PIL opposing Puttaparthi as headquarters of new district to come up for hearing soon

The Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed in the Andhra Pradesh High Court recently by an all-party committee, backed by TDP’s Hindupur MLA Nandamuri Balakrishna, will come come for hearing in a couple of days, according to committee president Balaji Manohar.

The committee is opposing the decision of the government to make Puttaparthi the district headquarters of the proposed ‘Sri Sathya Sai District’, as it believes that Hindupur, a more than 100-year-old municipality, is ideal for the purpose. Besides, the town is also the headquarters of the Hindupur parliamentary constituency, the committee opines.

Mr. Balakrishna, who was in the town on Sunday to attend the marriage of a TDP leader’s daughter, held discussions with the members of the committee that was spearheading the agitation.

Members of the committee opined that establishing the district headquarters at Puttaparthi was against the principles of natural justice and also against the State’s policy of making each parliamentary constituency a new district.

Mr. Manohar said that they had challenged the procedural aspect and the parameters considered for deciding a district headquarters.

While making the State Chief Secretary, the managing trustee of Sri Sathya Sai Trust R.J. Ratnakar, the Finance Secretary, the District Collectors, and two others as respondents, the committee contended that the infrastructural paucity in Puttaparthi was evident and, therefore, Hindupur should have been the obvious choice.

While praying the court to stop the process of creation of the new district with Puttaparthi as headquarters, the petitioners said the government had not studied or reviewed the petitions received from several people in this regard.

“The all-party committee, if necessary, will approach the Supreme Court to stop the flawed process. ”Nandamuri BalakrishnaHindupur MLA

Later, addressing the media, Mr. Balakrishna said if required, the committee should approach the Supreme Court to stop the “flawed process.”

“The managing trustee of the Sri Sathya Sai Trust does not have any right to disturb the activities of the music college and other institutions that have been built with public donations,” said Mr. Manohar.