Hyderabad: The Hyderabad High Court on Monday direc-ted Telangana advocate-general to justify the stand of the government in conferring Cabinet ranks to its advisers and special representatives.
While hearing a plea by Congress MP Gutha Sukhender Reddy challenging the action of the government in according Cabinet ranks to advisors, a division bench comprising acting Chief Justice Dilip B. Bhosale and Justice S.V. Bhatt observed that it has no objection if the state grants facilities to its advisors on par with Cabinet ministers but it shall not exceed the ratio prescribed for conferring the Cabinet rank as per the law.
Mr K. Ramakrishna Reddy, advocate-general, submitted that they have appointed 14 persons as advisers and gave them the Cabinet rank only for giving perks to them.
Mr Reddy said he will file counter-affidavit on the government’s stand on the issue, when the bench reminded him about the Constitutio-nal provisions and the Supreme Court ruling on the composition of Cabinet.
Agrigold is barred from property sale
A division bench comprising of acting Chief Just-ice Dilip B. Bhosale and Justice S.V. Bhatt of the High Court on Monday sought to know the reasons for not arresting the promoters and directors of Agri Gold Company, though cognizable offence was made out and crimes are registered them.
The bench was dealing with a PIL by Telangana Agri Gold Customers and Agents Welfare Associ-ation seeking to handover the case either to the CBI or enforcement directorate.
The bench made it clear that it will not tolerate the lethargy of police in its approach. The bench directed all the associate companies of Agri Gold Farms Ltd to file appropriate affidavits before the court stating that they will not alienate the properties without court permission and also furnish the list of all properties which can be sold to pay the depositors.
TS quizzed on delay in pr staff salaries
The Hyderabad High Court on Monday disapproved the stand of the TS government over the non-payment of salaries to sanitation workers engaged in panchayats in the state.
The bench was dealing with a PIL filed by Mr Pratap of Warangal challenging the inaction of the government with regard to non-payment of salaries to sanitation workers.
J. Ramachandra Rao, additional advocate-general, submitted that the local panchayats have to pay their salaries as they are working as contract labour under the outsourcing system. He said if the contractor failed to pay the salaries, they have to approach the labour commissioner.
While making it clear that the state is responsible for their salaries, the bench said asked the government to report back to the court about its final stand.
