State defends IAS appointment

By S A Ishaqui
Hyderabad, June 29 :The state government on Tuesday defended the posting of Mr Mohammed Shafiquzzaman as principal secretary to a rain shadow department two years ago.

A division bench comprising Justice Goda Raghuram and Justice R. Kantha Rao was hearing a petition filed by the state government seeking a directive to set aside an order of the Central Administrative Tribunal passed in favour of the senior IAS officer, Mr Shafiquzzaman.

Mr A. Satya Prasad, additional-advocate-general, said the official was given a posting within the permissible limits of the cadre posts available at that time and the official had not assumed charge of the post.

He said the government had later posted the official to public enterprises department as the principal secretary; he did not take charge there too, and had approached the court.

The bench wanted to know from the government if the post of principal secretary of rain shadow department was within the 10 posts notified as on the date when he was given the posting.

The additional advocate-general said he will get back to the court on Wednesday with relevant information.

HC stays contract given for dam works

The AP High Court on Tuesday granted an interim stay on awarding the contract for repairs to the spillway slope and damaged portion of the apron of the Nagarjunasagar masonry dam to Raghava Constructions. The court was dealing with a petition filed by Swapana Constructions challenging the action of the authorities in awarding the contract to the company by relaxing the conditions. The court directed the respondents to file their version within two weeks.

HC stays Nims admission results

Justice G. Rohini of the AP High Court on Tuesday granted interim stay on the declaration of results pertaining to admission into super specialty courses offered by Nizam Institute of Medical Sciences (Nims). The judge was dealing with a petition filed by Dr Ramdas, challenging reservation for in-service candidates. He contended that such reservations cannot be provided at level of super specialty courses.