Telangana HC disposes of PIL against GO

HC panel was dealing with a PIL filed by Prabhakar Chouti, challenging the GO seemingly meant for expenses towards contempt cases against the Chief Commissioner Land Administration

Hyderabad: A two-judge panel of the Telangana High Court, comprising Chief Justice Hima Kohli and Justice B Vijayasen Reddy, on Friday questioned why the Chief Secretary was not willing to add corrigendum to GO 208 issued on June 6 for revalidating the lapsed amount of about Rs 58 crore. It recalled the interim order which stayed spending of funds from the said GO.

The panel was dealing with a public interest litigation case filed by Prabhakar Chouti, challenging the GO seemingly meant for expenses towards contempt cases against the Chief Commissioner Land Administration (CCLA). The Chief Secretary had through Advocate General clarified that the GO revalidated the lapsed amount which was supposed to be spent on compensating the rehabilitated persons of Jogulamba Gadwal district in land acquisition proceedings.

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The Advocate General told the court that there was a clarification in the earlier communications made by the CCLA to the Revenue and Finance departments. The panel questioned, ‘what is the difficulty in adding a corrigendum to the GO’. However, after perusing the communications by the CCLA in February and March seeking revalidating of lapsed amount, the panel recorded the same and disposed of the case.

Notice to official

A two-judge panel, comprising Chief Justice Hima Kohli and Justice A Abhishek Reddy, ordered notice to Chief Secretary Somesh Kumar in his capacity as Special Chief Secretary to Revenue Department. Jagan Mohan of Hyderabad filed a writ petition questioning the inaction of authorities in effecting his compassionate appointment. In 2020, the High Court confirmed his compassionate appointment in an appeal filed by the State government. The panel directed the compliance of the order passed in 2020 or show cause as to why contempt proceedings should not be issued against the authorities.

‘Land allotted too cheap’

The same panel wondered as to how the government can allot land at such a petty price and not impose any conditions while allotting 5 acres to Anand Cine Services. An appeal was filed by the State government challenging an order directing the government to execute conveyance deed in favour of the petitioner, Anand Cine Services. The land was allotted to the said party at Rs 2,500 per acre when the market value was Rs 2,500 per sq yard.

The government informed the court that the erstwhile state of Andhra Pradesh had allotted the said land for the establishment of Anand Cine Services viz, construction of office, godown for equipment, parking and service facilities for generator vehicles. However, the Government Pleader pointed out that since the petitioner failed to utilise the land for the intended purpose, it cannot have any right to have the allotment to continue in its favour. He contended that the government never interfered with the extent of land utilised by the petitioner where the allotment was not cancelled. The panel questioned whether there was any condition pertaining to taking back the land if not utilised. The case was adjourned to next month.

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