The petitioners assailed the validity of the ordinance by 51 gram panchayats were merged into various municipalities such as Medchal, Sangareddy and Rangareddy. The petitioner contended that the Ghansimiaguda Gram Panchayat came into existence in 1985 and the state violating the Rule 3 of AP Municipalities Inclusion or Exclusion of Areas into/from the jurisdiction of the Municipalities/Nagara Panchayat Rules 2015 merged the gram panchayats into municipalities.
Counsel for petitioners argued that gram panchayats were not consulted while passing the ordinance and there was no circumstances for the Governor to take immediate action for passing of said ordinance.
It was also argued that the gram panchayat which is a constitutional body sought to be dissolved which is impermissible under the law. Advocate-General A. Sudershan Reddy opposing the said contentions would argue that the state has enacted the Telangana Municipalities Act 2019 by which the AP Municipalities Inclusion or Exclusion of Areas ceased to be in effect. He argued that as per the Act, the state has ample power and jurisdiction to amend the limits and boundaries of gram panchayats. The panel after hearing the matter at length dismissed the petitions stating that no case has been made out and there is no merit in the claim.
Evaluate ticket hike request, HC tells state
Justice B. Vijaysen Reddy of the Telangana High Court passed an interim direction to the state to evaluate the application of two movie theatres for ticket rate enhancement. The judge is hearing a writ plea filed by Sri Laxmi 70 MM and Sri Raghavendra 70 MM, seeking parity in ticket rates with multiplex theatres.
The petitioners are challenging alleged inaction of respondent authorities in fixing admission rates for standalone theatres on par with multiplexes. The petitioners contend that state authorities have failed to act on their application for rate enhancement despite the guidelines issued in a memo dated November 29, 2024.
They argued that their theatres, being multi-screen establishments, qualify for the benefits accorded to multiplexes under the memo. The petitioners further contended that the state’s inaction is arbitrary and unjust. After hearing the counsel for the petitioners, the judge expressed concerns about the potential impact of price increases on affordability for middle-class moviegoers.
The judge observed, “Ticket pricing should offer a variety of options so that people can choose theatres according to their economic capacity”. The judge passed an interim direction to the respondent authorities to evaluate the application of the petitioners for ticket rate enhancement within 24 hours. The judge accordingly directed the state to file its response.
HC dismisses bail plea in drugs case
Justice G. Radha Rani of the Telangana High Court dismissed a bail petition in a case involving the seizure of 59.525 kg of ganja, a quantity exceeding the commercial threshold, under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985.
The judge was dealing with a bail petition filed by Sanjit Kumar Bhuyan, who allegedly, along with an accomplice, procured the ganja in Odisha and transported it by train to Telangana.
They were apprehended at Vikarabad Railway Station following heightened police surveillance. While one accused fled, the petitioner was caught with six bags containing a total of 30 packets of ganja.
The counsel for the petitioner argued that only 24 kilograms of the seized ganja belonged to the petitioner, with the rest attributed to the absconding co-accused.
The counsel also brought the petitioner’s prolonged detention of five months to the notice of the judge. However, the prosecution opposed the bail plea, highlighting that the contraband was a commercial quantity and that the petitioner’s release could jeopardize the trial, given his residency in Odisha and the absconding status of the co-accused. The judge, noting the large quantity of ganja seized and the potential difficulties in securing the petitioner’s presence for trial, denied the bail application.
The judge emphasised the stringent provisions of Section 37 of the NDPS Act, which limit bail in cases involving commercial quantities of narcotics.
