Hyderabad: A division bench comprising Chief Justice Kalyan Jyoti Sengupta and Justice P.V. Sanjay Kumar of the Hyderabad High Court on Monday granted three weeks to the Telangana state government to spell out its stand regarding a PIL seeking protection for the lakes in Ranga Reddy district. The bench was dealing with a PIL by the Ranga Reddy Zilla Cheruvula Parirakshana Samiti, represented by G.R. Karunakar, challenging the inaction of the authorities in protecting lakes. He said that the statutory committees under the AP Water Land and Trees Act 2002 (Walta Act 2002) and the AP Farmers Management of Irrigation Schemes Act 1997 have not been brought into existence since several years and committees have not met as per the information provided by the authorities themselves. He said there was no concrete action at the ground level and that the bunds are breached and water is not properly collected in the water bodies. Responding to the submissions, the bench directed the government and concerned authorities to place their response before the court.
Won’t stay Centre letter on Guv: HC A division bench comprising Chief Justice Kalyan Jyoti Sengupta and Justice P.V. Sanjay Kumar of the Hyderabad High Court refused to stay the operation of the letter issued by the Union home ministry regarding the special powers of the Governor in maintaining law and order in Hyderabad, the common capital of AP and Telangana. The bench was dealing with a petition by L. Panduranga Reddy contending that Section 8 of the AP State Reorganisation Act was unconstitutional. Sarasani Satyam Reddy, senior counsel appearing for the petitioner argued the as per the Constitution the powers of the Governor are limited and the rule envisaged in the Act was illegal and urged the court suspend the letter of the Centre.
While declining to grant stay, the bench told the counsel for the Centre to file a counter affidavit.
File counter on forests, TS told
The Hyderabad High Court directed the Telangana go-vernment and the Centre to file a counter affidavit on the alleged destruction of the reserve forest in the Kothaguda area of the city. The bench was dealing with a petition by Lumbini SLN Springs Welfare Association and another challenging the decision of the Centre permitting huge buildings in the name of tourism in the Kothaguda forest area. The petitioners told the court that despite rejection of the project by the experts committee, the governments have been allowing the destruction of the reserve forest in the name of eco tourism. The bench granted three weeks to the respondents to file their affidavits.
