Hyderabad: Justice P. Naveen Rao of the Hyderabad High Court on Tuesday directed the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation to file a report before the court by next week on alleged illegal constructions by the Film Nagar Cultural Centre at Jubilee Hills.
The judge was dealing with a petition by Dr Kosaraju Jyothi Prasad, seeking to declare the action of the GHMC authorities in not taking any action against the illegal and unauthorized construction taken up by the Film Nagar Cultural Centre in Jubilee Hills as illegal.
Counsel for the petitioner Mr C. Damodar Reddy submitted that the private respondent had constructed about 50000 square feet and the authorities had not taken any action despite several representations.
He urged the court to direct the GHMC to seal the new building constructed by the Film Nagar Cultural Centre at Filmnagar Club to prevent further unauthorized construction.
How much space for kids, asks HC
The Hyderabad High Court has directed the Telangana government to file an affidavit informing the court that it will utilize only six acres of land in NTR Stadium for constructing "Telangana Kala Bharathi" and also inform whether the 10 acre of the Government College of Physical Education will be made available for children residing in the surrounding areas of the stadium.
A division Bench comprising acting Chief Justice Dilip B. Bhosale and Justice S.V. Bhatt was dealing with a PIL by Indira Park Walkers Association, represented by its president A. Sudhakar Rao Yadav, seeking to set aside the GO Ms No 73 issued on April 23, 2015 directing the GHMC to hand over the NTR Stadium to the department of Culture for the proposed Kala Bharathi.
Mr Sarasani Satyam Reddy, senior counsel appearing for the petitioner, placed a map before the bench showing availability of 10 acre of vacant land pertaining to the Government Physical Education College.
He contended that the GHMC has no right to handover the NTR stadium to the state government and the special officer had taken the decision when there was no standing committee or elected body.
The counsel said taking away the open stadium would result in depriving scores of people their lung space as they regularly used the stadium for walking, jogging, yoga and meditation.
Telangana advocate general K. Ramakrishna Reddy said that the government had proposed to construct the Kala Bharathi for various cultural activities and it would be like a convention centre. The Bench granted a week to the government to file the affidavit.
Speedy trial in tonsuring dalits
Justice P.V. Sanjay Kumar of the Hyderabad High Court on Tuesday ordered for a speedy trial in the case of tonsuring of Dalits in East Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh.
The judge was disposing a petition by Mr Koti China Raju and three others victims of tonsure. Mr Bojja Tarakam, senior counsel appearing for the petitioners, submitted that Mr Thota Trimurthulu, the current MLA from Ramachandrapuram East Godavari district, was the main accused in the case, which had taken place nearly two decades ago. He said though a chargesheet was filed in the case and the case was transferred to Visakhapatnam in 2008, trial in this case had not commenced till date.
While expressing surprise at the delay, the judge directed the new public prosecutor appointed in this case to take all steps necessary for speedy trial in the case.
AP told to let priests do puja
Justice P. Naveen Rao of the Hyderabad High Court on Tuesday directed the AP state government to allow purohits to perform puja and other rituals at any of the Pushkar Ghats in Rajahmundry at their convenience. The judge was dealing with a petition filed by Mr Dronamraju Ravi Kumar of All India Brahmin Federation, challenging the restrictions imposed by the authorities at Pushkar Ghats.
The petitioner informed the court that each purohit had been given an identity card which specified the place where he could conduct prayers and doing so anywhere else would make him ineligible. The judge justified the issuance of identity cards but rejected the condition that the purohits should perform rituals only at specified places.
Permission for Id at NTR Grounds
A petition was filed in the Hyderabad High Court on Tuesday seeking directions to the department of Culture of Telangana state to grant permission for performing Ramzan Eid prayers on July 18 or 19 (based on sighting of moon) at NTR grounds near Indira Park.
Jamiat Ahle Hadith, represented by its general secretary Mr Shafeeq Alam Khan of the city, moved the court stating that the GHMC has earlier allowed them to offer prayers at the NTR grounds by collecting the required fee.
However, as the land had not been allotted to the cultural department of the state, permission was being sought from them from this year onwards.
He urged the court to direct the authorities to forthwith grant permission and to make necessary arrangements prior to congregational Eid prayers.
