Srilakshmi Seeks Time to File Rejoinder to CBI Affidavit on Obulapuram
Last week, the CBI filed its counter-affidavit opposing her discharge application, noting prima facie evidence of her involvement in the alleged misuse of office
Hyderabad: Senior IAS officer Srilakshmi Yerra on Wednesday asked the Telangana High Court for additional time to file a rejoinder to the CBI’s counter-affidavit in the Obulapuram Mining case. Yerra, the sixth accused in the case, has a petition pending before the High Court seeking to have her name removed, following the Supreme Court’s remand.
Last week, the CBI filed its counter-affidavit opposing her discharge application, noting prima facie evidence of her involvement in the alleged misuse of office.
On Wednesday, her counsel requested permission to file a rejoinder, and the court granted the extension, ordering her to submit it by July 1 and warning that no further time would be allowed.
HC sets Sept. 30 deadline to finish GP poll process
Hyderabad: The Telangana High Court has set September 30, 2025, as the deadline for the state government and the State Election Commission (SEC) to complete the election process for Gram Panchayats across the state.
Justice T. Madhavi Devi directed both the state and the SEC to ensure that the election results are declared by the court-mandated deadline, after duly conducting the elections.
The order was pronounced on Wednesday in response to petitions filed by five former sarpanchs, who complained about the delay in holding elections to Gram Panchayats whose tenure ended on January 31, 2024. The petitioners had also requested to be allowed to continue in office until elections were held. On June 23, the court had reserved its judgment after hearing arguments from the state, the SEC, and the petitioners.
Justice Madhavi Devi observed that the court did not wish to examine the reasons behind the delay but emphasised that the election process must begin at the earliest.
“Without going into the merits of whether the delay is justified or not, this court deems it fit and proper to direct the state government and the SEC to complete the 4th stage of the election process, i.e., the determination of reservation of seats/offices for Ward Members and sarpanchs, as early as possible,” the order stated.
During earlier arguments, Additional Advocate General Mohd Imran Khan, appearing for the state government, informed the court that the local body election process comprises five stages, three of which had been completed. He stated that the remaining two stages would require a minimum of 20 days to complete.
However, while setting the timeline, the High Court found it appropriate to grant 30 days to the state government to complete the remaining processes.
The court further ordered that once the Stage 4 process (determination of reservations) is completed, the state government must give its concurrence to the dates proposed by the SEC for conducting the elections. Following this, the election notification should be issued, and the SEC must conduct the elections and declare the results.
The court has allotted 60 days to the SEC for completing the election and result declaration process.
In effect, the Chief Secretary of Telangana, the principal secretary of the panchayat raj department, the State Election Commission, the CEO of Telangana State, and the Election Commission of India have all been directed to ensure that the elections are conducted and results declared on or before September 30, 2025.