In a setback to Opposition Congress in Telangana, Supreme Court today quashed its petition seeking stay of demolition of Secretariat buildings in Hyderabad. The Supreme Court has opined that it cannot intervene in state government policy matters of cabinet decisions.
With the Supreme Court denying to issue stay orders on Secretariat row has paved way for the government.
Congress MLC, T Jeevan Reddy moved the apex court of India urging it to stay the demolition of buildings in Secretariat.
The court has cancelled the petition and said that as per article 136 of the Constitution the court cannot intervene in the policy matters of the state government. The court heard the arguments on both sides and set aside the Congress petition as baseless. Solicitor General Thushar Mehtha and advocate Uday Kumar Sagar argued in favour of Telangana Government.
They also filed a caveat against the petitions seeking to stay the collapse of the buildings in Secretariat and sought court nod for the new buildings. The petitioner argued that the government is razing down the buildings in violation of the environmental norms and causing pollution besides incurring loss to exchequer.
The Court observed that the high court has heard the case fully and said that it cannot intervene in state policy matters.
On June 29 the high court supported the cabinet decision to build new Secretariat which can be done after removing the existing buildings. Thus the government has started collapse of the buildings in Secretariat.
While the Congress and BJP and other opposition parties are crying foul the government is going ahead fid new Secretariat. The Supreme Court denial to stay has become a shot in the arm for the government.