In a significant relief for the K Chandrasekhar Rao government, both the Supreme Court and Telangana High Court today dismissed petitions challenging the demolition of the old Secretariat and construction of a new complex.

The Supreme Court had dismissed the petition filed by Congress MLC T Jeevan Reddy challenging the Telangana High Court verdict on the demolition of the old Secretariat buildings for the construction of new buildings.

The Apex Court made it clear that the construction of Secretariat is a prerogative of the State government, and it would not interfere in the policy matter. The verdict goes against all those who are opposing the construction of a new Secretariat, a senior government official said.

The Telangana High Court also dismissed some of the petitions filed in the Court challenging the demolition of the Secretariat for the construction of a new one by flouting various norms and at a time that the country is battling the Covid-19 pandemic. The High Court also dismissed a petition filed by PL Vishweswar Rao.

The State Advocate General BS Prasad assured the High Court that the government would take all the permission while taking up construction of new buildings.

The High Court agreed with the Solicitor General argument that there is no need for clearance from the Central Environment Ministry.

The Court agreed with the contention that the decision to demolish was taken by the State Cabinet and directed that the work could go ahead, keeping in view the Covid-19 pandemic situation. It set aside the petition challenging the demolition for construction of a new one.

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