HC seeks info from top cop on action taken on TV channels

The Andhra Pradesh High Court on Thursday sought to know from the Hyderabad city police commissioner the action he has initiated against TV news channels for their repeated telecast of crime-based programmes and visuals containing violence and obscenity, despite court orders.
Justice C.V. Nagarjuna Reddy was dealing with a petition filed by Mr V. V.S.S. Kameswara Rao, a practising advocate, seeking a direction to restrain all Telugu news channels from telecasting violent sequences, visuals, tele-serials based on crime events and also abusive speeches.

The court had earlier granted stay on telecast of the programmes, which created panic in the minds of the people. The court also asked channels not to telecast or hold debates which are of little help to the people.
The court directed the city police commissioner to see that the provisions of Rule 6 of the Cable Television Networks Rules 1994 are strictly complied with by the TV channels.

Justice Nagarjuna Reddy directed the police commissioner to file an action taken report by June 14 and extended stay orders.

Case against CM adjourned

The Andhra Pradesh High Court on Thursday adjourned the hearing of a writ of quo warranto filed against the continuation of Mr K. Rosaiah as Chief Minister.
Mr Voggu Murali and five other selected excise constables filed the writ contending that Mr Rosaiah was not competent to hold the office of Chief Minister as he was not elected leader of the Congress Legislature Party prior to his appointment on September 3, 2009 and even subsequently.

When the petition came up before a division bench comprising Chief Justice Nisar Ahmad Kakru and Justice P.V. Sanjay Kumar, the advocate- general Mr D.V. Seetharama Murthy, took serious exception and said the writ was an abuse of process of law and has nothing to do with the relief of writ of quo warranto against the Chief Minister.
He told the court that similar writs filed earlier were dismissed by the court.

The bench asked the petitioner’s counsel, Mr P.V. Krishnaiah, to point out necessary provisions of law and not to make it a political issue. He said that the CLP had authorised the AICC chief to select the leader of the CLP instead of electing any person as the leader and as per the liberty given by the CLP this was informed to the Governor through the PCC president. He contended that this was illegal and against the Constitution. The case is posted for hearing after the vacation.

Centre suspends DRT presiding officer

The Centre has suspended the presiding officer of the Hyderabad Debts Recovery Tribunal (DRT) Mr D. Gopala Krishana. Sources in the judiciary revealed that the Union ministry of finance on Thursday issued suspension order. Mr Jacob Daniel presiding officer of the DRT Chennai, will hold additional charge of the Hyderabad zone.

Mr Gopala Krishna was suspended in the backdrop of several writ petitions filed against his functioning and the Central government had referred the matter pertaining to the allegations to the debt recovery appellate tribunal of Chennai for inquiry into the issue, sources added.

HC quashes cases against Chamundi

The Andhra Pradesh High Court on Thurday quashed criminal proceedings pending against Mr Chamundeswarnath, former secretary of the Andhra Cricket Association.
Mr N. Venkat Rao, a native of Guntur district had lodged a complaint against Mr Chamundeswarnath alleging that he had tampered with the bylaws and records of the association. The Nagarampalem police registered a case against Mr Chamundeswarnath. The former ACA secretary challenged the action before the court and Justice Gopalakrishna Tamada quashed the proceedings.

HC refuses to enter Speaker’s domain

A division bench comprising Chief Justice Nisar Ahmad Kakru and Justice P.V. Sanjay Kumar of the Andhra Pradesh High Court on Thursday dismissed a writ petition filed seeking a direction to the AP Assembly Speaker to disclose the reasons for delay in accepting the resignations of MLAs recently.

Mr K. Parthasaradhi Reddy, an advocate filed the writ seeking a direction to declare the action of the Speaker in keeping the resignations of MLAs pending for a period of one-and-a-half months without taking any actions as unconstitutional. The bench observed that it will not intervene in matters which under the jurisdiction of the Speaker.