State can create ex cadre posts

By S A Ishaqui

Hyderabad, June 28: The state government on Monday contended before a division bench comprising Justice Goda Raghuram and Justice R. Kantha Rao that it has power to create ex-cadre posts of the IAS without the prior consent of the Centre for a specific period.

Mr A. Satya Prasad, additional advocate-general, arguing on a petition filed by Mr Shafiquzzaman challenging the orders of the Central Administrative Tribunal with regard to cadre posts, said the official was promoted to the post of special chief secretary and there was no issue with regard to his posting to the rain shadow department.

Mr Prasad said they always sought permission from the Centre beyond the specified period, but the Centre was never prompt in its response.

HC dismisses case against TTD

A division bench comprising Chief Justice Nisar Ahmad Kakru and Justice Vilas V. Afzulpurkar on Monday dismissed a writ petition filed seeking a directive to dissolve the current “Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams Board” under Section 105 of the AP Charitable and Hindu Religious Institutions and Endowments Act, 1987.

Mr Bezawada Govinda Reddy, a Congress leader from Nellore, had filed the petition. The bench said it was not inclined to grant any interim relief to the petitioner as he did not approach the state government to state his grievance.

HC stays order against HMDA

The AP High Court on Monday passed an order in favour of the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA).

A division bench comprising Chief Justice Nisar Ahmad Kakru and Justice Vilas V. Afzulpurkar stayed an order passed by a single judge directing the HMDA to refund the amount deposited by successful bidders, in pursuance of the auction conducted by it July 20, 2006, to sell the plots at Kokapet under Golden Mile Project.

Mr G. Vahanavati, attorney general, arguing on behalf of the HMDA, said the bidders were aware of the litigation surrounding the title of the land and in spite of that, they participated in the auction. He said the bidders were obligated to wait till the dispute was resolved.

He contended that each of the petition has a separate reason and passing a common order would be arbitrary.

Fertiliser handling back to anchorage

Justice N.V. Ramana of the AP High Court on Monday declared that the action of the state government in permitting Kakinada Sea Ports Limited to handle fertilisers at deep water port was unsustainable.

The judge directed the government to implement the orders issued on October, 13, 2008, which restored the handling of fertilisers at the anchorage port instead of at the deep water port.