Lands of farmers, Dalits grabbed for company linked to Jagan: Pawan Kalyan
Palnadu (Andhra Pradesh), Nov 5: Amid a legal tussle between Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy and Y S Sharmila over the transfer of shares of Saraswati power company, Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan on Tuesday visited the site where the firm was expected to come up and alleged that lands were snatched away from farmers and Dalits for this enterprise.
However, the YSRCP claimed Kalyan's allegations as diversion politics in the face of rising atrocities against women and allegedly failing law and order situation in the southern state.
The Deputy CM alleged that farmers were threatened with petrol bombs and their lands were grabbed for this company.
"Former chief minister's family members (Jagan & Sharmila) were feuding between themselves over these (lands) as if they were their family property," said Kalyan, addressing a public meeting at Vemavaram village in Palnadu district.
Farmers parted with their lands with the hope that their family members would get jobs, Kalyan said, and added that it did not happen.
Kalyan claimed that the process to procure land for Saraswati power began during the tenure of the late chief minister Y S Rajasekhar Reddy, resulting in the pooling of 1,184 acres which included 24 acres of assigned land belonging to Dalits, which cannot be sold, as well as over 400 acres of forest land.
He stated that the YSR family owns 86 per cent of Saraswati power, and described it as a family asset.
Kalyan alleged that the land was acquired for a pittance under the pretext of providing employment but they failed to fulfil that promise.
He criticised Jagan Mohan Reddy for discussing class warfare while allegedly grabbing lands belonging to Dalits.
Kalyan also announced that he had instructed officials to prepare a comprehensive report on the land parcels vis-a-vis Saraswati power.
He said leases were obtained from the government in 2009 for 30 years and subsequently these were extended to 50 years in 2019 after Jagan Mohan Reddy assumed office as chief minister.
Also, Kalyan claimed that permissions were secured to source 196 crore litres of water from the Krishna River for the company (which is yet to commence its operations).
Kalyan said that he would raise the issue in the Cabinet meeting and ensure a thorough investigation for further action.
Meanwhile, YSRCP leader K Mahesh Reddy strongly objected to Kalyan's visit and termed his outreach as diversion politics as the NDA government allegedly failed to maintain law and order in the state and when 'atrocities on women are growing'.
"Pawan Kalyan coming to Palnadu should have been for some development activity but he singled out Saraswathi Cements (Power) and has been giving unfounded statements with malafide intention and to divert the attention of people from the failures of the government," said Reddy in a release.
Asserting that Jagan Mohan Reddy had purchased those lands before entering politics, the YSRCP leader claimed that there were delays in setting up the plant as some state governments were allegedly non cooperative and 'foisted false cases against him (Jagan)'.
Questioning the motive behind Kalyan singling out Saraswati Power and leaving out others, he alleged that it exposes the vindictiveness of the NDA government.
According to Reddy, Jagan Mohan Reddy had 'bought' lands in Machavaram area, which was affected by naxalism, after peace talks. Then industries started coming to that region and raised employment hopes for locals. However, he claimed that the government of that day had denied and delayed permissions which were later 'rectified and the lease was renewed'.
"There is no point in Pawan Kalyan singling out the Saraswathi project other than to divert the attention of people from the flak it has been facing due to his comments and the failure of law and order situation," he added.
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CJI calls for 'unified judicial policy', use of technology to converge practices across courts
Jaisalmer (PTI): Pushing for a "unified judicial policy", Chief Justice of India Surya Kant on Saturday said technology can help align standards and practices across courts, creating a "seamless experience" for citizens, regardless of their location.
He said high courts -- due to the federal structure -- have had their own practices and technological capacities, and "regional barriers" can be broken down with technology to create a more unified judicial ecosystem.
Delivering the keynote address at the West Zone Regional Conference in Jaisalmer, Kant proposed the idea of a "national judicial ecosystem" and called for an overhaul of India's judicial system with the integration of technology.
"Today, as technology reduces geographical barriers and enables convergence, it invites us to think of justice not as regional systems operating in parallel, but as one national ecosystem with shared standards, seamless interfaces, and coordinated goals," he said.
He emphasised how the role of technology in the judiciary has evolved over time.
"Technology is no longer merely an administrative convenience. It has evolved into a constitutional instrument that strengthens equality before the law, expands access to justice, and enhances institutional efficiency," he said, highlighting how digital tools can bridge gaps in the judicial system.
Kant pointed out that technology enables the judiciary to overcome the limitations of physical distance and bureaucratic hurdles.
"It allows the judiciary to transcend physical barriers and bureaucratic rigidities to deliver outcomes that are timely, transparent and principled," he said, adding that the effective use of technology can modernise the delivery of justice and make it more accessible to citizens across the country.
The CJI called for implementing a "unified judicial policy".
He said India's judicial system has long been shaped by its federal structure, and different high courts have their own practices and technological capacities.
"India's vast diversity has led to different high courts evolving their own practices, administrative priorities and technological capacities. This variation, though natural in a federal democracy, has resulted in uneven experiences for litigants across the country," he said.
Kant underscored that predictability is crucial for building trust in the judicial system.
"A core expectation citizens place upon the courts is predictability," he said, adding that citizens should not only expect fair treatment but also consistency in how cases are handled across the country.
He pointed to the potential of technology in improving predictability.
"Technology enables us to track systemic delays and make problems visible rather than concealed," he said.
By identifying areas where delays occur, such as in bail matters or cases involving certain types of disputes, courts can take targeted action to address these issues and improve efficiency, Kant said.
The CJI explained that data-driven tools could identify the reasons behind delays or bottlenecks, allowing for faster, more focused solutions.
"Technology enables prioritisation by flagging sensitive case categories, monitoring pendency in real time and ensuring transparent listing protocols," he said.
Justice Surya Kant also discussed the importance of prioritising urgent cases where delays could result in significant harm. He highlighted his recent administrative order that ensures urgent cases, such as bail petitions or habeas corpus cases, are listed within two days of curing defects.
"Where delay causes deep harm, the system must respond with urgency," he stated, explaining that technology can help courts identify and expedite such cases.
Kant also raised the issue of the clarity of judicial decisions.
He noted that many litigants, despite winning cases, often struggle to understand the terms of their judgment due to complex legal language.
"Although the orders had gone in their favour, they remained unsure of what relief they had actually secured because the language was too technical, vague or evasive to understand," he said.
He advocated for more uniformity in how judgments are written.
"A unified judicial approach must therefore extend to how we communicate outcomes," he said.
The CJI also discussed the role of AI and digital tools in improving case management. He pointed to the potential of AI-based research assistants and digital case management systems to streamline judicial processes.
"Emerging technological tools are now capable of performing once-unthinkable functions. They can highlight missing precedent references, cluster similar legal questions, and simplify factual narration," he said, explaining how these technologies can help judges make more consistent decisions.
He also highlighted tools like the National Judicial Data Grid and e-courts, which are already helping to standardise processes like case filings and tracking.
Kant reiterated that the integration of technology into the judicial process is not just about improving efficiency but about upholding the integrity of the system and strengthening public trust.
"The measure of innovation is not the complexity of the software we deploy, but the simplicity with which a citizen understands the outcome of their case and believes that justice has been served," he said.
