High Court 'extremely dissatisfied' over ineffective action of Telangana government

Hyderabad: The High Court Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Raghavendra Singh Chauhan and Justice Vijaysen Reddy expressed deep concern over the price rise of essential commodities and vegetables in the markets of Hyderabad and Secunderabad during this lockdown period. The Bench was dissatisfied over the efforts made the State government and the Police Department in curtailing the high prices of essential commodities. Hearing on a suo moto Taken up public interest litigation based on a media article published in English news daily, CJ Bench expressed disappointment over the police in registering only a few cases, selling essential commodities and vegetables at high rates in twin cities. The Bench pointed out that going by the less number of cases itself shows that the government is not serious in controlling the prices of essentials and vegetables. The Bench asked Advocate General Banda Shivananda Prasad as to why the officials are not invoking circulars issued under the Essential Commodities Act. Moreover, why the Government report confined only to twin cities and sought to know the status in other districts of the State.

Chief Justice Chauhan expressed his dissent over the feeble action of the State Government in controlling price rise and said that people cannot be exploited by denying essential commodities at market rate during the prevailing serious circumstances.

'How do you think that people will survive if such a situation continues, that too during a period when people are confined to homes due to the lockdown. If the State Govt cannot control this, then this Court will pass out orders in this issue' the CJ said. Advocate General BS Prasad informed the bench that the Director-General of Police has issued instructions to all the unit officers in the state to take action against the vendors who are selling essential commodities and vegetables at a high price and strict measures are being taken to contain price rise.

The CJ Bench asked Telangana government and Police Department to file a comprehensive report on the steps taken to contain price rise of Vegetables and Essential Commodities in the State. The matter has been adjourned to May 27.