
CM trashes allegations on Banakacherla project
Speaking to the media in Kuppam on Thursday, Naidu made it clear that the project would not harm anyone. He amplified that misinformation was being deliberately spread to mislead the public.
Recalling his efforts in the past, when he was the chief minister of the undivided Andhra Pradesh, Naidu pointed out that he was the one who brought the Devadula Lift Irrigation Project to Telangana. 'I inspected key locations like the Srisailam project, SLBC, and the Madhava Reddy Canal before initiating the project over the Godavari River,' he said. He also mentioned that the Pushkara and Tatipudi Lift Irrigation Schemes were introduced in Andhra Pradesh under his leadership to ensure better water management.
Taking a swipe at the Yellampalli project announced during YS Rajasekhara Reddy's tenure, Naidu said it never saw the light of day and was marred by a major scam. He stressed that both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh had a rightful share in the Godavari's waters and could benefit greatly if just a fraction, about 200 TMC out of the 2,000 TMC that flows into the sea every year, was used efficiently.
'Sharing water resources fairly can uplift the entire Telugu community,' he observed. Naidu reiterated that he had never opposed, nor would he oppose any irrigation initiative taken up by Telangana on the Godavari River. Speaking on social development, the Chief Minister criticised the previous government for neglecting the poor.
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Hans India
12 minutes ago
- Hans India
CM for leveraging tech to make AP zero-crime state
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Hans India
44 minutes ago
- Hans India
Even the first citizen is answerable under the RTI Act!
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In this case the question was sent to the President; it is the story of the RTI question. How the RTI gave the 'details' of Fakhruddin Ali Ahmad, former President, is very interesting, as explained by former Central Information Commissioner Shailesh Gandhi. One Subhash Chandra Agrawal had on August 9, 2010, filed a petition under RTI. Shailesh explained: The institutions of democracy had not become robust enough to withstand an assault, and it is imperative for citizens to know the reasons why and how democracy in India was nearly lost. He allowed an appeal, directed the Public Information Officer (PIO) and under-secretary at the President's Secretariat to provide the complete information on the declaration of internal emergency by the then president, Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed. Gandhi said, 'The Commission cannot pass any direction in this regard, as it does not come within the Commission's powers as mandated under the RTI Act. 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The idea behind Clause (2) is this: the Court is not to enquire—it is not concerned with—whether any advice was tendered by any Minister or Council of Ministers to the President, and if so, what was that advice. That is a matter between the President and his Council of Ministers. What advice was tendered, whether it was required to be reconsidered, what advice was tendered after reconsideration, if any, what was the opinion of the President, whether the advice was changed pursuant to further discussion, if any, and how the ultimate decision was arrived at, are all matters between the President and his Council of Ministers. They are beyond the ken of the Court. The Court is not to go into it. It is enough that there is an order/act of the President in appropriate form. It will take it as the order/act of the President. 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The Supreme Court, while interpreting the scope of Article 74(2) of the Constitution of India, clearly laid down in SR Bommai that Article 74(2) of the Constitution of India merely barred an enquiry into the question whether any, and if so, what advice was tendered by the council of ministers to the president. It did not bar the court from calling upon the council of ministers to disclose to the court the material upon which the President had formed the requisite satisfaction. The material on the basis of which advice was tendered did not become a part of the advice. Even if the material was looked into by, or shown, to the president, it did not take the character of advice. 'Given that the advice tendered by the council of ministers to the president enjoys the Constitutional protection of Article 74(2) and cannot be disclosed to the courts, a citizen under the RTI Act cannot seek information pertaining to such advice. However, the Supreme Court has held that the materials on the basis of which such advice is tendered by the council of ministers or on the basis of which the president forms the requisite satisfaction is not covered by Article 74(2) of the Constitution of India. Since Article 74(2) does not cover such material, it can be accessed under the RTI Act, subject only to the exemptions under the RTI Act.' He wrote in the Second Appeal 'complete and detailed information on all documents/ records/ deliberations/ correspondence/ file notings on declaration of internal emergency in the country by Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed, the then president is not barred from disclosure under Article 74 of the Constitution of India; only the advice received by the then president from the then prime minister is protected from disclosure under Article 74(2) of the Constitution of India (in line with the ruling in SR Bommai) and therefore cannot be provided to the appellant under the RTI Act.' It was based on and the report of Moneylife on the website. 18 June 2013. Being a former President, he committed a serious blunder. How can such a Constitutional wrong be repaired by a Right to Information petition? The people of India need to answer! (The writer is Advisor, School of Law, Mahindra University, Hyderabad)


Time of India
3 hours ago
- Time of India
Andhra Pradesh chief minister Chandrababu Naidu advocates enhanced use of technology for public safety
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