HYDERABAD: In a setback to YSR Congress leader and former revenue minister Dharmana Prasada Rao, who is facing a CBI case in the Vanpic episode of the YS Jaganmohan Reddy disproportionate assets case, the Supreme Court has set aside an order of the Hyderabad High Court and directed it to examine whether a formal sanction order is essential now to prosecute the former minister under the provisions of Prevention of Corruption Act.
According to Section 19 of the Act, prior sanction has to be obtained before prosecuting public servants like ministers. Earlier, the trial court took cognisance of the role of the former minister as was narrated by the CBI in the charge-sheet. Aggrieved with the decision of the trial court, Dharmana approached the Hyderabad High Court which set aside the trial court’s cognizance order on the ground that it cannot pass two orders in respect of one issue. The second order amounts to review of its first order. Review power is not there for trial courts, the High Court noted.
Aggrieved by the order of the HC, the CBI approached the Supreme Court. Recently, SC reversed the HC order and directed it to hear the matter afresh.
G Syam Prasad appointed as High Court judge
The President of India appointed G Shyam Prasad, member secretary (district and sessions judge) of Andhra Pradesh state legal services authority, as judge of the Hyderabad High Court. Apart from the Acting Chief Justice, the strength of High Court judges will now go up to 24 as against the approved strength of 61.