Kaleshwaram case: HC relief to KCR, Harish Rao
High Court extends interim protection in Kaleshwaram case
The Telangana High Court has extended interim relief to former chief minister K Chandrashekar Rao and former minister T. Harish Rao in connection with the Kaleshwaram project case. The court directed the state government not to take any action against them until further hearings are completed.
The order provides temporary relief amid ongoing legal scrutiny of the findings submitted by the Kaleshwaram Commission.
Petitions challenge commission report
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KCR and Harish Rao had approached the Telangana High Court challenging the Kaleshwaram Commission report. Separate petitions were also filed by senior IAS officer Smita Sabharwal and former irrigation department principal secretary Shailendra Kumar Joshi.
All four petitioners questioned the findings and conclusions drawn in the commission’s report and sought protection from any coercive steps based on its contents.
Earlier protection continued
While hearing the batch of petitions, the High Court decided to continue the interim protection that had been granted earlier. The court made it clear that no action should be initiated against the petitioners based solely on the commission report until the matter is heard in detail.
The bench also issued instructions to the government to maintain the status quo in this regard.
The next hearing is scheduled for February 25
The court adjourned further hearing in the case to February 25. Until that date, the government has been restrained from taking any steps against KCR, Harish Rao, Smita Sabharwal, or Shailendra Kumar Joshi based on the commission’s findings.
The case relates to the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project, one of the largest irrigation initiatives undertaken in the state, which has remained under political and administrative scrutiny following the submission of the commission’s report.
The High Court is expected to hear detailed arguments from all sides in the next round of proceedings, after which further directions may be issued.
