Hyderabad: The Hyderabad High Court on Monday took a serious view at the attitude of the prohibition and excise department authorities of Visakhapatnam in allowing a liquor shop in sanctity area of Simhachalam devasthanam.
A division bench comprising Chief Justice Kalyan Jyoti Sengupta and Justice P.V. Sanjay Kumar was dealing with a PIL by U. Sandhya, a resident of Simhachalam area of Visakhapatnam, questioning the action of the authorities in issuing licence to set up a liquor shop on the premises of Sri Varaha Lakshmi Narasi-mha Swamy temple.
The petitioner told the court that the district excise superintendent has given licences to various people to set up liquor shops within the area of Adavi Varam which falls under the sanctity area of devasthanam.
She said one of the licences was granted to set up liquor shop on the premises of Madhavi Kalyana mandapam of the temple. The petitioner contended that the action of the authorities was against the sentiments of the devotees and also demeans the sanctity of the devasthanam.
She urged the court to direct the respondent authorities to conduct an enquiry and to initiate steps for the removal of existing liquor shops aro-und the devasthanam.
Expressing dismay, the bench demanded to know how the authorities had allowed sale of liquor near the temple and directed the district collector and excise superintendent to file an affidavit explaining the reasons for granting licence to liquor shops near the temple, within two weeks.
JNTU questions judge’s order
The Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University on Monday moved the Hyderabad High Court challenging an order of a single judge, ordering the varsity to include certain private engineering colleges in counselling for admissions in post-graduate courses in engineering and pharmacy.
The JNTU, represented by its registrar Dr N.V. Ramana Rao, moved the appeal submitting that out of the 272 engineering and 90 pharmacy colleges conducting PG courses, about 145 engineering and 50 pharmacy colleges have given satisfactory particulars along with undertakings.
