HC stays criminal procedure against YSR

HYDERABAD: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy and Telugu TV news channels get a temporary relief from proceedings in criminal cases initiated by the Election Commission with the three weeks stay order given by a Division Bench of the A.P. High Court comprising Chief Justice A.R. Dave and Justice R. Subhash Reddy.


The Bench was dealing with a writ petition filed by B. Govinda Reddy general secretary, District Congress Committee, Potti Sriramulu Nellore district, Giri Yadav, president Praja Party and two Telugu news channels-- TV5 and NTV.
The EC had directed the State authorities to register criminal cases against the Chief Minister for addressing a press conference and the TV channels for telecasting it.S. Ramachandra Rao, senior counsel appearing for the petitioners, said that the Chief Minister who was public servant, discharged his duty under Information Act by giving details about the activities of his government. The TV channels had telecast it as the right to information is guaranteed. The Chief Minister neither addressed a public meeting nor conducted a procession.
The petitioners said the Governor’s permission was necessary before action was initiated against a public servant like Chief Minister. The magistrates ought not have granted permission to the police to investigate the case. They wondered how covering a press conference of State government by the TV channels became a crime. The Bench granted two weeks time for the respondents to file counter affidavits and posted the matter after three weeks.
Chief Electoral Officer I. V. Subba Rao said that counter affidavits would be filed by himself and the EC within two weeks as directed by the court, with respect to the case filed against Chief Minister for poll code violation during the bypolls.
Updated: 06-17-2008
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