Telangana high court validates PC Ghose Commission, restricts use of findings

HYDERABAD: Telangana high court on Wednesday held that the PC Ghose Commission constituted by the state govt to probe the alleged irregularities in the Kaleshwaram project is not illegal or arbitrary, validating the commission's inquiry. The bench comprising Chief Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh and Justice GM Mohiuddin, however, found that the findings of the commission are prejudicial to the conduct and reputation of the petitioners and in violation of principles of natural justice and statutory safeguards and granted protection to the petitioners from any action based on the inquiry findings.“The (inquiry) findings shall be inoperative and no action can be taken on the basis thereof,” said Chief Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh, dictating the order while partly allowing the petitions.The bench passed the order while disposing of petitions filed by former CM and BRS chief K Chandrashekar Rao, former minister and BRS senior leader T Harish Rao, senior IAS officer Smita Sabharwal and former Chief Secretary Shailendra Kumar Joshi. The matters were heard at length for around seven months, with marathon arguments from the petitioners’ counsel and the state counsel.