A division bench comprising Chief Justice Madan B. Lokur and Justice P.V. Sanjay Kumar of the AP High Court issued notices to the state government and the HMWS&SB on a PIL against the decision to enhance water tariff. Forum for Good Governance secretary M. Padmanabha Reddy, filed the PIL contending that the decision is against to Article 21 of the Constitution.

He said that over Rs 100 crore is due from the government to the board and further the HMWS&SB is entitled to 25 per cent of the property tax collected by the GHMC. This share is also not being credited to the Board, Mr Reddy pointed out. He said that the board has to collect Rs 300 crore from commercial establishments.

HC notice on hooch tragedy
The High Court on Monday issued notice to the state government and the excise department on a taken up plea seeking direction to award of Rs 10,00,000 each to the family members of the deceased hooch tragedy of Krishna district. Tallapragada Subba Rao, a resident of Vijayawada city, had in a letter, urged the Chief Justice to take note of the hooch tragedy that took place in Nandigama in January, leaving over 19 people dead due to illicit liquor consumption. Mr Subba Rao urged the court to take stern action against those responsible.

Bar Chairman re-elected
AP Bar Council chairman A. Narasimha Reddy was re-elected as member of the council on Monday. Elections were held on December 30, 2011 to elect 25 members and the counting of votes began on January 19 and is likely to end by Thursday. In all 153 advocates contested. The cut off votes for a member to be declared elected was 1479. Election officer Renuka Reddy declared N. Dwarakanath Reddy, uncle of Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy, and Mr Narasimha Reddy elected. Ms Renuka said still 23 members have to be elected through preferential voting system.