As the Andhra Pradesh high court continues to hear arguments over formation of three capitals for the state with administrative capital at Visakhapatnam, the Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy has put up a strong argument in the high court defending its decision.
A three-member bench of the state high court comprising chief justice J K Maheshwari and judges M Satyanarayana Murthy and N Jayasurya has decided to expedite the hearing on over 90 petitions pertaining to Amaravati and the three capitals issue.
The bench has so far heard the arguments of the petitions against the formation of three capitals. Subsequently, it began hearing the arguments of the Jagan Mohan Reddy government.
Arguing on behalf of the government, senior advocate of Supreme Court Dushyant Dave said that the state government had comprehensive powers to take a decision on formation of three capitals in the interest of the state.
“The decision has been taken in the long-term interests of the people and their welfare. The act seeking to abolish AP Capital Region Development Authority (APCRDA) has made provisions to protect the interests of the farmers who had given away their lands for Amaravati,” Dave pointed out.
The Supreme Court lawyer argued that the previous Telugu Desam Party government had decided Amaravati as the capital to benefit politicians and big businessmen.
“It had taken a hasty decision on the capital location, ignoring the recommendations of Sivaramakrishnan Committee,” he said.
Dave said the present government had enacted legislations pertaining to decentralisation of administration and abolition of APCRDA within the limits of Constitutional provisions without any violation.
“The two legislations were brought in only after a comprehensive study by three different committees. So, courts cannot interfere in these acts,” he said.
