Telangana keen on implementing FAST, readies argument before High Court

Hyderabad: The Telangana state government seems to be in no mood to reverse its decision of fixing 1956 as the cut-off year for eligibility for students under the FAST (Financial Assistance for Students of Telangana) scheme despite recent adverse remarks by the High Court.

The TS Cabinet had approved the 1956 cut-off on July 16. Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao is learnt to have directed officials to submit strong arguments in favour of FAST before the HC during the next hearing, which is expected after three weeks.

He has also asked them to study the “local norms” being adopted in Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Uttarakhand for the purpose besides earlier Supreme Court judgements in this regard. He has even asked officials to approach the Supreme Court over the issue if needed.

Following the HC’s strong observations against FAST two days ago, the CM on Tuesday had held a meeting to discuss about how to go forward on this issue.

He told officials not to worry too much as the HC had only passed observations and the final judgement is yet to come.

Read: Hyderabad High Court terms Telangana government's FAST scheme secessionist

Mr Rao advised officials of the legal department to be extra cautious while drafting the counter affidavit.

The HC had directed the government to file its counter on FAST within three weeks.

Several states such as Chhattisgarh and Jharkh-and have been adopting their own local, non-local norms and that there were earlier judgements of the Supreme Court in this regard stating that state had the right to prescribe norms to determine who was local and who was not.