Santosh Mohandev may become respondent

By S A Ishaqui
Hyderabad, Feb27: Employees of the Cement Corporation of India,Adilabad unit asked the Andhra Pardesh High Court to made the Union minister for heavy industries, Mr Santosh Mohan Dev as a repondent in their petition.
Adilabad unit of the CCI Employees Union filed an implead petition in this regard in the court. They told the court that Centre had included the Bokajan unit of CCI in Silchar of Assam in rehabilitation scheme because it was in the constituency represented by the Union minister for heavy industries, Mr Santosh Mohan Dev.
The petitioner’s counsel, Mr S. Ramachandra Rao, submitted that the unit was found viable according to a report of the Development Consultancy Limited.He urged the court to implead the minister as a respondent. Mr Ramachandra Rao told the court that the Adilabad unit was a perfect case to be included in the rehabilitation package as recommended by the Board for Industrial and Financial Reconstruction (BIFR). It may be mentioned that the Cement Corporation of India had decided in 2007 to close seven of its units including the one at Adilabad.
However the High Court on Wednesday asked the Centre not to declare final closure of Adilabad Cement Factory until further orders. The court said the government can continue with the process of closing down the unit, which belongs to the Cement Corporation of India. Justice R. Subhash Reddy while dealing with a petition filed by Adilabad unit of the CCI Employees Union modified its April 20, 2007, order of maintaining status quo.