AP High Court Puts on Hold Final Decision on Vizag’s Rushikonda Buildings

Visakhapatnam:Andhra Pradesh High Court has directed that no final decision be taken regarding the usage of redeveloped Rushikonda buildings in Visakhapatnam pending the disposal of public interest litigation (PIL) by Pithala Murthy Yadav, a former Jana Sena corporator from Visakhapatnam.

AP government has submitted to the HC bench that it is only inviting Expressions of Interest (EOI) for the operation and maintenance of the Rushikonda buildings.

Murthy Yadav has in his PIL alleged that Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) norms have been violated in redevelopment of the Rushikonda hill area. His petition charged that the Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (APTDC) issued a notice on June 24 inviting EOIs for leasing and further development of the Rushikonda property, despite the project's legality and environmental clearance remaining under the judicial and governmental review.

The former JS corporator’s affidavit underlined that the High Court had previously constituted committees to examine the project's environmental impact. Their reports are pending before the Union Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF).

Given this background, Murthy Yadav contended that the EOI process is an attempt to create third-party interests and bypass the court’s directions. He contended that the redevelopment involved the destruction of CRZ sand dunes, excavation of the Rushikonda hill, and tree cutting in prohibited areas, all in violation of the Visakhapatnam master plan.

The JS corporator maintained that condition (ix) of the MoEF clearance given in May 2021 requires a fresh appraisal if there are changes in the project's scope, as reflected in the EOI notice.

While the government maintained that the EOI is only an exploratory step and not a final decision, the AP Chief Justice’s bench refused to grant a stay sought on the process. At the same time, the court underlined that no final decision be taken until the reports of committees that examined the Rushikonda project's environmental impact and the union government’s stance are placed before it.

HC adjourns hearing of plea on custodial death of Sai Krishna to three weeks

The Andhra Pradesh High Court has adjourned to three weeks the hearing of a plea to hand over the case of custodial death of Gade Sai Krishna in the Krishna Lanka police station to the CBI.

Petitioner’s counsel Ponnavolu Sudhakar Reddy argued that if the investigation was entrusted to the CBI, it would ascertain the role of the police commissioner and the DGP in the case.

He noted that the police informed the court during the hearing on the habeas corpus petition on June 15 that Sai Krishna was not with them and that they were searching for him.

The court wanted to give an opportunity to the SIT to take up inquiry in the case and directed it to submit its inquiry report to the court in a sealed cover.

HC directs AP to serve notices to YSR Congress leaders

The High Court has directed the government to serve notices to YSR Congress leaders including Perni Venkataramaiah, Ambati Rambabu, Devineni Avinash, Lella Appireddy, asking them to cooperate in the police investigation into the June 27 incidents.

A single judge bench of justice Y Lakshmana Rao issued the directions here on Wednesday.

Earlier, Ambati Rambabu and Perni Venkataramaiah and others filed two separate petitions in the high court with a plea to strike down the police cases booked against them at Tadepalli police station.

The case related to exchange of heated arguments and jostling between the leaders and supporters of Telugu Desam and YSR Congress at Penumaka on June 27.

On that day, the YSRC leaders were proceeding to Amaravati villages to find out the problems of the farmers.