'Can court be a town planner?' SC on Andhra HC order for building state capital

by Argus News

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

The Supreme Court on Monday issued notice to the Centre, and the farmers and their associations on a plea by Andhra Pradesh government against the High Court order, declaring Amaravati as the only capital of the state.

New Delhi, Nov 28: The Supreme Court on Monday issued notice to the Centre, and the farmers and their associations on a plea by Andhra Pradesh government against the High Court order, declaring Amaravati as the only capital of the state.

A bench comprising justices K.M. Joseph and B.V. Nagarathna also stayed the High Court direction to the state government to construct and develop the Amaravati capital city and capital region of the state within six months.

Senior advocate K.K. Venugopal submitted that the state government has repealed the law for having three different capitals of the state.

The bench said: "What kind of directions have been passed by the high court, can the court be a town planner? The court wants the planning to be done in two months. The bench further observed that how could it bind a sovereign state that it has to develop a particular area."

The High Court had said the state and the Andhra Pradesh Capital Region Development Authority (APCRDA) violated the fundamental rights of the petitioners (farmers), as they surrendered their only source of livelihood of over 33,000 acres of fertile land.

The top court said it needs to examine the matter in detail and scheduled the petitions filed by state government, farmers, associations and their committees for further hearing on January 31.

"We are inclined to examine this issue... Issue notice. Till the next date of hearing, there will be a stay of direction 3-7," said the bench.

The high court, on March 3, said the inaction of the APCRDA and the state government failure to develop the capital city and capital region as agreed to in terms of the Development Agreement-cum-Irrevocable General Power of Attorney, is nothing but a deviation from the promise made by the state, defeating legitimate expectation.

It also ordered authorities concerned and the state government to complete infrastructure development like roads, electricity, drainage, and drinking water supply in the Amaravati capital city and region within one month.

The high court's order came on a batch of petitions by aggrieved farmers of Amaravati region against Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy government's decision to make Visakhapatnam the executive capital, Kurnool the judiciary capital and Amaravati as the legislative capital of Andhra Pradesh.

The farmers claimed the government had entered into agreements with them for offering their land under the land pooling scheme, promising to develop a new capital.

(IANS)

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"May She Be Blessed...": PM Modi Extends Birthday Wishes To Sonia Gandhi

by Manisha Das

New Delhi, Dec 9: Prime Minister Narendra Modi wished Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi on her 77th birthday.

"Best wishes to Smt. Sonia Gandhi Ji on her birthday. May she be blessed with a long and healthy life," the Prime Minister said in a post on 'X' on Saturday.

Best wishes to Smt. Sonia Gandhi Ji on her birthday. May she be blessed with a long and healthy life. — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 9, 2023

Modi's wishes come at a time when the Congress just lost three Hindi heartland states in the recently concluded Assembly polls, and the crucial Lok Sabha elections are just six months away.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge also took to 'X' to extend his wishes to the former party president. Kharge described her as a "relentless advocate of the rights of the marginalised."

"Greetings to Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson, Smt. Sonia Gandhi ji on her birthday. A relentless advocate of the rights of the marginalised, she has been a symbol of utmost grace while battling adversity with courage, grit and selfless sacrifice. I wish her a long and healthy life," Kharge said in her post on 'X'.

"My best wishes to CPP Chairperson Smt. Sonia Gandhi ji on her birthday! Her commitment to public service and the upliftment of the poor and marginalised sections of society have won a billion hearts," Venugopal said in a post on 'X'.

On her political journey, the Congress leader said, "Her life journey is an inspiration for us all. She steered the Congress through an extremely challenging period with great poise and was the architect of the UPA government that delivered welfare for all and exponential growth for the country."

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin wished the veteran Congress leader as well.

"Birthday greetings to Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Madam Sonia Gandhi, an exemplar of devoted public life. Wishing her a long life filled with good health," Stalin said.

On Sonia's contribution to strengthening the opposition alliance, the Chief Minister said, "May her profound vision and wealth of experience continue to be a guiding light in our united endeavour to save #INDIA from autocratic forces."

Sonia was last seen at the swearing-in ceremony of Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, the only state the Congress bagged in the recent assembly elections. She had also called a Congress Parliamentary Strategy Group meeting on Monday evening to chalk out the strategy for the winter session of Parliament.

(ANI)

13 Arrested In ISIS Terror Conspiracy Case Following NIA Raids In Maharashtra, Karnataka

by Manisha Das

New Delhi, Dec 9: A total of 13 people were arrested in the ISIS terror conspiracy case from Maharashtra's Pune on Saturday following searches by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) at 44 locations in Karnataka and Maharashtra.

The anti-terror agency sleuths raided these locations in close coordination with the police forces of Maharashtra and Karnataka, sources said.

Of the 44 locations being raided since this morning, the agency sleuths searched one place in Karnataka, two in Pune, 31 in Thane Rural, nine in Thane city, and one in Bhayander, they said.

The case pertains to a criminal conspiracy hatched by accused persons and their associates who had pledged to the violent extremist ideology of proscribed terrorist organizations, including Al-Qaeda and ISIS, and had formed a terrorist gang.

The terrorist organizations had recruited like-minded youth into their fold besides conducting religious classes to wage violent jihad to establish Islamic rule in India.

(ANI)

NIA Raids 44 Locations In Karnataka, Maharashtra In ISIS Terror Conspiracy Case

by Manisha Das

New Delhi, Dec 9: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Saturday carried out raids at 44 locations in Karnataka and Maharashtra in connection to an ISIS terror conspiracy case.

Of the total 44 locations being raided by the NIA since this morning, the agency sleuths searched one place in Karnataka, two in Pune, 31 in Thane Rural, nine in Thane city and one in Bhayander, sources said.

The anti-terror agency sleuths raided these locations in close coordination with the police forces of Maharashtra and Karnataka, they said.

The case pertains to a criminal conspiracy hatched by accused persons and their associates, who had pledged to the violent extremist ideology of proscribed terrorist organizations including Al-Qaeda and ISIS and had formed a terrorist gang.

The terrorist organizations had recruited like-minded youth into their fold besides conducting religious classes to wage violent jihad to establish Islamic rule in India.

(ANI)

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'Can court be a town planner?' SC on Andhra HC order for building state capital

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