Former Chief Justice Withdraws from Telangana Inquiry Commission

Keywords: Telangana, K Chandrasekhar Rao, Commission of Inquiry, power sector irregularities, Supreme Court, Patna High Court, Justice L Narasimha Reddy

On Tuesday, former Chief Justice of the Patna High Court, L Narasimha Reddy, withdrew from the one-man Commission of Inquiry established by the Telangana government. The commission was set up to investigate alleged irregularities in the power sector during the tenure of former Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao.

Supreme Court Hearing

The withdrawal came during a Supreme Court hearing on a plea filed by Rao, who alleged bias against Justice Reddy. The counsel for Justice (retd) Reddy informed the Supreme Court that Reddy did not wish to remain part of the commission.

A bench comprising Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud, Justice J B Pardiwala, and Justice Manoj Misra took note of this submission. The court permitted the Congress-led state government to appoint a substitute for Justice Reddy in the Commission of Inquiry.

Allegations of Bias

The plea from the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leader, K Chandrasekhar Rao, was influenced by Justice Reddy’s actions. Rao’s counsel argued that Justice Reddy had addressed a press conference where he made remarks on the merits of the charges against Rao without conducting an inquiry, thereby demonstrating bias.

High Court Decision

Previously, the Telangana High Court had dismissed a writ petition filed by Rao on July 1, seeking to declare the constitution of the Commission of Inquiry illegal. The commission was established to investigate the correctness and propriety of decisions made by the previous dispensation regarding power procurement from Chhattisgarh by Telangana power distribution companies, as well as the construction of the Bhadradri Thermal Power Plant at Manuguru and the Yadadri Thermal Plant at Damarcherla by TS GENCO.

Petition Details

In his plea, K Chandrasekhar Rao sought to have the Telangana government’s order constituting the Commission of Inquiry declared illegal. He also challenged the continuation of Justice (retd) L Narasimha Reddy as the head of the commission.

Outcome

The Supreme Court’s acknowledgment of Justice Reddy’s withdrawal and the direction to the state government to appoint a new head for the commission brings a significant turn in the investigation process. The decision reflects the court’s commitment to ensuring an unbiased and fair inquiry into the alleged irregularities in Telangana’s power sector.

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