Appoint counsel and argue in English, Telangana high court tells social worker in PIL

Hyderabad: Telangana high court on Wednesday gave four weeks' time to a Khammam-based social worker, who is arguing his own public interest litigation, to appoint a lawyer and present his case in English.The PIL was filed in 2020 by Tummalapalli Rambabu, a resident of Sitharampuram in Khammam district. He alleged that higher authorities failed to act against officials of the panchayat raj and roads and buildings departments for awarding more than 22 contracts to a single firm, MSR Constructions, in violation of norms.
Rambabu contended that despite securing documents through the Right to Information Act, no effective inquiry was initiated into the alleged irregularities. When the matter came up before a bench of Chief Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh and Justice GM Mohiuddin, Rambabu addressed the court in Telugu and requested permission to argue in his native language, saying he could present the facts more clearly. The bench, however, observed that since the affidavits and pleadings were filed in English, the proceedings had to be conducted in the same language. Justice Mohiuddin said that if arguments were made in Telugu, the Chief Justice would not be able to follow the submissions. The court advised the petitioner to engage an advocate and said legal assistance could be arranged through the legal services authority, if required. Rambabu sought one month's time to appoint counsel. Accepting the request, the bench adjourned the matter for four weeks to enable him to secure legal representation and pursue the case relating to the alleged contract violations.