Tech Mahindra moves Hyderabad High Court, challenges Satyam megistrate’s competence

Hyderabad: Tech Mahindra Ltd on Thursday moved the Hyderabad High Court challenging the competence and jurisdiction of the 21st additional chief metropolitan magistrate court in trying the case of Satyam Computers scam under the Prevention of Money Laundering (PMLA) Act.

The company contended that the 21st additional chief metropolitan magistrate court is not session’s court and the judicial officer who is heading the court is in the rank of assistant session’s judge cadre and he is not competent to try the case as per Section 43 of the Act.

The company challenged a GO issued by the state government. The Centre and the state government has notified the court as competent in view of the direction of the Supreme Court in Satyam Computers scam case that the case has to be tried by the existing court till completion of the trial and the present judge also not be transferred till then.

When the plea came up for hearing before Justice P. Naveen Rao, he pointed out that the petitioners have challenged a non legislative order and as per the roaster his court has no jurisdiction to deal with non–legislative orders. The petitioner company urged the judge to adjourn the matter for Friday.