HYDERABAD: A division bench of the Hyderabad High Court on Friday concluded the hearing in the case pertaining to creation of separate High Courts for the states of Telangana and AP. The bench will receive brief notes from the counsels on Wednesday.
The bench comprising chief justice Kalyan Jyoti Sengupta and justice PV Sanjay Kumar was dealing with a public interest litigation filed by T Dhangopal Rao, rights activist, seeking a direction for formation of two high courts.
The arguments on behalf of the two state governments, Central government and two amicus curiae appointed by the court to assist the court were perused in detail by the bench. On Friday, the bench heard the arguments on behalf of group of advocates who impleaded in the case.
MV Raja Ram, the counsel representing the AP High Court Sadhana Samithi, submitted that the Chief Justice of Hyderabad High Court is competent to decide in consultation with the governor to suggest the President of India the location for creation of principal bench of High Court for AP.
Referring to a query posed by the bench on Thursday whether there was any conflict between the AP Reorganisation Act, 1956 and the Reorganisation Act 2014, the counsel said that there was no conflict in both the Acts.
As per provisions under both the Acts, the Chief Justice of the Common High Court for both the states has power to locate the place of principal bench for the HC of AP, but it shall be invariably within the state of AP, he added.
Gandra Mohana Rao, advocate of the High Court, submitted that as long as the Hyderabad is the common capital for both the states, the territory of Hyderabad can be considered notionally as the territory of AP for establishing its legislative, executive and assembly wings of the state, including the High Court of AP.
While adjourning the case, the bench permitted all the counsels and amicus curiae and advocate generals of both the states to submit written arguments in brief by Wednesday.