Why was Language Pundit Entrance test not held: HC

The Hyderabad HC on Thursday sought to know the reasons from the government for its failure to conduct the Language Pundit Common Entrance Test in the last two years, despite designating a convener to do so.

Justice Challa Kodandaram, while dealing with a petition by one Balaraj and seven others seeking to direct the government to conduct LPCET, asked counsel representing the education department to file a counter affidavit explaining the reasons.

Counsel for the petitioners told the court that a majority of the 42 language pundit training colleges in TS were on the verge of shutting down with no students since the LPCET is not being conducted.

He reminded that last year, a single judge of the HC had passed an order on a petition by the management of a college directing the government to conduct LPCET within six weeks, but the government was refusing to conduct LPCET. Counsel for the government informed the judge that they were moving an appeal against the order of the single judge.

While adjourning the case, the judge told the government counsel to explain the actual rule in his counter affidavit.

No stay on Mallannasagar

The HC on Wednesday expressed its disinclination to stay the tender process for Mallannasagar reservoir.

Justice A. Ramalingeswara Rao was dealing with a plea by G. Lakshmi and others, challenging the tender notification of July 20, for construction of the reservoir without environmental clearance. TS Advocate-General D. Prakash Reddy told the court that Mallannasagar was part of the Kaleswaram project and the government requires 17,000 acres.

Stating that petitioners had only small parcels of lands, he said for the benefit of a few persons, a mega project like Kaleswaram that will serve drinking and irrigation purpose of hundreds, cannot be stalled. He said without paying compensation, the lands of the petitioners won’t be taken.

Ch. Ravi Kumar, counsel for the petitioners, contended that the issuing the tender notification without obtaining environmental clearance was illegal.

While urging the court to stay the tender process, Mr Kumar said that the petitioners moved the court keeping in view the larger public interest. The judge said that for the sake of a few people, stalling the project is not proper. The judge adjourned the case for four weeks and asked the A-G to file a counter affidavit.

Parents told to file application

The HC on Thursday directed commissioning parents to submit applications to the medical, health and family welfare department for taking custody of their babies born from surrogacy within a week. The department was told to decide as per law.

The bench was dealing with a suo motu case based on a letter by Justice Suresh Kumar Kait to the CJH referring to reports carried on June 19, 2017 in DC regarding raids on Sai Kiran Hospital & Kiran Infertility Centre for carrying out surrogacy without following due norms. B.S. Prasad, counsel for the health department said they had issued show cause notices to the hospital.

The bench adjourned the case for two weeks.

Counsel for Sai Kiran Hospital & Kiran Infertility Centre sought time to submit reply.