Sarpanch’s challenge to disqualification rejected
The Telangana High Court has dismissed a writ petition filed by Soyam Sameera challenging her disqualification as sarpanch of Dhorpally village in Sirpur-T mandal of Komaram Bheem Asifabad district.
Justice EG Venugopal passed the order while hearing a plea seeking to declare as illegal and without jurisdiction the proceedings issued on March 12, 2026, by the agency divisional officer-cum-revenue divisional officer of Kagaznagar division.
The petitioner contended that she was disqualified on the ground that she had not attained the mandatory age of 21 years at the time of filing her nomination, based on photocopies of educational records without proper verification.
Opposing the plea, the Assistant Government Pleader for Panchayat Raj argued that the writ petition was not maintainable, stating that election-related disputes must be challenged only through an election petition before the competent authority.
Counsel for the unofficial respondent, who secured the second-highest votes, also supported the disqualification, contending that the petitioner was ineligible due to her age.
Interpol notice to KVP: HC seeks Centre’s view
The Telangana High Court on Wednesday directed the Ministries of Home Affairs and External Affairs to file detailed counter affidavits regarding the Red Corner Notice issued by Interpol against KVP Ramachandra Rao, former adviser to late chief minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy.
Justice N Tukaramji was hearing a petition filed by Ramachandra Rao in 2014 challenging the notice issued on April 28, 2014, in connection with a case related to alleged irregularities in titanium mining leases along the Visakhapatnam–Vizianagaram coast, registered in the United States.
The court also permitted the petitioner to implead the State of Telangana as a respondent, noting that the petition was originally filed before the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh.
Senior counsel N Hemendra Nath Reddy, appearing for the petitioner, argued that the case was politically motivated and had surfaced during the 2014 general elections. He submitted that the final decision regarding the Red Corner Notice lies with the Union government and pointed out that the Centre had not filed its counters so far despite being impleaded earlier.
Directing the Centre to submit detailed responses, the court adjourned the matter for three weeks.