GHMC inaction angers High Court judge

The judge was dealing with a petition by K.M. Pratap, a resident of Qutbullahpur, alleging that the MLA and his family members have constructed a huge commercial structure on land adjacent to his plot, without obtaining permission from the GHMC.

B. Adinarayana Rao, senior counsel appearing for the petitioner, submitted that the commercial complex was constructed without the required setbacks and parking facilities.

He said that the family members even occupied a part of the public road and were evading paying Rs 60 lakh in fee to the GHMC. Mr Rao said that the building was now leased out to a corporate college. The judge, questioning GHMC counsel how the authorities allowed the construction to go ahead without permission, asked if it was proper for a public representative to indulge in blatant violations of the law.

Manohar Reddy, counsel appearing for the MLA, said that the petition was moved against his client with political motives and sought time to file a counter affidavit explaining the factual situation. Directing the GHMC authorities to spell out the steps being initiated against the family members of the MLA, the judge adjourned the case to next week.

The Hyderabad High Court on Monday granted relief to Professor G. Vinod Kumar, an Independent candidate in the Warangal Lok Sabha bypoll, by permitting him to contest.

Justice P. Naveen Rao was dealing with a plea by Prof. Kumar, challenging the order of the Osmania University Vice-Chancellor not granting him permission to leave the headquarters to contest the byelection.

Sarasani Satyam Reddy, senior counsel appearing for the petitioner, told the court that his client is an assistant professor in the PG College of Law of the OU and had applied leave to contest the byelection as an Independent candidate.

Mr Reddy said the V-C had on September 22, 2015 categorically stated that he has no objection if someone contests elections as an Independent candidate, subject to approval of the Executive Council.

He said that Prof Kumar received a letter on November 5, directing him not to leave Hyderabad, though the matter of approval was not placed before the Executive Council. He said that several political parties, including the Left parties, have supported Prof. Kumar’s candidature, and restraining from the contest him would be illegal.

The TS government has appointed retired Hyderabad High Court judge, Justice B.N. Rao Nalla, as president of the TS Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission. The government has informed that the appointment of Justice Nalla was made in consultation with the acting Chief Justice of the Hyderabad High Court. After bifurcation, the TS government had constituted a separate Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission.

Earlier the state government had proposed Justice B. Chandra Kumar’s name for the post. However, it was not considered and Justice Kumar had moved the Supreme Court against the action of the government. Justice Nalla will function as president of the for a period of five years from the date on which he assumes charge or till he attains the age of 67 years.