Telangana HC judge rejects AG’s request to recuse from hearing plea, describes request as ‘Bench hunting’

Justice M.S. Ramachandra Rao of Telangana High Court on July 5 rejected Advocate-General (AG) B.S. Prasad’s request to recuse himself from hearing a writ petition filed by two farmers of Andhra Prades

Justice M.S. Ramachandra Rao of Telangana High Court on July 5 rejected Advocate-General (AG) B.S. Prasad’s request to recuse himself from hearing a writ petition filed by two farmers of Andhra Pradesh challenging a G.O. issued by Telangana government relating to usage of Krishna river water for power generation. When the writ petition came up for hearing in the morning, Additional Advocate General J. Ramachandra Rao appealed to the Bench of Justices M.S. Ramachandra Rao and T. Vinod Kumar that it should be heard by a Bench headed by Chief Justice Hima Kohli as per roster of sitting arrangements. Justice M.S. Ramachandra Rao said the bench would examine the issue when it would hear the matter during post-lunch session. Meanwhile senior counsel Vedula Venkatramana appearing for the petitioners said the plea should be heard by the same Bench since the petition involved issues relating to Andhra Pradesh Re-organisation Act. As per roster, AP Re-organisation Act matters are allocated to this Bench, he contended.