The issue of bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana High Court figured in the Lok Sabha under unusual circumstances on Tuesday. In a rare move, Speaker Sumitra Mahajan allowed the Leader of TRS A.P. Jitender Reddy to raise the matter even before commencement of the question hour.
Ms. Mahajan informed the House as soon as the proceedings began that she had received a request from Mr. Reddy for suspension of the question hour. As there was nothing as suspension of question hour and the zero hour was also scheduled after 6 p.m., she said she would allow Mr. Reddy to speak for a minute.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu shared the concern of Mr. Reddy about the need for separate courts for AP and Telangana and said the Law Minister Sadananda Gowda was seized of the matter. There was a little ‘sensitivity’ involved as both the Telangana and AP governments and the High Court had to agree.
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“I share the sentiments expressed and will ask the Minister to expedite the process to the extent possible from the Government of India side,” Mr. Naidu said and assured that the matter would be pursued as per the State Reorganisation Act.
Earlier, Mr. Reddy regretted that even after nine months, bifurcation of the High Court had not taken place.
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The Telangana Chief Minister had met the Prime Minister thrice in this matter and also the Supreme Court and High Court Chief Justices. Bar Councils of both States met the Law Minister and requested for early bifurcation since a large number of cases were pending in courts.
Amidst interruptions, TRS Deputy Leader B. Vinod Kumar said the Law Minister had written to him that no reply was received from the AP Government and the High Court Chief Justice. Two days back the Minister had expressed his inability to do anything further when they met him.
“This is unfortunate”, Mr. Kumar said.