Telangana HC refuses to intervene in Excise policy

Hyderabad: A two-judge panel of Telangana High Court comprising Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice A Rajashekar Reddy on Tuesday refused to interfere with the Excise policy of the State in allotting A4 liquor shops to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. Telangana Republic Party represented by its general secretary A Anand filed a writ […]

Hyderabad: A two-judge panel of Telangana High Court comprising Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice A Rajashekar Reddy on Tuesday refused to interfere with the Excise policy of the State in allotting A4 liquor shops to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.

Telangana Republic Party represented by its general secretary A Anand filed a writ petition challenging the alleged disproportionate allocation of wine shops to SCs and STs. He said the SCs and STs should be allocated 15.45% and 9.08% shops proportionate to their population as per the 2011 census. The petitioner could not show any law requiring the government to provide such percentage of liquor shops. The panel opined that the petitioner should be happy for the 10% and 5% shops allocated to the SC and ST communities respectively though there was no such rule. The panel accordingly dismissed the case.

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Appoint officer, govt told

The same panel directed the Telangana government to appoint presiding officer to Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Authority of Telangana before December 30, failing which the Chief Secretary was directed to appear before the court. The panel made the order in a petition filed by Adnan Mahmood seeking to fill the vacancy of presiding officer and prepare an action plan to ensure that the post of the presiding officer under the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act-2013 is not kept vacant for long duration.

HC warns against unregulated statues

The panel on Tuesday warned the State government that it would issue suo moto contempt proceedings if there are any unregulated statues in the middle of the road, on road sides and other public places in Telangana in violation of GHMC Act and other provisions. The writ petition was taken suo moto based upon a letter which complained of unregulated statues in violation of GHMC Act and Supreme Court order. The government submitted that they had ensured no statues were set up on the main roads against any guidelines.

Apology sought from ex-Collector

The panel sought a written apology from ex-bureaucrat Venkatrami Reddy, who was Siddipet District Collector, for making objectionable comments against judiciary. The officer had conducted a meeting with seed dealers wherein he stated that anyone growing or selling paddy would be sent to jail. He also commented that he wouldn’t care about High Court or Supreme Court orders. The panel took up the matter as it was referred by a single judge of the High Court for issuance of contempt proceedings. Advocate General said that the officer had already tendered an apology and would also tender written apology if the court directed him to do so.

Bail granted

Justice Lalitha Kanneganti of Telangana High Court on Tuesday granted bail to two directors of a Bombay-based finance company who had allegedly disposed of shares amounting to Rs 72 crore belonging to a firm owned by former Union Minister T Subbarami Reddy. Senior Counsel Dammalapati Srinivas, representing the accused directors Chetan Balubai Patel and Harshavardhan Avinash Pradhan of Champion Finsec Limited, argued extensively before the court stating that there was no breach of contract on part of the directors. The public prosecutor contended that the accused had promised a loan for pledging shares, but the same shares were sold illegally without granting loan. In view of the same, the bail was granted.

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