The Telangana government on Friday informed the High Court that it would proceed on the judicial commission’s report on the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project (KLIP) only after it is debated in the state assembly.
The submission came during a hearing on petitions filed by former Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao and former minister T. Harish Rao seeking to quash the commission’s findings. The court directed the state to ensure that the report, if uploaded on any official website, be taken down immediately.
A bench, while considering the matter, posted it for the next hearing in five weeks. The state has been directed to file a detailed counter-affidavit within four weeks, after which the petitioners will have one week to file replies.
Petitioners’ counsel urged the court to stay any further action on the report, but the bench declined to grant interim relief. The court noted that the petitioners appeared prejudiced due to the alleged leak of the report’s contents during a government press conference, and observed that the report ought not to have been made public before being presented in the assembly.
However, since Advocate General Sudarshan Reddy categorically assured that no action would be taken before the legislative debate, the court said the apprehensions of premature action were misplaced.
The judicial commission, headed by former Supreme Court judge Justice P.C. Ghose, submitted its report on July 31, holding K. Chandrasekhar Rao responsible for alleged irregularities in the project’s construction and functioning. The report also found fault with then irrigation minister T. Harish Rao.
Challenging the findings, both BRS leaders approached the High Court, contending that the commission’s conclusions were politically motivated. Their counsels requested interim orders restraining the government from acting on the report until the case was decided.
The court was informed that Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy has already announced plans to convene an assembly session to debate the commission’s report and decide the government’s next steps.
The Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Project, a flagship initiative of the BRS government on the Godavari river in Bhupalpally, suffered structural setbacks when the Medigadda barrage developed damages. The issue became a major flashpoint in the 2023 assembly elections, with the Congress accusing the previous regime of corruption and mismanagement.
The High Court will resume hearing the matter after five weeks.
