Andhra HC directs govt not to proceed with demolishing YSRCP offices unilaterally
Amaravati (Andhra Pradesh), Jul 4: In a major relief to YSR Congress Party, the Andhra Pradesh High Court on Thursday directed the state government to exercise its power to demolish the opposition party's offices only if their construction is against public interest and cause public nuisance, among other reasons.
The court issued these directions to the state government after hearing a bunch of petitions filed by the opposition party against government notices to the YSRCP on its party offices located at some places in the state.
The court noted that if the deviations in the construction of YSRCP district offices were minor, minimal or trivial and do not affect the public at large, then the government authorities shall not resort to their demolition.
"The power of demolition should not be resorted to unless the overwhelming public interest is involved," the court said.
It directed the state government authorities to follow the due procedure in accordance with law and also enabled the opposition party to submit its documents, explanations and other proof within a fortnight pertaining to its district offices construction.
The court directed the state government to accord due opportunity of hearing to YSRCP and also observed that no coercive steps should be taken while probing the constructions.
Allowing the opposition party to avail and exhaust all the remedies available under law, it also directed the authorities to act fairly and objectively in consonance with the provisions of law.
A major controversy erupted in the southern state recently in the wake of YSRCP's under-construction central party office demolition at Tadepalli, and subsequent notices to its district party offices which are under various stages of construction.
The TDP-led government also comprising BJP and Janasena has alleged that 18 such offices were 'totally unauthorised buildings.'
Andhra Pradesh IT Minister Nara Lokesh pegged the value of these offices at Rs 2,000 crore.
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INDIA bloc will raise voice in Parliament to improve working conditions of loco pilots: Rahul
New Delhi (PTI): Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on Sunday flagged the plight of loco pilots and asserted that the INDIA bloc will raise its voice in Parliament to improve their rights and working conditions.
Gandhi's remarks on X came as he posted a video of his recent interaction with loco pilots at the New Delhi Railway Station.
"In Narendra Modi's government, the train of the life of loco pilots has been completely derailed," the former Congress chief said.
He said loco pilots are forced to work 16 hours a day sitting in cabins boiling with heat.
"The people on whom millions of lives depend have no confidence in their own lives. Deprived of even basic facilities like urinals, loco pilots have no limit on working hours and neither do they get leaves. Due to which they are getting physically and mentally broken and are falling ill," Gandhi said in his post in Hindi.
In such a situation, making loco pilots drive trains is putting their lives and that of the passengers at risk, he said.
The Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) will raise its voice in Parliament to improve the rights and working conditions of loco pilots, Gandhi asserted.
"By watching this small discussion, you can also feel their pain," Gandhi said as he shared the video of the interaction.
In the video, the loco pilots complain to Gandhi about lack of rest, no leaves and "inhuman working conditions".
All India Loco Running Staff Association's South Zone president on Saturday had loco drivers handed a memorandum to Gandhi, blaming poor working conditions for recent train accidents.
R Kumaresan, who played a crucial role in organising the interaction between the former Congress president and the loco pilots at the New Delhi Railway Station on Friday, told PTI that they wanted to bring to Gandhi's attention "serious safety issues" faced by drivers and passengers in the Railways.
The train drivers' unions have also countered Railways' claim that Gandhi met loco pilots who were not from the Delhi Division and were brought from outside.
On Friday, after Gandhi visited the loco pilots' crew lobby at the New Delhi Railway Station, the chief public relation officer of Northern Railway under which the Delhi Division falls, said that it looked like Gandhi met loco pilots who were not from the crew lobby of the New Delhi Railway Station.
Gandhi on Friday had met a group of loco pilots, who complained of "inadequate rest due to understaffing".
Gandhi had assured them that he would raise their issues in Parliament.
He had met around 50 loco pilots from all over India at the New Delhi Railway Station and they explained to him their issues, party sources had said.
Chiefly, the loco pilots complained of inadequate rest, they said.
