Umesh Kumar files counter affidavits in HC

HYDERABAD: Senior IPS officer Umesh Kumar, presently working as chairman of the Godavari Valley Development Authority and formerly ACB director general, on Wednesday filed two counter affidavits before the AP High Court with a plea for dismissal of the writ petitions filed by DGP V Dinesh Reddy and former DGP K Aravinda Rao in 2011 relating to promotions of the DGP.Umesh Kumar, who was a respondent in the above writ petitions, in his counter affidavit said based on a request by the state government to issue guidelines for selection and appointment of the DGP the Union government has clarified on May 9, 2011 that the selections to the DGP grade shall be made by the state government in accordance with the Supreme Court verdict in Prakash Singh’s case.The above clarification clearly demolishes the state government’s contentions in the present case that consequent to the insertion of Note 2 of Rule 3 of IPS (Pay) Amendment Rules, the apex court judgment in Singh’s case has become redundant.To that extent the apex court direction would stand amended.The rest of the process laid down by the apex court continues to remain valid.The Central Administrative Tribunal held that the wholesale promotions given to some respondents on May 18, 2010 were illegal.The petitioners, V Dinesh Reddy and K Aravinda Rao, earlier challenged the judgment of the Tribunal (Hyderabad bench) dated April 27, 2011.Contempt Case Adjourned to Jan 30HYDERABAD: A division bench of the AP High Court comprising chief justice Madan B.Lokur and justice PV Sanjay Kumar adjourned a contempt case to Jan 30.A Sharat Kumar, citybased private employee, filed the contempt case stating that despite court’s stay orders one Jaya Reddy was going ahead with the construction activity and the authorities concerned have failed to protect government lands.The High Court earlier granted stay on the PIL filed by Sharat Kumar.Advocate general Sudershan Reddy informed of the steps taken and that two revenue officials have been posted to see there would not be any further construction on the lands.He urged the government to grant time to file the counter affidavit.