Division Bench of AP High Court, comprising acting Chief Justice P.C. Goshe and Justice Vilas Afzalpurkar, on Tuesday admitted a batch of writ appeals filed by APTransco, challenging the order of a single-judge bench. The single judge had set aside a demand for APTransco to collect development charges from industrial power consumers, ruling that the demand was contrary to provisions of AP Electricity Act, and that the relevant regulation was not placed before the Assembly. But APTransco’s counsel O. Manohar Reddy contended that law empowers the regulatory commission to make amendments from time to time, and it is not required to be placed before the Assembly. The HC Bench posted the case after four weeks.
Deposit 25 pc of dues, varsity told
A High Court Division Bench of Justices Ashutosh Mohunta and K.S. Appa Rao on Tues-day directed Osmania University to deposit 25 per cent of the amount said to be due to a civil contractor in order to hear its appeal. O. Rajendra Reddy, a city-based contractor, had earlier moved civil court, asking the court to direct the OU to pay Rs 49 lakh that it owed. He said he was entitled to enhanced figures as OU was guilty of delaying works. The XI Additional Chief Judge decreed the suit and directed the university to Rs 76 lakh to the contractor. The varsity challenged the lower court's order in HC.
Fish pond to be monitored
The High Court on Tuesday directed the Coastal Aqua Culture Authority to monitor activities in fish ponds at Vijayalakshmipuram in Guntur and Krishna districts. The court issued the direction while closing a petition placed on a letter by S. Polaiah and other residents of nearby villages, challenging conversion of agricultural land to fish ponds. The petitioners contended that the ponds were polluting the environment and were a health hazard for the villagers.
The Bench closed the petition after an affidavit filed by AP Pollution Control Board stated that steps have been taken to ensure there is no pollution. The Board also brought to the court’s notice that the pond owners have valid licences up to 2013.