Swarna Shukla –
Published On: November 20, 2021 at 13:50 IST
Andhra Pradesh High Court sought an explanation from the Centre as to why it has not considered a Special Category Status to Andhra Pradesh, when the ‘Status was given to other States’.
The division Bench comprising Justice Asnuddin Amanulla and Justice B Krishnamohan were dealing with a PIL, filed by V Ramchandra Varma hailing from Amalapuram.
The issues mentioned in the PIL that the Centre has not implemented assurances given on the floor of Parliament and ,asked the Centre to explain what were the guidelines for according Special Category Status and why they were not applicable to Andhra Pradesh.
The Bench said, ‘For the Special Status there should be some special conditions and it sought to know what the objections in accordance were to the status to Andhra Pradesh.’
Lawyer M Sri Rama Rao, representing the Petitioner, said in 2016, “A special package was given to Andhra Pradesh in lieu of Special Status, but industrial incentives being given to a few other states under Package-2 were not being given to Andhra Pradesh.”
Assistant Solicitor General N Harinath, representing the Centre, said Petitions on the said issue were pending with the Supreme Court.