HYDERABAD: The Central government on Thursday told the Hyderabad High court that it has no role to play in the tussle between Telangana and Andhra Pradesh states in respect of the ongoing recruitment of district judges and junior civil judges and bifurcation of subordinate judiciary. It is for the High court to frame its own rules in this regard, it noted.
Centre’s additional solicitor general KM Nataraj made these submissions before a division bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Dilip B Bhosale and Justice S V Bhatt which was dealing with batch of petitions filed by senior counsel Sarasani Satyam Reddy and others seeking stay of recruitment of district judges and junior civil judges and also recruitment by transfer and promotion of judicial officers pursuant to the notifications issued in 2014 and 2015. The petitioners opposed the common recruitment even after the formation of separate Telangana state.
Telangana government had opposed the ongoing recruitment since it was being conducted in accordance with the AP judicial service rules. It contended that the recruitment pertaining to its state should be done in accordance with the Telangana judicial service rules and not under AP judicial service rules. On the other hand, AP government made it clear that it will abide with the decision of the High Court.
It may be mentioned here that the bench had earlier given its nod for filling the posts of junior civil judges. It, however, made it clear that the said appointments were subject to final outcome of the petitions pending before it.
With regard to bifurcation of subordinate judiciary staff between the two states, Nataraj said that it is for the High Court to take the initiative in the matter and send the proposal to the Centre for approval.
The bench posted the matter to March 3 for hearing the arguments of the Advocate General of Telangana.