Chandrababu Naidu lambasts Centre for hasty decision

Amaravati: Levelling serious allegations against the Central government for suddenly announcing appointment date of AP High Court (HC) as January 1, 2019, without giving sufficient time for preparation, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu suspected that there was a conspiracy involved in it to protect YSRCP president YS Jaganmohan Reddy from the pending corruption cases.

Addressing a press conference at Undavalli in Guntur district on Friday, Naidu said that the Central government committed a mistake by dividing the High Court without prior information to the State government.

Admitting that the State government requested the Centre to divide the HC as soon as possible, Naidu stated that, “The Centre must give sufficient time to the State government for getting ready the buildings and infrastructure.

They must consider the problems of High Court Judges, advocates and other employees while releasing the appointment date. Centre should give at least one or two months’ time. But they released the Gazette notification without any prior intimation. Is it the way the Centre should behave with any State government?”

This is a shock for the HC Judges and employees, like that of the bifurcation. Centre behaved with high-handedness, which would harm the relations between States and Centre in the federal structure”, Chandrababu Naidu added.

The Chief Minister further said, “I wrote a letter requesting the Centre to divide HC, but they did not inform me and give time. They gave bifurcation shock once again. They asked us to shift the HC within five days. How is it possible? At least they must give one or two months time for shifting.

How could HC staff come? All employees and judges are in shock. How could they come by January 1, 2019? Where do they operate the business of the court. Is it the way the Centre should behave? Is it right on the part of Centre? Is it correct? Should the Centre behave like this with State?”.

Still the judicial complex in Amaravati is under construction and will be completed within next three weeks. Meanwhile, the State government has been searching for temporary locations for the HC.

He said that government showed the CM camp office in Vijayawada for temporary purpose, where eight courts will be operated. The R and B buildings, adjacent to the Chief Minister’s camp office are likely be considered for HC Office.

Residential purpose accommodation will be provided to the Jdges and other staff temporarily, he said. The government staff are engaged in identifying suitable houses for the Judges and AG, he added.

Naidu alleged that there was a conspiracy behind suddenly announcing the commencement date of the High Court in the residuary State. He opined that with the division of High Court, a new Judge of CBI court will have to take up hearing in YSRCP president Y S Jaganmohan Reddy’s assets case afresh.

Referring to Kadapa Steel Plant, the Chief Minister said the State government had decided to take up construction of the steel plant as Centre failed to respond to the State’s plea to sanction the plant.