NEW DELHI (TIP):
Former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Kiran Reddy approached the Supreme Court against the Centre’s decision to create Telangana by bifurcating the State. A bench headed by Chief Justice P Sathasivam, before whom the matter was mentioned, agreed to list his plea along with other petitions which will be taken up tomorrow for hearing. A batch of petitions is listed for hearing tomorrow against the bifurcation of the State.

The apex court had earlier on February 7 and 17 respectively refused to entertain petitions challenging the division of Andhra Pradesh on the ground that they were “premature” as the Bill was not cleared by Parliament at that time. Parliament gave its approval on February 20 for the creation of Telangana by bifurcating Andhra Pradesh. The court had on February 7 refused to stay the tabling of Telangana Bill and on February 17, it had dismissed two petitions challenging the division of Andhra Pradesh.

The apex court had said it cannot take a different stand and different view from what it had taken on February 7 while terming the plea against Telangana as “premature”. The court had declined to accept the contention that it can now go into the issue of Telangana as the Bill was before Parliament.