High Court expresses surprise at AP’s helplessness to get video-footage

Hyderabad: The High Court at Hyderabad on Tuesday expressed surprise at the helpless attitude of the Andhra Pradesh state government in procuring video footage of elected representatives openly flouting the orders of the court regarding cockfights and betting during Sankranti festival.

It is observed that if the channels are not providing the required footage, it will consider issuing notices to the MDs of these channels and procure the same and send to an independent body for examining the footage. With the Andhra Pradesh Advocate General submitting that there is no need for such an action and the Government will procure the footage, the Court agreed to adjourn the case.

The division bench comprising of Acting Chief Justice Ramesh Ranganathan and Justice K Vijayalakshmi made these observations while hearing the PIL petition filed by K Ramachandra Raju of West Godavari district seeking a direction to the authorities to act against cockfights and betting during Sankranti. The bench, during previous hearing, had directed the AP Government to get TV footage of elected representatives openly flouting the court order to prevent these activities.

Advocate General Dammalapati Srinivas informed the bench that only one channel responded and provided footage about one elected representative. The bench expressed surprise and said everyone have seen scores of elected representatives openly participating in these illegal activities and commenting about it on television.

It said the Government could have acted to get other channels footage instead of just complaining about lack of response from the channels. With the AG seeking time to get the footage, the bench adjourned the case by two weeks.