Journalists Cooperative Housing Society case: TS HC asks to maintain status quo

Telangana high court has asked the government to maintain the status quo in the Journalists Cooperative Housing Society case.

Hearing the writ petition filed by B. Goparaju and 10 other journalists, Justice A. Abhishek Reddy issued notices to the respondents with a direction that the status quo should be maintained.

Justice Abhishek Reddy directed the respondents to file the counters and fixed the matter on September 26.

The petitioners had sought interim directions to the state government represented by its Principal Secretary Department of Agriculture and Cooperation and 6 other Government authorities to conduct elections to the Journalists Cooperative Housing Society Limited, Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad by including the names of the petitioners in the eligible voters' list of the Society.

Further, the petitioners contended that to declare the action of the respondents in rejecting the objections of petitioners herein for inclusion of their names in the eligible voters' list of the Journalists Cooperative Housing Society Limited, Jubilee Hills as illegal and to include the names of petitioners herein in the eligible voter list of the Society and conduct elections to the Society.

Counsel for the petitioners N. Sridhar Reddy informed the Court that the Cooperative officials have ignored the order of the High Court to consider the objections of the society members.

Hearing the contentions, Justice A. Abhishek Reddy asked the Standing Counsel of Cooperative Societies, that what made the officials ignore the Court's direction.

I irked over the reply of Standing Counsel, Justice Abhishek Reddy opined that it's sheer contempt of court.