KCR, Harish Rao seek HC stay on State govt action over Kaleshwaram project report

Hyderabad: Former Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao (KCR) and BRS MLA T Harish Rao, have filed separate writ petitions in the Telangana High Court seeking to prevent the government from acting on the report of the Commission of Inquiry on the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project.

The report, submitted on July 31, was headed by Justice (Retd.) Pinaki Chandra Ghose, former Supreme Court judge.

Claims of procedural violations

The petitioners contend that the report contains “prejudicial, illegal, high-handed, scurrilous, defamatory and scathing observations” against them.

They also allege that the findings were made public through a press conference and PowerPoint presentation on August 4 without giving them an opportunity to respond, as required under the Commissions of Inquiry Act, 1952.

Commission’s mandate questioned

Appointed by the Congress government under GO 6, Irrigation and CAD (Project-IV) dated March 14, 2024, the Commission was tasked with investigating alleged irregularities in the planning, design, and construction of Medigadda, Annaram, and Sundilla barrages, key components of the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Scheme.

Reports are recommendatory, say petitioners

The petitioners argued that, according to Supreme Court precedents, including State of Bihar vs. Lal Kishan Advani (2003) 8 SCC 361, inquiry reports are recommendatory in nature, and multiple such reports have been set aside by High Courts in India.

Respondents and next steps

The Chief Secretary, Secretary of the Irrigation and Command Area Development Department, and the Commission of Inquiry on Kaleshwaram Project are named as respondents in both petitions.

The cases are expected to come up for hearing before a Single Judge Bench soon.