The uncertainty over the capital city of Andhra Pradesh continues as the Supreme Court, on Tuesday, refused to grant a stay on the state high court's judgement of March 3, 2022, and extended the hearing date by another three and a half months.
A division bench of the Supreme Court, comprising Justices K M Joseph and B V Nagaratna, heard the special leave petition filed by the Jagan Mohan Reddy government challenging the high court's judgement. The bench declared that it is not possible to expedite the case as desired by the state government.
While the state government's counsel, K K Venugopal, repeatedly pleaded to grant a stay on the high court's judgement, the Supreme Court bench rejected the plea and decided to hear the petition only on July 11.
"We shall take it up as the first case on July 11," he said.
Venugopal argued that the high court's verdict had no meaning after the state government withdrew the three capitals bill, but the court refused to entertain the plea.
Interestingly, Justice Joseph stated that he would not be able to take up the next hearing as he was going to retire on June 16.
"Within such a short notice, I cannot do a prolonged hearing of the case and deliver the judgement," he said.
Justice Joseph announced that a new bench would be created to hear the case, and the case was therefore being posted to July 11.
Meanwhile, counsel for the petitioners stated that some of the farmers who impleaded in the case had died and requested the court to allow their representatives to implead in the case.
The bench agreed to their request and asked the government lawyers to send notices to the fresh petitioners. They also appealed to the bench to order a status quo on the implementation of the high court order.
Interestingly, the Centre filed an affidavit stating that Amaravati was declared the capital city of Andhra Pradesh only as per the AP Reorganisation Act.
It said it had not received any communication from the Jagan government on the formation of three capitals.