Hyderabad High Court seeks report by September 29 on red sanders killing

Hyderabad: The Hyderabad High Court on Monday directed forensic science experts to complete DNA and other tests in the April 7 encounter killing of 20 alleged red sander smugglers and submit a report by September 29.

A division Bench comprising acting Chief Justice Dilip B. Bhosale and Justice S.V. Bhatt was dealing with the petitions by the Civil Liberties Committee and Ms Muniammal, wife of deceased wood cutter Sashi Kumar, seeking to book a case under Section 302 of IPC (Murder) against the police personnel involved in the encounter. One of the petitions also sought constitution of a fresh SIT, expressing doubts over the present members’ track record.

When hearing began, counsel appearing for Andhra Pradesh informed the Bench that the Additional Advocate General of Andhra Pradesh would appear for the SIT and another counsel would appear for the government of Andhra Pradesh.

Counsel appearing for the families of the deceased wood cutters from Tamil Nadu and civil rights organisations objected to this arrangement contending that an independent counsel ought to appear for the SIT and the Additional AG, who had been arguing the case on behalf of the state government till now, could not argue for the SIT.

At this stage a counsel for the petitioners pointed out that the court was being “liberal” in granting time to the SIT which had not completed its investigation within the time period previously fixed by the court.

While disapproving the tone of arguments of the counsel, the Bench asked the counsel for Andhra Pradesh to inform the court by 4 pm about the status of investigation and the proposed course of further action.

When the Bench resumed hearing at 4 pm, the counsel informed that call data had to be analysed by experts and the SIT authorities were waiting for the forensic reports.

While permitting the SIT to take the assistance of experts for analysing data of mobile phones, the Bench adjourned the case to September 29.

Justice Raja Elango of the Hyderabad High Court on Monday permitted Telugu Desam MLA Sandra Venkata Veeraiah, one of the accused in the cash-for-vote scam, to attend the coming Assembly session.

The judge was dealing with a plea by the MLA, seeking relaxation in his bail conditions. The court had earlier conditioned that the MLA was not to move out of his Sattupally constituency in Khammam district.

Mr Veeraiah urged the court to permit him to attend the Assembly Session which will commence from September 23.

While relaxing the condition, the judge made it clear he could come to Hyderabad only for the Assembly Session, but he could visit other places outside his constituency.

A division bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Dilip B Bhosale and Justice SV Bhatt of the Hyderabad High Court Monday directed the Andhra Pradesh government not to issue letter of intent and not take any further steps till Monday as regards establishment of the SPY Agro Distillery at Nandyal in Kurnool district.

The bench was dealing with a Public Interest Litigation by Kodali Sri Venkateshwara Rao seeking to declare the action of the government in reviving the expired letter of intent to SPY Agro Industries Ltd for establishing an Indian-made foreign liquor ( IMFL) manufacturing unit -- by extending its validity upto April 19, 2015 -- as illegal. When the bench asked about the status of the case, Moola Vijaya Bhaskar, counsel for Andhra Pradesh, informed the court that granting of licence is still in the process.

Then the bench directed counsel to inform the government not to proceed further in this matter till Monday and adjourned the hearing.

The Supreme Court on Monday asked the Centre and the Andhra Pradesh government to spell out their stand on a Public Interest Litigation seeking to expeditiously start works on a port at Dugarajapatnam in Nellore district.

A bench headed by Chief Justice HL Dattu was hearing the Public Interest Litigation by former Member of Parliaments and Congress leader Chintha Mohan challenging inaction of the government in not commencing the works despite issue of a notification for establishment of the port in September, 2013.

Mohan Jain, senior counsel appearing for the petitioner, told the bench that the port was of national importance and would generate employment to the people of Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.

Timely establishment of the port would not only generate revenue, but also lessen the cargo burden on nearby ports, counsel said.