In a much-needed relief to the five ministers of the Kiran Kumar Reddy cabinet, the Andhra Pradesh High Court on Monday refused to interfere in the state government’s decision to extend legal assistance to them to fight the case against them in Supreme Court.

The High Court dismissed a petition filed by one O M Dubera, challenging the government’s decision to provide legal assistance to Dharmana Prasada Rao, Kanna Lakshminarayana, Ponnala Lakshmaiah, J Geetha Reddy and Sabita Indra Reddy. These ministers had received notices from the Supreme Court seeking to know why the CBI inquiry should not be ordered against them for their role in the ssuance of 26 controversial GOs benefiting various companies that had subsequently invested in YSR Congress party president Y S Jaganmohan Reddy’s business empire.

The High Court said since the issue was pertaining to the Supreme Court order, it would not be able to interfere in the matter. While the five ministers would get all assistance from the court, the Chief Minister has not provided the same help to sixth minister Mopidevi Venkataramana, who had resigned from the cabinet before he was sent to judicial custody.