Telangana Awaits Centre’s Next Move On Hyderabad’s Law & Order

After registering it’s strong protest with the Centre on the circular issued by Union Home Ministry regarding giving the Governor overriding powers over it in issues related to Hyderabad’s law & order, the Telangana Government is awaiting Centre’s next move on the issue. The Telangana chief secretary Rajeev Sharma on Monday wrote back to the Union home ministry stating that the circular is a clear-cut infringement on the powers of the elected government.

Mr Sharma offered his comments on each of the 12 points raised by the ministry of home affairs in the circular regarding granting of powers to the Governor in the administration of law and order in the common capital area. He stated that under Article 163, the Governor was supposed to act in accordance with the advice tendered by the Cabinet headed by the Chief Minister and as such, the Telangana government felt that there was no need to alter the arrangement enshrined in the Constitution and it was in no mood to consider any more suggestions in giving powers to the Governor over and above the Constitution.

The chief secretary also made it clear to the Union home ministry that whatever Section 8 of the AP Re-organisation Act stipulated, the same could be exercised with the present arrangement under Article 163. Telangana Government clearly holds the view that whatever is mentioned in Section 8 regarding Governor’s role is an added ‘responsibility’ and not an additional ‘power’ over the State Government. It is ready to take advice from Governor on law & order as Section 8 suggests but it can’t surrender it’s power to the Governor.

If the Centre decides to proceed with the circular, State Government is ready to knock the doors of SC and prove that the Centre is infringing on the State’s rights. The Centre’s unilateral decision over Polavaram amendment is already disputed by the TRS Government and it has threatened to take the Centre to court on the issue.

So far the Union Home Ministry is speaking in two voices. While once it says the circular is as per Supreme Court’s directives on setting up Police board’s as part of Police reforms and so is sent formally to Telangana as its a new State, they refuse to comment on the section related to special powers to Governor in the same circular. When TRS MPs met the Home Minister and protested over the circular, he is reported to have been stumped by the content. He promised the MPs he would review it but they didn’t hear from him yet. It is clear the Centre wont withdraw the circular and with Telangana Government now sending a response, the union home ministry may make its next move.