KTR’s Passport Impounding Issue: HC Directs Status Quo Till Nov 6

Hyderabad:The Telangana High Court has given a short breather to BRS working president and former minister K.T. Rama Rao in the passport impounding case, directing the Regional Passport Office (RPO) to maintain the status quo on the decision concerning his passport until November 6.

Justice E.V. Venugopal issued notices to the secretary of the ministry of external affairs, the Regional Passport Officer, Hyderabad, and the Director-General of the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), seeking their responses to the writ petition filed by Rama Rao. The judge adjourned the matter to November 6 and ordered that the status quo be maintained until then.

Rama Rao had approached the High Court challenging the showcause notice issued by the RPO, Hyderabad, on September 28, proposing action to impound his passport in connection with the ACB's investigation into the alleged irregularities in the conduct of the Formula E race in Hyderabad in 2023 where the BRS leader was named as accused. Later, ACB informed about the case and asked the passport authorities to impound Rama Rao’s passport. Passport authorities then issued a showcause notice to Rama Rao who appeared before the authorities on October 21. He has now approached the High Court seeking a stay on the notice and the proposed action against his passport.

Senior counsel Gandra Mohan Rao, representing Rama Rao, argued that the case before the ACB was pending and it was premature for the passport authorities to proceed to impound the passport. Further, counsel argued that it seems the passport authorities were predetermined to impound the passport. Additional solicitor-general Narasimha Sharma, representing the Centre and passport authorities, submitted several case laws and provisions which enabled the passport authorities to impound the passport of accused persons.

Non-Compliance With Court Orders: HC Warns CS He Must Appear If Orders Are Not Complied With By November 4

Hyderabad:The Telangana High Court has expressed serious displeasure over the failure of the school education department to implement its directions issued in the year 2022 on considering the claims of DSC-2002 candidates for appointment as Hindi Pandit Grade-II teachers. The court warned that the Chief Secretary would have to appear before it on November 4 if its orders were not complied with by then.

The court made observations while dealing with the contempt petitions filed against the principal secretary, school education, for disobedience of court directions July 13, 2022, concerning the claims of DSC-2002 candidates who had not come within the zone of consideration for appointment to Hindi Pandit Grade-II posts. In those orders, the court had mentioned specific datelines to the district education officers and the state government to consider the appointment of the petitioners. With the non-compliance of the court orders, contempt cases were filed.

During the hearing, the court made it clear that the principal secretary, school education, who was present before it in the contempt proceedings, would have to ensure compliance with the directions. The bench expressed surprise that the matter had remained undecided despite its earlier directions.

Special government counsel informed the court that the relevant files were pending at the level of the Chief Secretary. The court granted a short adjournment until November 4 at the request of special counsel, who sought time to ensure compliance.

The bench categorically warned that if the directions were not implemented by the next hearing, both the principal secretary, school education, and the Chief Secretary would have to remain present to explain why contempt proceedings should not be initiated for wilful non-compliance.