HC Seeks Re-Engagement of Long-Serving Hospital Attendants by Vet Dept

Hyderabad:Justice T. Madhavi Devi of the Telangana High Court directed the district veterinary and animal husbandry department and other authorities to consider the re-engagement of long-serving outsourced hospital attendants. The judge was dealing with a writ petition filed by Kommu Prasad and others challenging a 2020 notification issued by the animal husbandry department inviting fresh applications for outsourcing attendants in Mahbubabad district, despite the petitioners having worked in the same posts for over two decades. The petitioners contended that their replacement by another batch of outsourced personnel was arbitrary and in violation of principles of natural justice. Relying on the rulings laid down by various High Courts it was argued that ad hoc or temporary employees cannot be replaced by similarly placed temporary appointees. The state, however, argued that the posts were purely temporary and that the petitioners did not have vested right to continue. Taking note of the admitted fact that four vacancies were still available in the district, the court directed the authorities to consider the petitioners for engagement against those posts within one month. It clarified that the appointees currently working should not be disturbed while implementing the directions.

FIR over social media reportage stayed

Justice J. Sreenivas Rao of the Telangana High Court stayed proceedings in an FIR registered at the instance of Jangaon collector, Sandeep Kumar Jha, alleging objectionable reportage on social media platforms. The judge was hearing a criminal petition filed by Gowtham Pothagoni seeking quashing of the FIR registered at Jangaon. The petitioner contended that he had no connection with a YouTube channel named Telugu Scribe, whose reportage concerning certain government proceedings involving the collector was alleged to be insulting and obstructive of official duties. Counsel for the petitioner argued that the complaint failed to disclose any specific content, statement or material attributable to the petitioner. It was further contended that continuation of proceedings without identifiable allegations amounted to abuse of process. The judge observed that the FIR did not contain clear particulars regarding the alleged reportage and remarked that criminal cases cannot be registered merely on the basis of social media comments in the absence of specific material. Observing that the FIR prima facie appeared to run contrary to precedents laid down by the High Court in earlier cases, the court stayed further proceedings and adjourned the matter to July for further hearing.