Justice Narasimha Reddy Commission: KCR seeks stay on inquiry; Telangana HC asks registry to allot number

Hyderabad: Telangana High Court has directed the registry to allot a number to the writ petition filed by former Chief Minister K.Chandrasekar Rao praying for staying one-man commission enquiring into the procurement of power from Chattisgarh and construction of Bhadradri Thermal Power Plant at Manuguru and Yadadri Thermal Plant at Damacherla.

The petition was listed before the division bench of Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice Jukanti Anil Kumar for scrutiny as the registry had objected to the impeachment of Justice L. Narasimha Reddy (Retd), who is heading the Commission.

Aditya Sondi, senior counsel appearing for the petitioner, said Justice L. Narasimha Reddy, before conducting an inquiry and before giving an opportunity to KCR to put forth his contentions before the Commission has concluded that previous government had committed irregularities due to which the state exchequer suffered Rs . 250-300 crore lost. He said it is a biased decision and hence, L. Narasimha Reddy has been impleaded in a personal capacity.

Aditya Sondhi said Power Purchase Agreements between the Telangana and the Chhattisgarh governments were approved by the Electricity Regulatory Commission of both states. He said the ERC has already ratified the decision of the government. He said when such is the situation, how some Commission Chairman told the media that the KCR government purchased the power from Chattisgarh on a nomination basis and did not follow any procedure.

The Commission asked KCR to appear before it by June 15. However, before this, the Chairman gave a press conference.

Further, the senior counsel informed the court that the Chairman has already reached a conclusion and this opinion will be reflected in his final report and there will be nothing left later. Hence, the senior counsel sought a direction to the Commission, that the final report of the commission should not be submitted without the consent of the Court.

The information shared by Justice L. Narasimha Reddy is a direct assault on KCR’s character and conduct, which will haunt him for life, contended the senior counsel.

The Commission gives its recommendations which are not enforceable. Whereas in this case, the Chairman has given a finding before allowing the petitioner to put forth his contention, he said.