Begumpet airport should close, say HC

By S A Ishaqui

Hyderabad,July 6: The AP High Court on Monday justified the Centre’s decision to close the Begumpet airport. A division bench while dismissing three writ petitions said the decision to close down the Begumpet airport fell within the realm of a policy decision.

The court did not agree with the contentions of the petitioners that there was no specific provisions in the Aircraft Act, 1934 and the Airports Authority of India Act, 1994, for the closure of existing airport. Mr S. Srinivas Reddy, a journalist, from Saroornagar, Mr Sreemannarayana Swamy from the city and the Airport Authority Employees’ Union had filed petitions against the closure of the airport.

The court said it will not review the decision as it was done in public interest.
The bench in its 36-page judgement stated that the government had the power to enter into agreements to develop greenfield airports and take necessary steps in this direction.

* Info sought on Eamcet

The AP High Court on Monday asked the counsel for higher education whether the state government is empowered to give weightage marks to the Eamcet candidates. The court asked the counsel to get instructions from the government by Thursday. The court was dealing with a petition seeking a direction to declare the provision of giving Inter weightage marks in Eamcet.

Mr. S. Ramachandra Rao, senior counsel for the petitioners, contended that the state government has no power to give weightage marks to the Eamcet candidates and the new system of weightage has totally changed the eligibility criteria for admission into MBBS and was not justified either in fact or in law.

* Stay on single judge order

A division bench of the AP High Court has granted stay on an order passed by a single judge directing the principal secretary (revenue) and the principal secretary (municipal administration) to recall the services of the metropolitan commissioner of the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority. While granting stay, the bench issued notices to the respondents seeking their reply on the writ appeal.

* HC refuses advocate plea

The AP High Court on Monday refused to entertain a petition seeking a direction for continuous disbursal of justice throu-
ghout the year without any break in the lower courts. The petition was filed by a woman advocate of the city. The petitioner argued that the lower courts should work 24 hours like hospitals and the police station to render speedy justice to the needy.