AP writes to CJI on judge's 'remark'

By S A Ishaqui

Hyderabad, April 10: The state government has sent a letter to the ChiefJustice of India against the comments made by Justice A Gopal Reddy of theAP High Court during the hearing of a "taken up petition" on landencroachments in and around the city.

The court took up the case based on reports in a newspaper on rampantencroachments of government lands.According to official sources, Law Minister R Chenga Reddy wrote a letter tothe Chief Justice of Supreme Court and the Union Law Minister about thecomments made by the HC Judge.A newspaper published that the judge had observed that the government itselfwas a "big encroacher".Advocate-General CV Mohan Reddy took serious exception to the remarksof the judge during the subsequent hearing of the case.

However, the judge refuted the remarks published in the Press and clarifiedthat the comments referred in the newspaper were purely out of context.The AG suggested that the judge initiate contempt proceedings against thenewspaper which wrongly interpreted the observations of the judge.

The judge said the court would take appropriate decision in next hearing onthe suggestions of the AG.

Meanwhile, sources said the government had decided to bring it to the noticeof the Centre as well as the Supreme Court.A top official confirmed that the letter was already dispatched to the Centreand the Supreme Court.