 "Bifurcation of Andhra High Court not in Centre's purview, says Gowda")
Stating that the bifurcation of common high court of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana is not in the central government's purview, Union Law Minister D V Sadananda Gowda on Tuesday found fault with Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao for planning protest in the national capital.
Gowda told reporters in Delhi that the criticism of the central government by Rao was "unfair" and "surprising". He also said that Rao should not behave like Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. "If he does that, people will give him a befitting reply," said the central minister.
Gowda said it was the responsibility of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister to provide infrastructure for the high court.
"The chief justice of the high court has to bifurcate the judges and the Chief Justice of India has to concur and then only the paper will be processed by the law ministry. The Centre currently has no role as far as formation of separate high court is concerned," he said
The union minister said Rao should desist from making false allegations against the central government.
Gowda's remarks came after Rao's daughter and Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) MP K Kavitha alleged that the central government is insensitive over the issue of bifurcation of the high court.
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She said the chief minister proposed to stage protest in Delhi but the state government is not for escalating things.
She appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to immediately intervene in the matter to prevent such a protest by Rao.
The MP's comments came against the backdrop of raging row over appointment of Andhra origin judges for subordinate courts in Telangana.
The protest by judges in Telangana has led to suspension of 10 of them by the high court during last two days.
The TRS government has held the delay in bifurcation responsible for the present crisis.
Gowda said the Chief Justice of the high court and the Chief Minister should consult each other for appointment of judges to district courts and other lower courts.
He pointed out that the number of judges from Telangana in the high court is low compared to Andhra Pradesh. "The working strength from Andhra Pradesh is 18 and from Telangana it is three," he said.
He said he would write to Chief Justice of India and the Governor of the two states on the latest developments in Hyderabad.