CPI appeals against power sale policy

HYDERABAD
Nov. 5: The Communist Party of India (CPI) approached the Andhra Pradesh High Court asking it to declare as illegal the action of the state government to allow private power producing companies — GVK, Gautami, Konaseema and Vemagiri power companies — to sell 20 per cent of their power in the open market, illegal.
The CPI state secretary, Mr K. Narayana, filed the petition alleging that the government was seeking to impose its decision on an independent body like AP Electricity Regulatory Commission which was currently hearing the opinions and objections from experts and public.
He told the court that the state’s failure to supply fuel to these companies and the resultant alleged loss of Rs 1,100 crore suffered by these companies needs to be verified.
He said that even in the case of such a loss, the state’s obligation should end with the compensation. These companies need not be given anything over and above what they had suffered and any attempt to do so should be curtailed, he added.
However, one of the four companies, Gautami approached the High Court asking it to restrain the Andhra Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission from adjudicating the matter because the government had already decided to allow them to sell 20 per cent power.
The High Court gave five weeks time to the Commission to adjudicate the matter.
The court observed that if the commission fails to deliver its order by that time, these four companies would be allowed to sell their 20 per cent power in the open market subject to the final outcome in this case.

Document writers plea

A division bench comprising Justice A. Gopal Reddy and Justice S. Govindarajulu of the High Court on Thursday dismissed a batch of writ petitions filed by erstwhile “document writers” questioning the policy of the state government not to renew their licenses.
The bench upheld the plea of the state government that in view of the rationalisation and simplification of procedures there was no need to have registered document writer.
The bench dismissed the petitions after recording a finding that no fundamental right of the petitioners were violated because of the government’s action.

HC for action on civic officials

A division bench comprising Justice Goda Raghuram and Justice Ramesh Ranganathan of the Andhra Pradesh High Court, on Thursday directed the state government to take action against the officials of Zaheerabad municipality for their involvement in alleged irregularities in allotment of houses under the Integrated Development of Small and Medium Sized Township programme .
The bench was dealing with a writ petition filed by Ammanullah Ghori, a councillor of the Zaheerabad municipality.
The municipal administration department admitted before the court that there were irregularities in allotment of houses.
It told the court that the municipal chairman, some councillors and officials acted hand-in-glove in committing the irregularities.
Mr N.V. Sumanth, counsel for the petitioner told the court that out of the 1,000 plots about 100 were allotted in the names of spouses and other family members of the chairman, vice-chairman and other councillors and was thus a fraud.
The court then directed to initiate action against those responsible and report compliance to the court on November 9.
The court also directed the government to conduct inquiry into it with the Vigilance and Enforcement department and complete the inquiry in 30 days.