Advocate gets life sentence for killing wife over dowry

By S A Ishaqui
Hyderabad, April 9: A division bench comprising Justice D.S.R. Varma and Justice Raja Elango of the AP High Court on Friday confirmed the life sentence on K. Govinda Raju, an advocate of East Godavari district, for killing his wife for more dowry.

The V Additional Sessions Judge (Fast Track Court), Rajahmundry, on June 26, 2006 sentenced the advocate to life imprisonment under Section 498 (A)and Section 302 of the IPC after he was proved guilty of killing of his wife. He challenged the sentence saying he was innocent and was not connected with the offence.

According to the prosecution, the advocate killed his wife, Ganga Bhavani, on February 27, 1999 and tried to hush up the crime with the help of his brothers. The advocate gave a letter to his mother-in-law stating that the property which he got from his wife during the marriage would be transferred to his children. Later, he cremated the body with the help of his brothers.

Exclude RR lands in catchment areas

The state government has appealed to the AP High Court to allow it to exclude the lands of Vattinagulapally village in Ranga Reddy district from the catchment area of the Osmansagar and Himayatsagar lakes and also permit it to modify the GO MS No 111 dated August 3, 1996.

The government filed an additional affidavit seeking an interim order for exclusion of the lands.

State told to appoint member to SHRC

A division bench comprising Justice N. V. Ramana and Justice Noushad Ali of the AP High Court, on Friday, directed the state government to appoint a non-judicial member to the AP State Human Rights Commission within two weeks.

The bench was dealing with a petition filed by the state government questioning an order passed by the Lok Ayukta. The Lok Ayukta had passed an order to appoint the third member to the SHRC while dealing with a petition filed by the Viswa Syamalam Samajik Seva Samastha.

Writ filed to declare GHMC action illegal

A writ petition was filed in the High Court on Friday seeking a direction to declare the action of the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation in leasing out vacant lands meant for parks and playgrounds, as illegal.