The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Forum demands probe into advocates' absence

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, May 22, 2005

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Forum demands probe into advocates' absence

Staff Reporter

HYDERABAD: The Telangana Ex-legislators' Forum has demanded an enquiry into and action against advocates and others concerned "for their lapses" for not appearing before the Krishna River Water Disputes Tribunal.

M. Narayana Reddy, convener of the forum, in a letter to the Chief Minister, Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy, said that the absence of the Advocate-General was "conspicuous and that of senior lawyers too glaring to be ignored by the media".

The letter said the absence of Andhra Pradesh lawyers before the tribunal on the first day of hearing "amounts to disrespect to the highest court on river water disputes in the country.

If this situation continues the Andhra Government is bound to suffer serious setback in future also."

Representations

Mr. Reddy recalled that the forum had raised the issue in its previous representations. He said Andhra Pradesh could not get a satisfactory allocation due to "ineffective" representation before the then tribunal in 1976. "It looks as though history would repeat itself due to inept handling of the case".

The letter said Karnataka and Maharashtra were represented by F.S. Nariman and T.R. Andhyarjuna respectively, senior advocates of the Supreme Court.

Both were assisted by three or four advocates. It said Karnataka had requested the tribunal to stay construction of 11 irrigation projects in Andhra Pradesh.

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