Vijayawada: An Andhra Pradesh High Court division bench headed by Chief Justice Dhiraj Singh Thakur on Wednesday issued notices to six respondents, including government adviser Sajjala Ramakrishna Reddy in a PIL petition that objected to involvement of government staff in YSR Congress party’s “Why AP Needs Jagan” programme.
Petitioner K. Venkaiah, a journalist based in Mangalagiri, challenged spending of money from state exchequer to publicise a party programme. However, government pleader V. Maheswara Reddy countered that the programme is intended at creating awareness about the slew of development and welfare schemes being implemented by the government for the people.
Advocates Umesh Chandra and Narra Srinivas, advocates of petitioner, maintained that Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy is essentially running a political campaign with government money. In this context, they pointed to GO No. 7, which allocated Rs 20 crore for publicising the programme.
The petitioner’s advocates explained that adviser to government Ramakrishna Reddy has officially asked all government employees to participate in the programme. The lawyers maintained that these orders are against service rules.
After hearing the arguments, the High Court sent notices to respondents on the PIL and adjourned further hearing for two weeks.
In another case, the High Court posted the anticipatory bail petition filed by Telugu Desam chief N. Chandrababu Naidu in the Amaravati Inner Ring Road (IRR) scam to December 1.
In the third case, the High Court expressed its ire at Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) for not paying Rs 5 lakh compensation to family members of Lakshmi who had been attacked and killed by a leopard on the pathway to the Lord Venkateswara Temple. The court questioned why the amount has not been paid, though the TTD is the richest temple in the country.
The High Court issued orders to TTD and others to file a counter within two weeks.
