Hyderabad: A Division bench of Hyderabad High Court issued orders to Dept. of Minorities to take possession of all the records pertaining to State Minorities Commission and to take steps to make arrangements for their security. The division bench consisted of Chief Justice, Ramesh Ranganathan and Justice A. Shanker Narayan. The division bench by disposing off the petition filed by Mr. Abid Rasool Khan, Chairman of State Minorities Commission made it clear that the term of office of the commission ceased on 16th May. The Govt. must therefore make an appointment of Secretary. Since there was no officer of the cadre of Dept. Secretary, Ms. Padma Sundari, Asst. Secretary, Dept. of Minorities Welfare was appointed as Secretary of the Commission. She has also taken charge of her new assignment.
The division bench felt that since the tenure of office of the Chairman, Mr. Abid Rasool Khan expired in May 2016, he cannot file a petition as the chairman. However, he could appeal in his personal capacity. The court advised Mr. Abid Rasool Khan to handover all the related files and documents to the newly appointed secretary. Mr. Abid Rasool Khan had appeal to the court to issue instructions to both the Governments to make payments of the salaries of the Staff of the commission from 16th May onwards.
Advocate General of Govt. of Telangana, Mr. K. Rama Krishna Reddy informed the court that the tenure of office of the Chairman and the members of Minorities Commission expired on 16th May and Govt. has already appointed member secretary in order to take all the records into her possession. Advocate General also clarified that after the expiry of the term of office of the Chairman, Mr. Abid Rasool Khan has no right to approach the court. The court accepted the arguments of Advocate General and advised Mr. Abid Rasool Khan to file a petition in his personal capacity.
–Siasat News