Hyderabad : 8 pleas filed against Dharani

Hyderabad : The High Court division bench headed by Chief Justice Raghavendra Singh Chauhan and Justice Bollam Vijaysen Reddy heard eight public interest litigations opposing the move of the Telangana State government in digitalising the revenue records pertaining to agriculture and non-agricultural properties through Dharani portal.

Desai Prakash Reddy, Senior Counsel appearing for the petitioner Gopal Sharma, informed the court that the officials were again asking Aadhaar and caste details from the citizens while booking a slot prior to registration of their properties.

Further, the officials are asking the details of the family members of the purchaser as well as the seller, which is against the undertaking given by the Advocate General Banda Shivananda Prasad, who had assured the court that such details would not be asked and stressed that the court should obtain an undertaking from the State government in writing to avoid such situation.

Advocate General Banda Shivananda Prasad informed the court that there was a cabinet sub-committee that has been constituted, which would be re-considering the entire issue on Dharani portal and sought time to file counter affidavit.

Chief Justice Raghavendra Singh Chauhan, after hearing the contentions of petitioner counsel, directed the Chief Secretary, Telangana government to file an affidavit by Thursday (17-12-2020) assuring the court that Aadhaar and caste details would not be asked from the citizens while uploading the property details on Dharani portal.

Further, the Chief Justice observed that it was a clever ploy by the State in again asking Aadhaar and caste details from the citizens, despite the fact that the Advocate General BS Prasad had assured that such information would not be asked.

"It's a very surreptitious way of behaviour on the part of the State," the CJ noted. He also opined that if the State government through the cabinet sub-committee was going to reconsider the issue of Dharani portal, then it was a good sign. The matter was adjourned to Thursday.