A Division Bench of the Hyderabad High Court, comprising Acting Chief Justice Ramesh Ranganathan and Justice A. Shankara Narayana, on Tuesday issued notices in a PIL filed challenging the social status of Araku MP K. Geeta.
The petitioner, Shetty Gangadhar Swami, contended that she was not a tribal of Valmiki caste as claimed by her. She was not entitled to hold the said post of MP, he said. He pointed out that the brother of the MP was declared as not belonging to the ST community just three months ago. “Now, the District Collector says she is tribal,” complained the petitioner.
ATR sought
The Division Bench on Tuesday also directed the State government to place before it action taken report on allegations of illegal limestone in Konakani, Nadikudi, and other areas of Guntur district.
It was dealing with a PIL filed by former MLC, T.G.V. Krishna Reddy, who complained that illegal mining was taking place under the control of MLA Y. Srinivas Rao of Gurjala.
The court was told that on an earlier occasion the Bench had directed the officers to take action on similar allegations.
The Bench asked for the report to be placed before it within a week.
Verdict soon on SC/ST panel chief appointment
the Division Bench on Tuesday also declared that the judgment in the writ appeals filed over the appointment of Chairman of the AP SC/ST Commission would be delivered soon. It heard the arguments in the two writ appeals.
The single judge had set aside the appointment of Karem Sivaji as Chairman of the commission solely on the ground that transparent procedure was not followed. The government and Mr. Sivaji field the writ appeals.
They said that the appointment was in accordance with law and the single judge erred in allowing the writ petition.
After hearing all the parties, the Bench reserved its verdict.
