Telangana HC Stays PCB Order on Sai Sagar Food Industries

Hyderabad: A two-judge vacation panel of the Telangana High Court, comprising Justice Nagesh Bheemapaka and Justice Lakshmi Narayana Alishetty, granted an interim stay on the Stop Production Order issued against M/s Sai Sagar Food Industries, a bread and bakery products manufacturer located in Pashamailaram village, Patancheru Mandal, Sangareddy district. The stay was granted in response to a writ petition filed by the company, challenging the Telangana State Pollution Control Board’s (TGPCB) order issued on May 21. The Board has alleged that sewage was being illegally discharged from a labour camp and that solid waste was being openly burned, causing foul odours, air pollution, and environmental damage to the surrounding area. The case arose from a complaint submitted by a local resident, B. Mahendar, who reported that untreated sewage and solid waste were being discharged onto his land. Following the complaint, TGPCB officials inspected the premises on February 4 and observed dumping of fly ash, untreated sewage, and a non-operational sewage treatment plant. The inspection further revealed that the industry was functioning without the mandatory Consent for Establishment and Operation under the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981, and the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974. In response, the petitioner submitted that the unit is engaged in the manufacture of bread and allied bakery products using only maida, atta, and refined oil. An acknowledgement for running the factory was issued by the District Industries Centre on June 8, 2011. The petitioner stated that piped natural gas (PNG) is used as fuel and that the unit complies with all statutory requirements. The petitioner further stated that a sewage treatment plant exists and remains fully operational. The allegation that the STP is non-functional was described as factually incorrect. The company also noted that no copy of the inspection report or complaint was provided before the order was passed. It was argued that the Stop Production Order omitted key facts such as the nature of the fuel used, indicating a deliberate omission by the authorities. In response, counsel appearing for TGPCB argued that despite receiving a showcause notice on March 24, and appearing before the External Advisory Committee on May 16, the petitioner claimed no opportunity was given to review or respond to the inspection findings. The company representative informed the committee that consent was not obtained earlier due to lack of awareness and assured that the process for compliance would be started immediately. Following the hearing, the committee recommended stringent action citing continued violations. The Board then issued the Stop Production Order, which the petitioner is now contesting. The panel as an interim measure granted stay and directed the TGPCB to file a counter and posted the matter for further hearing on June 9.

HC direction to SBI on fund release

Justice Surepalli Nanda of the Telangana High Court directed the State Bank of India (SBI) branches located at Anjur Phata, Bhiwandi (Thane) and Punjabrao Krishi Vidyapeeth (Akola) to comply with the order of the trial court regarding release of funds. The judge was dealing with a writ petition filed by Arsenapalli Venkateshwar Rao and two others, contending that they were victims of cybercrime, and money was illegally debited from their accounts to the accounts of unknown persons. The accounts of these unknown individuals were tracked in connection with the alleged cyber fraud, and a criminal case was also filed against them. It was contended that as the money was traced to their bank accounts, the trial court passed an order recording its findings and directed the respective bank branches to revert the money back to the petitioner's account. The petitioners now challenged inaction of the SBI branches in implementing the order passed in January by the Special Judicial Magistrate of First Class for the Trial of Cases under the Telangana Prohibition and Excise Act cum IV Additional Junior Civil Judge, Warangal. The petition also noted that despite emails sent by the Cyber Crimes Police Station, Warangal, in January and February instructing the banks to release the petitioners’ funds, no action was taken. The petitioners contended that such inaction by banks was illegal and arbitraty. Justice Nanda after hearing both parties, directed the concerned SBI branches to act in accordance with the trial court’s order and facilitate the release of funds lying.

HC stops gram panchayat demolition

Justice J. Sreenivas Rao of the Telangana High Court, sitting in vacation court, disposed a writ petition challenging a demolition notice issued by the local gram panchayat for alleged unauthorised construction on their property. The judge was dealing with a plea by Gattumidhi Ameena Bee and Gattumidhi Saleem, residents of Gongloor village in Sangareddy district. The petitioners contended that the demolition notice was issued without affording them any reasonable opportunity to submit a reply. The petitioners sought a direction to set it aside as being violative of the Constitution. During the hearing, counsel for Gongloor gram panchayat informed the judge that the petitioners had submitted a written explanation in response to the show-cause notice. Counsel undertook that the reply would be duly considered, and appropriate orders would be passed in accordance with law. Recording this submission, the judge directed the gram panchayat to consider the explanation submitted by the petitioners and pass appropriate orders after giving an opportunity for a personal hearing to both the petitioners and the unofficial respondent. The judge directed that the process be completed within eight weeks. In the meantime, the gram panchayat was restrained from taking any coercive steps against the subject property.