Justice T. Vinod Kumar Transferred Back to Telangana High Court from Madras High Court

Hyderabad:Justice T. Vinod Kumar has been transferred to the Telangana High Court from the Madras High Court, with the Union law and justice ministry issuing a notification to this effect on October 9. Justice Kumar is scheduled to take oath as a judge of the Telangana High Court on October 14. The transfer comes ahead of his scheduled retirement on November 16. He was relieved from Telangana High Court on July 31, 2025, after he was transferred to Madras High Court.

HC was not inclined to halt the tender process of RR-2

Hyderabad:The Telangana High Court was not inclined to halt the tender process for the construction of the 81.15-km Radial Road-2, connecting the Outer Ring Road through Kothwalguda (Budvel) to NH-167N near Nacharam (Kondangal), at this stage. The court opined that an interim order of stay would not serve the public interest after technical and financial bids had been opened and the successful bidder (L-1) identified. However, the court preferred to hear the government as well the successful L-1 bidder’s contentions before taking any decision.

Accordingly, Justice B. Vijaysen Reddy directed Sushi Infra and Mining Limited, which challenged the rejection of its technical bids for three packages of the project, to implead the successful bidder as a respondent. The court directed the government agencies like HGCL (Hyderabad Growth Corridor Ltd) and other departments to file their counter-affidavits within two weeks. The court said the question of interim relief could be reconsidered after the L-1 bidder was brought on record.

The authorities rejected Sushi Infra’s technical bids on the ground that its experience certificate did not bear the countersignature of the superintending engineer. Hence, it challenged the same in three petitions. However, it contended that the certificate furnished by the company was valid and had been issued by the competent authority for national highway works in Arunachal Pradesh.

Senior counsel Avinash Desai, appearing for the petitioner, submitted that the price quoted by the L-1 bidder for the three packages was approximately `600 crore higher than the amount quoted by Sushi Infra. He argued that excluding Sushi Infra from consideration would impose an additional burden on the state exchequer and would therefore be contrary to public interest.

Opposing the plea, additional advocate-general Tera Rajinikanth Reddy, representing the state government and HGCL, argued that the court should not intervene in the tender process after the technical and financial bids had been opened. He submitted that the evaluation of bids and determination of contractors’ eligibility fell within the domain of the competent tender authorities.

The AAG also pointed out that there were no allegations of malafide against the officials and argued that interim orders should not impede the execution of important infrastructure works. He relied on judgments of the Supreme Court and other High Courts in support of the government’s stand.

After hearing both sides, the judge said the issues concerning the validity of the experience certificate and the designation of the official who had countersigned it would be examined after the respondents filed their counter-affidavits.

HC directs revenue authorities to not take coercive steps in resuming the land from the father in law of Harish Rao

Hyderabad:The Telangana High Court has directed the state government to not take coercive action against Madhavarapu Hanumantha Rao, father-in-law of BRS MLA T. Harish Rao, or dispossess him of 3.22 acres of land in Velikatta of Siddipet district, till the court decided his petition challenging the interference of the revenue authorities.

Justice N.V. Shravan Kumar was dealing with a petition filed by Hanumantha Rao, who challenged showcause notice issued by revenue authorities proposing to resume the land at Velikatta in Kondapaka mandal. The court adjourned the matter to after the Dasara vacation for filing counter-affidavits. The revenue authorities had issued the showcause notices for being in violation of the provisions of the Telangana Assigned Lands Act, which prohibits the transfer of the land.

Senior counsel J. Ramchander Rao, appearing for Hanumantha Rao, argued that the authorities had predetermined the decision to resume the land without providing his client an opportunity to submit an explanation. He submitted that Hanumantha Rao had purchased the land long ago by paying the requisite market price and sought suspension of the notice, citing similar relief granted in other cases.

The government pleader for revenue opposed suspension of the notice but assured the court that no action would be taken until the petitioner submitted his explanation.

KTR files discharge petition in Formula - E race case

Hyderabad:After failing to secure relief from the Telangana High Court and the Supreme Court for quashing the FIR registered against him in the Formula-E race case, BRS working president K.T. Rama Rao has now filed a discharge petition before the Special ACB Court in Nampally, seeking to be relieved of the charges before the commencement of trial.

The petition followed the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) filing a chargesheet in connection with the alleged irregular transfer of Rs 55 crore from the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) funds to a foreign entity for the conduct of the Formula-E race.

Rama Rao has urged the ACB Court to discharge him from the case, contending that he should not be subjected to trial. The court will hear the petition on October 30.

The Supreme Court had dismissed as withdrawn Rama Rao’s special leave petition filed on January 15 to quash the FIR. He had approached the apex court after the Telangana High Court was not inclined to quash the case.

While the previous quash petition challenges sought to quash the FIR and terminate the criminal proceedings at the threshold, the present petition sought Rama Rao’s discharge after the ACB filed its chargesheet and before the trial began.

HC directs to maintain status quo on the road which leads to Green Grace Apts at Khajaguda

Hyderabad:The Telangana High Court has directed the authorities to maintain status quo on a 24-metre-wide master plan road that serves as the access route to Green Grace Apartments at Khajaguda, pending further hearing of a writ petition challenging alleged interference with the road.

Justice B. Vijaysen Reddy issued the interim order while hearing a petition filed by the Green Grace Apartment Owners Maintenance Mutually Aided Cooperative Society Ltd, which alleged that HYDRAA, the Cyberabad Municipal Corporation and revenue department authorities were interfering with the use of the road formed in 1.07 acres in Survey No 17 of Khajaguda, Serilingampally mandal. The petition alleged that the authorities were trying to close, seal, fence, dig up, divert or otherwise obstruct the road, and to make the land available to SAS iTower Private Limited, formerly known as SAS Infra.

The society contended that the road was the only access to Green Grace Apartments, located in Survey No. 21, and that any obstruction would adversely affect the entry and exit of residents, visitors, service vehicles and emergency vehicles.

Senior counsel Vidyasagar, appearing for the petitioner, submitted that the apartment building had been constructed under a building permit issued on October 23, 2009, which recognised the same access route. He argued that the authorities could not interfere with the road without following the due process of law. The court, while issuing status quo orders, also issued notices to the authorities and private parties to submit their contention by November 5.