Telangana High Court bars action against KCR, Harish Rao based on Kaleshwaram report
Hyderabad: The Telangana High Court granted interim relief to former Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao (KCR) and his nephew, former minister T. Harish Rao, directing the state government not to take any coercive action against them based on the Justice P.C. Ghosh Commission report regarding the Kaleshwaram project irregularities on Wednesday.
A bench comprising Chief Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh and Justice G.M. Mohiuddin issued the order after hearing petitions filed by the BRS leaders, who sought a stay on any action stemming from the commission's report until their main petitions challenging the probe itself are heard.
During the hearing, the Advocate General informed the court that the investigation has been handed over to the CBI, clarifying that the central agency's probe is independent and ‘has nothing to do with the commission.’
After considering the arguments from both sides, the bench issued a directive, ordering the state government not to take any action against the two Bharat Rastra Samithi (BRS) leaders based on the PC Ghosh Commission report until the next hearing. The court ordered that no action be taken against the leaders based on the commission report until the next hearing, scheduled for 7 October.
The interim relief comes after KCR and Harish Rao filed writ petitions on August 19, challenging the legality of the Justice Ghose Commission report. They argued that the commission was constituted illegally and seeks to declare the government order appointing it as "illegal, arbitrary, unconstitutional, and ultra vires."
The petitioners allege the report contains 'prejudicial' and 'defamatory' observations made without providing mandatory notices under the Commissions of Inquiry Act, violating principles of natural justice. They also challenged the government's dissemination of the report's contents without furnishing them with a copy.
The court had previously directed the state government to file a detailed counter-affidavit within four weeks, with the petitioners getting one week to file a rejoinder thereafter. Meanwhile petitioners sought an urgent hearing in the matter, urging a stay on the government's decision to hand over the probe to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Tuesday.
The court after hearing the arguments ordered that the main petition would be heard after the Dussehra vacation and consequently adjourned the matter. The next hearing has been scheduled for 7 October,2025.
