High Court Dismisses KCR’s Petition Against Electricity Commission

High Court Dismisses KCR’s Petition Against Electricity Commission

Hyderabad: In a significant legal setback for former Chief Minister and BRS Chief K. Chandrasekhar Rao (KCR), the High Court dismissed his petition challenging the single-member commission headed by Justice Narasimha Reddy. This commission was appointed by the state government to investigate deficiencies in the Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) with Chhattisgarh, Bhadradri, and Yadadri thermal power plants.

The division bench, comprising Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice Anil Kumar Jukanti, delivered a 22-page verdict on Monday, dismissing KCR’s plea. The court rejected KCR’s allegations that Justice Narasimha Reddy was biased and that the commission was pre-determined to act against him.

The High Court upheld the legitimacy of the commission, established under the Commission of Inquiries Act, 1952. The court noted that the commission’s scope of inquiry was broader than that of the State Electricity Regulatory Commission (SERC) and confirmed that it had jurisdiction to review the matters decided by SERC.

Justice Narasimha Reddy was appointed by the state government on March 14 to investigate alleged irregularities in the construction of the Yadadri and Bhadradri thermal power stations and the MoUs and PPAs between Chhattisgarh and Telangana. The court found no evidence to support KCR’s claims of bias, noting that the petitioner failed to present sufficient proof of any wrongdoing by the commission.

The High Court emphasized that the commission’s role was to fact-find and submit a report to the government, not to assign guilt. The commission’s ability to examine office files and issue notices was deemed legal and appropriate under the Commission of Inquiries Act.

Furthermore, the court dismissed the objections regarding the commission’s media interactions. Justice Narasimha Reddy’s press conference on June 11 was found to be within the bounds of public inquiry, and his actions did not compromise the investigation’s integrity.

The High Court concluded that the petitioner’s allegations were speculative and lacked concrete evidence. Consequently, KCR’s request to cancel the commission was dismissed, reaffirming the commission’s authority to proceed with its investigation into the power agreements and plant constructions.

Key Points:

• High Court Ruling: Petition by K. Chandrasekhar Rao dismissed.
• Commission’s Scope: Broader than State Electricity Regulatory Commission.
• Legal Framework: Commission established under the Commission of Inquiries Act, 1952.
• No Bias Found: Court found no evidence supporting claims of bias against Justice Narasimha Reddy.
• Commission’s Role: Fact-finding and reporting, not assigning guilt.
• Media Interaction: Justice Narasimha Reddy’s press conference deemed appropriate.