Friday, March 25, 2011

12 TD workers get lifer for murder

By S A Ishaqui
Hyderabad,March 24: A division bench comprising Justice V. Eswaraiah and Justice V. Suri Appa Rao of the AP High Court has sentenced 12 accused to life imprisonment in the murder case of a Congress leader Mudi Parandhamireddy, from Nellore district. Parandhamireddy was killed by his opponents with sickles when he was settling a land dispute in a field in Mettu village of the district on March 25, 1992.

The police registered a case against Putchalaplpalli Naresh Reddy and 19 others who belong to Telugu Desam. However, the accused pleaded not guilty by contending that they never committed the offence and as on the date of offence they were not present in the village. As there was a big hue and cry about the killing, the government also ordered a CID probe to ascertain the facts on whether they were present in the village on the date of offence. The CID also said that it was not desirable for the government to consider deleting their names and recommended for continuation of trial in the case by the sessions court. However, the trial court acquitted the case.

The state government preferred an appeal. Mr Vinod Kumar Deshpande, public prosecutor, contended that there was specific over torts against the accused No. 1 to 12 for committing the crime and also the case cannot be acquitted on mere ground of lapses in the investigation. The bench found the accused guilty and awarded life imprisonment to all and six months imprisonment to K. Nagur Reddy, K. Dayakar Reddy and P. Srinivasulu Reddy in addition to the life for offence committed under Section 324 of the IPC.

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

AP High Court admits TD plea against Jagan


By S A Ishaqui
Hyderabad, March 15 : The AP High Court on Tuesday decided to hear a petition filed by the Telugu Desam against the assets of the former Kadapa MP, Mr Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, along with another plea filed by the Congress MLA, Dr P. Shankar Rao, who sought a CBI probe on the same issue.

The court issued notices to the Centre, state, the CBI and Mr Jagan and his associate companies directing them to file counter affidavits on the plea of the TD.

Mr Shankar Rao’s petition is pending before a division bench comprising Justice V. Eswaraiah and Justice V. Suri Appa Rao of the HC. The TD petition was also listed before the same bench on Tuesday.

Mr Dammalapati Srinivas, counsel for the petitioners told the court that the TD leaders had represented the matter to the state, Centre, CBI and the Central Vigilance Commission on several occasions since February 2009 urging the authorities to initiate action against Mr Jagan under relevant provisions of law.

The judge asked him whether he filed those representations along with the petition. He replied that he had filed the acknowledgement.

The judge directed him to submit those representations to the court.

The bench directed the registry to post the petition along with Dr Shankar Rao’s petition for hearing on March 25.

HC confirms lifer to 9 for murder

A division bench comprising Justice V. Eswaraiah and Justice Suri Appa Rao of the High Court on Tuesday sentenced nine accused to life imprisonment for the murder of one Balagangi Reddy of Kadapa district.

The bench was allowing an appeal filed by the state government against the acquittal of the accused by a lower court in the district. Balagangi Reddy was killed on December 4, 1999, at his village Kodigandlapally of Muddanoor Mandal.

Police registered a case against 21 persons for killing him by using bombs and sickles. The additional district and sessions judge of Proddutur acquitted the case.

The bench felt that the acquittal was based on technical issues like delay in filing the FIR and others and it was not proper. The deceased was a sympathiser of the Congress.

The bench awarded life imprisonment to R. Tirupathi Reddy, R. Peda Venkat Reddy, R. China Bali Reddy, R. China Konda Reddy, R. Venkat Ram Reddy and four others.

The bench while conforming the lower court’s finding declared that the nine other accused were innocent. Three others died during the interregnum period.

HC stays order on Dravidian varsity

By S A Ishaqui
Hyderabad, March 15 :Justice R. Subhash Reddy of the AP High Court on Tuesday stayed the decision of the state government in cancelling the admissions made into PhD course in Dravidian University. It was made clear that degrees shall not be awarded.

The judge was dealing with two writ petitions filed by a large number of candidates. They said that the state government does not have the power to cancel the admissions.

It may be recalled that when there was hue and cry about the admissions made into PhD course, an inquiry was held and the government issued orders cancelling these controversial admissions. The writ petitioners were allowed to continue the course at their own risk by the judge now.

The respondents were asked to file counter affidavits.

Saturday, March 5, 2011

Attachment of Raju assets upheld

By S A Ishaqui

Hyderabad,March 4: A division bench comprising Justice Goda Raghuram and Justice R. Kantha Rao of the AP High Court on Friday upheld the attachment of the assets of the kin of the ex-Satyam boss Ramalinga Raju by the Enforcement Directorate under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. The bench, while dismissing a batch of petitions filed by family members of Ramalinga Raju, upheld the validity of Sections 2(1)(u), 5(1), second proviso to Section 5, 8, 8(4), 23 of the Act.

