In a significant move, the Andhra Pradesh High Court on Wednesday directed the APTransco to accept applications of three women candidates for the post of junior linemen on par with male candidates. A Division Bench comprising Justice V. Eswaraiah and Justice K.G. Shankar was dealing with a writ appeal by Humera Anjum, Asma Begum and G. Saritha, who challenged an interim order granted by a single judge, refusing their plea to direct the APTransco to accept their applications.

The Division Bench ordered APTransco to consider the women candidates without reference to the condition that “only male candidates are eligible”. The Bench made it clear that consideration of their case and their appointments, if they succeed in the selection process, shall be subject to the result of the main writ petition.

Teachers’ posts: medium no bar
Justice B. Chandra Kumar of the AP High Court on Wednesday directed the state government to accept the applications from all the eligible candidates irrespective of their medium of study for the appointment teachers in Model schools.

The judge was dealing with a plea challenging the condition imposed by the government while recruitment of teachers for Model schools across the state. According to the condition, the candidates who have studied up to three levels in English medium schools are eligible for the principal posts and those with two levels eligible for PGT and SGT posts.

Observing that the conditions are improper, the judge directed the commissioner and director of school education to modify the online programme to receive applications from all the eligible candidates possessing required educational qualifications till 4 pm of March 27.

Justice Kumar made it clear that the present orders would be applicable not only to those who have approached the court, but to all others who possess the required educational qualification to apply for the post. As per the notification, about 7,100 posts will be filled up 355 Principals, 4,615 (Post Graduate Teachers) and 2,130 (Trained Graduate Teachers) in 355 Model schools.

SERP direction stayed
Justice R. Subhash Reddy of the High Court stayed the directions issued by the Society for Elimin-ation for Rural Poverty to the collectors and DSP to review cases and file chargesheets against officers of microfinance companies in their respective districts by March 26. The judge was dealing with a plea by the SKS Microfinance Ltd, challenging the directions. SKS said that the directions amount to interference and influencing the investigating authorities.

HC refuses to de-freeze mall
The High Court on Wednesday refused to vacate the order directing the Visakhapatnam district collector to seize a commercial complex in which the CMR Mall is located. The court permitted the management of the mall to take away its goods from the premises pending the writ petition. The Bench was dealing with pleas of the complex owner and the management of the mall to vacate the order.

CBI tactics flawed: Emaar
The Emaar MGF Ltd on Wednesday complained to Justice Ashutosh Mohunta of the High Court that the Central Bureau of Investigation was employing dilatory tactics with regard plea by its finance head G. Vijay Raghav. The judge was dealing with a plea by Mr Raghav, seeking a direction to the CBI to carry out investigation fairly, and not to use threat, coercion and pressure with the witnesses and to release him from judicial custody.

The counsel for the petitioner told the judge the Central Bureau of Investigation had failed to serve a copy of affidavit to his client and filed the counter just before the hearing began.