. Senior counsel L Ravichander brought up the issue of lack of hospital beds for children highlighting that only 20 beds had been earmarked for them.

The panel observed that the supply of the drug for the black fungus disease, Amphotericin, has not been allocated adequately to Telangana. It directed the Advocate General to bring all necessary information on record before the next hearing. It posted the case on June 2.

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