The petitioners challenged these sections and urged the court to declare them as invalid stating that the Act came into force only in 2009 and cannot be used in connection with properties that were acquired beforehand. But the HC rejected this plea and said the Act would also apply to property acquired even before this provision came into force.

Nims told to pay TA to doctors
Justice Nooty Ramamohana Rao of the AP High Court on Friday directed the Nizams Institute of Medical Sciences to pay the travelling allowance and non-practicing allowance to its resident and senior resident doctors on par with its faculty. The judge was dealing with a petition filed by Dr N. Venkata Siva Ramakrishna and three others seeking allowances. Mr S.S Bhatt, counsel for Nims, contended that the petitioners had no right to seek the allowances since they were not faculty.

But the judge refused the contentions of the institution and was of prima facie view that the services rendered by the petitioners are similar to the faculty and employees of the institution.

Order in favour of society vacated
Justice R. Subhash Reddy of the High Court on Friday vacated an interim order granted in favour of Kesava Reddy Educational Society to conduct a mega merit scholarship test on March 6.

The judge, while dealing with two miscellaneous petitions filed by the ABVE and Andhra Pradesh Private Unaided Schools Management Association seeking vacation of the interim order which enabled the society to conduct the scholarship test.

Ex-Kadapa mayor’s gunmen restored
The High Court on Friday directed the Kadapa SP to restore gunmen to Mr. Ravindranath Reddy, the former mayor of Kadapa. Justice R. Subhash Reddy of the High Court was dealing with a petition filed by the former mayor challenging the action of the Kadapa SP in withdrawing his personal security guards on the ground of his alleged involvement in a kidnap case.

Mr C.V. Mohan Reddy, former advocate general, argued that the alleged victims in the kidnap case had appeared before the SHRC and deposed that they were not kidnapped at all.

HC orders status quo on bypass road
Justice L. Narasimha Reddy on Friday ordered status quo regarding the laying of a bypass road near Chilakaluripeta in Guntur district. The judge granted interim orders on a petition filed by Mr B. Srinivasa Rao and 20 other farmers, contending that a bypass road was being built unnecessarily though the existing four lane National Highway-5 was already being converted to six lane highway.

Cops told to bring kidnapped MPTC
The High Court on Friday directed the police authorities to produce V. China Venkata Subbanna, MPTC in Kadapa district, who was allegedly kidnapped and kept in a camp by one of the candidates contesting for the MLC elections. The court was dealing with a petition filed by V. Obulamma, wife of the Subbanna, stating that her husband was an MPTC of Dommara Nandyla of the district and he was kidnapped at the behest of the local Congress MLA, Mr C. Adinarayana Reddy.

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

AP response on salaries sought

By S A Ishaqui

Hyderabad,March 1: The AP High Court on Tuesday sought a response from the state government, based on a petition seeking a direction to declare the action of the state government in not deducting the salary of employees who participated in the non-cooperation movement from February 17, as illegal.

A division bench comprising Justice V. Eswaraiah and Justice V. Suri Appa Rao was dealing with the petition filed by one Mr C. Narayana, a resident of Anantapur, contending that the action of the employees was against to the AP Civil Service Conduct Rules.

Mr P.V. Krishnaiah, counsel for the petitioner, brought to the notice of the court that the entire administration in the state has come to a standstill and there was huge loss on the exchequer due to the non-cooperation movement of the employees.

He argued that it was the obligation of the state to follow “no work, no pay” principle during such a pen down strike and non-cooperation movement by the employees, besides initiating disciplinary action in terms of the Conduct Rules.

The bench issued a notice to the state government directing it to file a counter affidavit on the plea within three weeks.

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

HC nod to probe into Rosaiah case

By S A Ishaqui


Hyderabad,Feb. 28: The AP High Court on Monday ruled that the investigation into the case against the former chief minister, Mr K. Rosaiah, and 14 other persons in connection with a land deal may go on. Justice Raja Elango, while dealing with the petition filed by Mr Rosaiah and others seeking revision of an order passed by the principal senior civil judge for the SPE and ACB cases, directed the ACB to conduct the investigation and file a final report in the case.

The judge directed that the alleged accused should not be arrested till the completion of the investigation. The special court for Anti-Corruption Bureau cases on December 27, 2010, had directed the ACB director-general to register a case against Mr Rosaiah and 14 others in connection with a land deal.

Mr Mohanlal, an advocate, had filed a complaint before the ACB court stating that the government had violated rules in withdrawing 9.14 acres located near Mythrivanam at Ameerpet from the 'land acquisition' process. The complainant brought to the notice of the court that the government had earlier acquired the land and paid the compensation and the land was under the possession of the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority.

But Mr Rosaiah, in the capacity of the CM, allowed the deletion of the land from the acquisition proceedings and passed orders by handing it to the owners. Mr Rao contended that the government has no power to withdraw from the land acquisition proceedings.