Kaleshwaram row: Former CS SK Joshi gets interim protection on Ghose report

Hyderabad: The Telangana High Court has provided interim protection to SK Joshi, a retired IAS officer and former Chief Secretary during the BRS regime.

The court has directed the State government not to take any adverse action against him based on the findings of the PC Ghose Commission Report on the alleged irregularities in the Kaleshwaram LI project. until October 7. This decision mirrors the ‘interim protection’ previously granted to BRS leaders K Chandrashekar Rao and T Harish Rao.

‘State denied chance at defence’

Joshi filed a writ petition seeking to suspend the operation of the commission’s report, dated July 31, and a related presentation from August 4.

His petition argues that the commission failed to issue a notice under Sections 8A and 8B of the Commission of Enquiry Act, 1952, thereby denying him a proper opportunity to be heard before labelling him an accused.

The report reportedly accuses Joshi of playing an ‘improper role in re-engineering and approvals’ and violating business rules by participating in financial and technical decisions related to the Kaleshwaram Irrigation Project (KIP).

Government’s no action without deliberation

During the hearing, the division bench, led by Chief Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh and Justice GM Mohiuddin, observed that Joshi’s apprehension of immediate adverse action was ‘misplaced.’

The government’s representative, Advocate General A Sudershan Reddy, assured the court that no such action would be taken.

Reddy also informed the court that the State has referred the investigation into the alleged irregularities and misappropriation of funds in the construction of the KIP barrages to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). This investigation will be based on reports from the National Dam Safety Authority and other central agencies.

Court had asked Joshi to show source of information

The court had previously directed Joshi to reveal how he obtained the confidential commission report.

In a subsequent application, Joshi furnished the requested information to the bench.

The court also ordered the Telangana government to remove the report from its official website if it had been uploaded. The case has been adjourned, with the next hearing scheduled for October 7.