Inter-state fight over THDC shares: Supreme Court asks UP to pay Rs 30 lakh to Uttarakhand as cost
New Delhi: The Supreme Court Friday directed the Uttar Pradesh government to pay a cost of Rs 30 lakh within four weeks to the Uttarakhand administration which is fighting a legal battle with the former over shareholding in the Tehri Hydro Development Corporation (THDC).
Uttarakhand in 2012 had filed a lawsuit in the top court against Uttar Pradesh seeking a declaration that 25 per cent shareholding in the THDC, which was earlier granted to UP, now be given to it following the bifurcation of UP in 2000.
The hill state has further sought a declaration that it is rightful owner of the said shareholding and hence, a decree of injunction (stay) on allocation of THDC shares be granted in its favour.
The top court, on December 16, 2013, decided to proceed with the hearing ex-parte on the lawsuit of Uttarakhand as the UP government's counsel or representative could not appear.
However, later UP government swung into action and moved the plea in the top court seeking recall of the earlier order, which was vehemently opposed by Uttarakhand administration.
The hill state claimed that it has "incurred a total expenditure of Rs 57,48,791... as legal costs towards payment of counsel's fee towards 11 hearings."
A bench of Justices R F Nariman and S Ravindra Bhat, said: "This court is of the opinion that though the state of UP was tardy and could not ensure timely appearance, yet, when the concerned officials were made aware of the pendency of the present suit and order dated December 16, 2013, prompt steps were taken."
The court recalled its order and said, "having regard to the entirety of circumstances, the Interlocutory Application is allowed subject to the State of U.P. paying costs quantified at Rs 30,00,000...to the plaintiff/State of Uttarakhand, within four weeks from today".
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Andhra CM Naidu promises cash incentives for third, fourth child
Narasannapeta (Andhra Pradesh) (PTI): Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Saturday announced incentives of Rs 30,000 for the birth of a third child and Rs 40,000 for a fourth, as part of efforts to reverse the state’s declining population trend.
Addressing a public meeting at Narsannapeta in Srikakulam district, Naidu said he had taken the decision and would announce further details within a month.
“I have made a new decision. We will provide Rs 30,000 immediately after the birth of a third child and Rs 40,000 for a fourth child. Isn’t this the right decision?” Naidu said on the sidelines of the SwarnaAndhra SwachAndhra cleanliness programme.
Although he had once advocated population control measures, the CM said the time had now come for society to work together to increase the birth rate.
Naidu’s latest announcement follows an earlier proposal to provide a Rs 25,000 incentive for the birth of a second child.
On March 5, he informed the Assembly that the state government was considering an incentive of Rs 25,000 for couples having a second child.
However, Health Minister Satya Kumar Yadav told PTI on Saturday that the government had decided to extend the incentives to families having a third child and beyond.
According to Naidu, rising incomes are leading some couples to opt for a single child, while others are choosing a second child only if their firstborn is a girl.
As a result, he warned that the state’s population growth rate is declining and stressed the importance of maintaining the replacement-level total fertility rate (TFR) of 2.1.
He noted that a population remains stable only when the fertility rate is 2.1 children per woman.
He emphasised that declining populations and ageing societies in several countries have adversely affected their economies.
Rejecting the notion that children are a burden, Naidu argued that they are an asset and vowed to demonstrate it.
Referring to the Talliki Vandanam welfare scheme, which provides Rs 15,000 per school-going child per annum, Naidu said he would increase the amount “if God shows mercy”.
He said the government is printing tamper-proof pattadar passbooks (land documents) and assured that there would be “no land disputes” by March 2027.
The TDP supremo promised to develop the Srikakulam district through infrastructure projects and the completion of irrigation works.
Giving project timelines, Naidu said the government would complete the Madduvalasa Stage–II project by January 2027, the Hiramandalam Lift Irrigation Project by April 2027, and the Thotapalli distributaries by July 2027, among others.
After the formation of the TDP-led NDA government, he said that 86 lakh tonnes of legacy waste had been cleared and promised 100 per cent clearance by June.
Further, the CM urged people to follow PM Narendra Modi’s guidelines to address economic challenges arising from the US–Israel–Iran conflict.
Naidu advised people to work from home as much as possible, reduce gold purchases, explore domestic tourism, use public transport, and take similar steps to support the economy and cooperate with the government.
