Telangana HC directs registry to process PIL challenging Cabinet status to MLAs; CM Revanth’s PIL tagged

Hyderabad: A PIL in the Telangana High Court sought suspension of all GOs issued by the Telangana Government conferring Cabinet-rank status on selected MLAs and political leaders of the ruling Congress party.

On Thursday, the court directed the High Court Registry to allot a regular case number to the Public Interest Litigation.

The petition was listed before the Division Bench, comprising Chief Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh and Justice Ghouse Meera Mohiuddin, as the Registry had raised certain objections and placed it before the court for orders on granting a regular number.

Senior advocate Gandra Mohan Rao, appearing for the petitioner, informed the court that a similar PIL had been filed in 2017 by the present Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, who was then an MLA.

CM Revanth had opposed the same during BRS rule

The earlier petition challenged the then BRS government’s decision to grant Cabinet-rank status to its party leaders and has remained pending ever since. The Bench ordered that the 2017 PIL be tagged along with the new petition, and both matters are likely to be listed before the Chief Justice’s Bench in the next few days.

Arguing before the court, the Senior Counsel submitted that decisions of political leaders often shift depending on whether they are in power or in opposition. He noted that the present Chief Minister had opposed the very practice in 2017 and suggested that he should now support the petitioner’s stance on the issue.

GO breaches rule on ceiling of Council of Ministers

The new PIL, filed by political activist Dr Errolla Srinivas of East Maredpally, Secunderabad, contends that the Congress government’s decision violates Article 164(1A) of the Constitution, which restricts the size of the Council of Ministers to 15 per cent of the strength of the Legislative Assembly.

The petitioner argues that conferring Cabinet-rank status on 14 MLAs and political appointees, in addition to the existing 16 Cabinet Ministers, breaches this constitutional ceiling in spirit and effect.

The PIL challenges the Government Orders that appointed 14 individuals with Cabinet-rank privileges, including K Keshava Rao (Advisor, Public Affairs), Parige Srinivas Reddy (Advisor), P Sudershan Reddy (Advisor), K Prem Sagar Rao (Chairman, TS Civil Supplies Corporation), Dr. G Chinna Reddy (Vice Chairman, Planning Board), Vem Narender (Advisor, Public Affairs), Mohd. Ali Shabbir (Advisor, SC/ST/OBC/Minorities Welfare), Harkara Venugopal Rao (Advisor, Protocol & Public Relations), Aditya Nath Das (Advisor, Irrigation & Water Resources), AP Jithender Reddy (Advisor, Sports Affairs), Mallu Ravi (Advisor & Special Representative in Delhi), K Srinivas Raju (Advisor, Infrastructure & Projects), Prasanna Kumar Suryadevara (Advisor, Legislature) and K Penata Reddy (Advisor, Lift Irrigation Schemes).