High Court orders status quo on 2 universities
Hyderabad High Court
Hyderabad: While ordering the Telangana state and AP governments to maintain status quo with regard to functioning of Potti Sreeramulu Telugu University and BR Ambedkar Open University, the Hyderabad High Court on Tuesday directed that the secretaries of higher education of both the states hold a meeting on Thursday to find an amicable solution to the dispute.
A division bench comprising acting Chief Justice Dilip B. Bhosale and Justice S.V. Bhatt was dealing with petitions separately by the AP government, Prof. P. Chenna Reddy of Telugu University and a taken up matter.
The AP government has sought continuation of services of the Telugu University at its campuses located in Rajahmundry, Srisailam and Kuchipudi of AP state, which have been stopped by the varsity through an order dated Aug. 19, 2015 in the campuses located in AP.
Prof. Reddy challenged his transfer to AP state in the middle of the academic year in spite of instructions from the Governor. He sought directions to the authorities to continue with him in service in Hyderabad main campus till bifurcation of the varsity or completion of the academic year and with all consequential benefits.
The High Court has suo motu taken up a case with regard to the decision of the Telangana government not to extend services of the BR Ambedkar Open University to the regional centres located in AP.
The bench decided to club all these cases as both the Universities are listed in the 10th Schedule of the AP Reorganisation Act, 2014 and issues have to be resolved by the officers concerned through negotiations.
While hearing the cases, the bench sought to know from the government counsels the reasons for not entering into an agreement between both the states on the issue. When there was no proper reply from the counsels, the bench directed both the governments to maintain status quo and asked the secretaries of higher education departments of both the states to hold a meeting on Sept. 3 and inform its outcome to the Court on Sept. 4.
The bench cautioned that the officer concerned will be summoned to the Court on the next date of hearing if the secretaries do not cooperate in this regard.
Details of GHMC funds sought:
The Hyderabad High Court has directed the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation to submit a report explaining the details of funds it has invested for laying pipelines on behalf of the Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board in GHMC limits.
A division bench comprising acting Chief Justice Dilip B. Bhosale and Justice S.V. Bhatt was dealing with a petition by G. R. Karunakar, BJP leader of the city challenging inaction of the Water Board in laying pipelines for supplying of drinking water and also action of the GHMC in not releasing the proportionate tax revenue to the Board.
He submitted that the GHMC has to release 30 per cent of tax revenue to the Board for providing drinking water to the residents of the city but the corporation has not released the amounts for the past several years.
The counsel for the GHMC submitted before the bench that the GHMC has undertaken pipeline works in several parts of the city instead of releasing funds to the Board. The bench directed the counsel to place a detailed report before it explaining the money invested so far for laying pipelines, the works which are pending and whether there are any plans to take up new works, whether the GHMC will take up those works or it will release funds to the Water Board. The HC said that the report is to be placed by Sept. 7.
( Source : deccan chronicle )
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