SEZ head: HC orders status quo

The Andhra Pradesh High Court has ordered status quo on the appointment of Software Technology Parks of India (STPI) director as the development commissioner for the 30 IT SEZs that are coming up in the state.

It may be recalled that the notification issued by the Centre in this regard last month was challenged in the high court.

"The appointment of E Manoj Kumar, director, STPI, is questioned mainly on the ground that as per the provisions of the Special Economic Zones Act 2005, an officer of the Central government not below the rank of deputy secretary is only eligible for appointment. It is submitted that the STPI director is not an officer of the Central government and is an officer of a society, which is an autonomous body. It is further submitted that pursuant to his appointment vide notification dated November 12, 2007, he has not taken charge. In that view of the matter, a status quo as on today will be continued until further orders," Justice R Subhash Reddy said in his interim orders.

The status quo will in effect bring all the 30 IT SEZs under the jurisdiction of the development commissioner, Vizag SEZ, who is already monitoring all the other SEZs in the state, till the court takes a final view on the writ petition. The interim orders were issued last week.