A change in government does not imply disobeying orders: HC

On Tuesday, the Telangana High Court voiced its severe dissatisfaction with GPs and SGPs for attempting to use the change in government as an excuse for not following court orders. A group of nine writ petitions and two PILs concerning purported breaches of GO 111, which places limitations in the catchment region around Himayathsagar and Osman Sagar, were being heard by a court made up of Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice Anil Kumar Jukanti.

The state administration promised the court on September 22 that it would carry out GO 111, which was dated March 8, 1996, up until the High Powered Committee’s report was filed. In addition, the government promised to refrain from taking any more action in the case without the court’s approval. As a result, the court ordered the state government to get permission before moving forward with GO 111.

The administration was obliged to provide the report of the High Power Committee and its position during the matter’s final hearing, which was set for Tuesday. Nonetheless, pointing to a recent change in administration, state government lawyers asked for a four-week delay. The court voiced its displeasure, noting that government counsels had persistently advanced identical arguments in a number of instances during the previous two weeks.

The court questioned whether ministers alone were in charge of implementing legislation and if changes made by the government had any effect on how those provisions and laws were carried out. The court ordered the government to submit its view on the subject and adjourned the petitions for a period of two weeks.