CBI court told to speed up Jagan Mohan Reddy's case

The bench was dealing with a PIL by Y. Vedavyas, an advocate from Vijayawada, seeking to declare the delay by the Central Bureau of Investigation in prosecuting the cases against the sitting MLAs and MPs and also enabling the accused to prolong the process of delivery of justice, as illegal and arbitrary.

The petitioner urged the court to direct the CBI, Central Vigilance Commission, and the Centre to take necessary steps to conduct the prosecution expeditiously in the cases registered against the sitting MLAs and MPs under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, pending disposal of the petition.

Counsel representing the CBI told the Bench that there were eight cases pending before the special CBI court with regard to the illegal investments case of Mr Jagan Mohan Reddy, and most of the accused had moved discharge petitions before the trial court.

While disposing the petition by directing the special CBI court to expedite hearing, the bench said that there was no point in keeping the PIL pending and it was disposing the PIL without expressing its opinion on merits of cases pending before the lower court.

A division bench comprising acting Chief Justice Dilip B. Bhosale and Justice S.V. Bhatt sought the response of the AP government and the Pithapuram municipality on a PIL seeking to stop cruelty to the animals at the weekly cattle market. The bench was dealing with the PIL filed by the Animal Rescue Organisation and AP Cow Protection Federation.

The Hyderabad High Court refused to entertain a petition by Sri Raj, son of former Congress MP G.V. Harsha Kumar, seeking to direct the superintendent of East Godavari district to register a complaint and take action against the persons responsible for the July 14 stampede at the Pushkar Ghat in Rajahmundry which claimed 28 lives.

The petitioner alleged that the tragedy took place due to involvement of film director Boyapati Srinu who was allowed to film the Chief Minister taking part in the Pushkaraly and use the same for promoting the ruling party.

The Hyderabad High Court on Monday asked the Institute of Health Systems Ltd to inform the court within two weeks whether it is willing to pay the market rate prevailing at the time of allotment of land to it by the erstwhile AP government.

A division bench comprising acting Chief Justice Dilip B Bhosale and Justice S.V. Bhatt was dealing with a petition filed by advocate V. Ravi Babu seeking to suspend GO Ms No 260 dated Feb 21, 2009, which allotted land to the institute at Gandipet, Ranga Reddy district, at Rs 1 lakh per acre.

The petitioner said that the decision to alienate 16 acres of prime land in favour of the institute to build a world class college of public health and campus was illegal. The bench pointed out that it was becoming a trend for institutions to approach the government for land at lower rates while claiming to extend public service but making profits.

Counsel representing the institute claimed said it was a reputed

organisation and it sought land to do real service to the people. The bench said that inform to it whether the Institution is willing to pay the market price and then only it will take up the detailed adjudication of the matter.