The allegation is that he organised an event at the martyrs’ memorial during the 2023 state assembly elections when the Model Code of Conduct was in force.
Release date – July 2, 2024, 11:33 pm
by Legal Journalist
1. Justice B. Vijaysen Reddy of the Telangana High Court has stayed all proceedings against BRS party’s working president and MLA Sirishira Kalvakuntla Taraka Rama Rao (KTR) in a criminal case pending hearing by the Special Judicial First Class Magistrate for Excise Cases at Manoranjan Complex, Hyderabad. The Saifabad police have filed a criminal case against KTR under Sections 188 and 171H of the Indian Penal Code. The charge is that he organized an event at the Martyrs’ Memorial during the 2023 state assembly elections when the Model Code of Conduct was in force. It is also alleged in the complaint that the petitioner used a drone camera without prior permission from the police. A chargesheet has been filed in the case and the case has been transferred from the First Additional Metropolitan Magistrate, Hyderabad to a special court for hearing of cases relating to MLAs.
KTR’s counsel A Prabhakar Rao argued that the above offences of “disobedience to orders duly issued by public servant” and “unlawful payment in connection with elections” cannot be held against the petitioner as the allegations do not have the requisite ingredients to create an offence. It was also submitted that the interview purportedly aired on electronic media on November 15, 2023 does not amount to violation of the Model Code of Conduct. The petitioner’s counsel further submitted that there is no evidence on its face against KTR and putting him on trial would be an abuse of process of court. Hence, a stay of the proceedings was sought and the court granted the view. The judge adjourning the case directed the PP to file his reply.
2. The Telangana High Court on Tuesday directed newly appointed GHMC Commissioner Amrapali Katha, appearing in hybrid mode, to take action against unauthorised constructions in the state. Syed Rasheed Hussain and others had filed a batch of writ petitions challenging the failure of GHMC authorities to demolish illegal and unauthorised constructions based on their representations to the Commissioner. Earlier, Justice T Vinod Kumar of the Telangana High Court had directed the GHMC Commissioner to appear before the court for assessment of the authorities’ action. Today, when the GHMC Commissioner appeared before the court in hybrid mode, the judge pointed out several irregularities and directed the Commissioner to take action against misuse of powers conferred under Section 455(A) and non-following of procedure under Section 630 of the GHMC Act. The judge said the notification has been issued without any specific reference to the provisions. However, the commissioner sought time to comply with all the directions as the judge pointed out many other irregularities, including non-payment of compensation for land acquisition at Miraldevarapalli village. Granting time, the judge ordered an adjournment of two weeks for the authorities to submit an action report.
3. A two-judge bench of Telangana High Court consisting of Chief Justice Alok Arade and Justice Anil Kumar Jukanti directed the state to file a report in accordance with law dealing with a voluntary PIL case regarding the death of a child below 10 years of age due to an attack by stray dogs. The court said that the situation is grave and requires immediate action by the state government. The court was dealing with a PIL taken up voluntarily on the basis of a newspaper article published in an English daily on February 22, 2023, with the headline “Four stray dogs attack 4-year-old boy to death in city”. It may be recalled that earlier, the court had paid a compensation of Rs 8 lakh to the family of the deceased. Subsequently, a similar incident occurred on June 28, when another pack of stray dogs attacked and killed another six-year-old boy. Relying on the Supreme Court ruling, the court directed the state to file a dossier for proper implementation keeping in mind the ambit of the Act and Rules by the next date of hearing.
