Hyderabad: Chief Justice Kalyan Jyoti Sengupta and Justice P.V. Sanjay Kumar of the Hyderabad HC on Friday granted time to the AP government till September 23 to spell out its stand on petitions challenging the AP Charitable and Hindu religious institutions and endowments (amendment) Ordinance.
Senior counsel Raghunandan Rao appearing for the petitioners contended that the ordinance was against Article 14 and 19 and contrary to SC directions. He said the ordinance was issued to increase the number of members in temple committees. The AP government issued the ordinance on August 9, 2014 asking all chairpersons and members of trust boards of all temples including the TTD to step down.
Replying to a query from the bench AP advocate general P. Venugopal said the ordinance culminated into an Act as both Houses of the legislature had passed the Bill. The CJ pointed out that when the government has decided to increase members what is the need for removing existing members.
The AG urged the court to grant more time to present the government’s version and the bench adjourned the case to September 3.
Plea against Aadhaar
The Hyderabad HC on Friday admitted a petition challenging the decision of the AP government to link pension schemes to Aadhaar.
Anupalli gram panchayat sarpanch Y. Chandra Sekhar Reddy and eight others challenged the GO MS No 135 issued on September 17 by the AP government.
The petitioners counsel, P Sudhakar Reddy, contended that Aadhaar linkage violated SC orders. AG P. Venugopal said the GO was intended to check irregularities. Admitting the plea the judge adjourned the case for six weeks.
