VIJAYAWADA: The YSR Congress government’s decision to move Andhra Pradesh’s new capital plan away from Amaravati has reached the International Court of Justice at the Hague, Netherlands, with a Telugu NRI advocate based in the USA knocking at the world court over alleged human rights violation.

The advocate, Kaveti Srinivas Rao , who runs a chain of law firms in the US and other parts of the world, has made India a party to the case alleging that the Government of India (GOI) is silent on the “violation of human rights” in Amaravati. Farmers, who gave up their land for the AP capital city, have been on the streets for the last three months protesting AP government’s decision to shift the capital to Visakhapatnam.

Though the petition has been acknowledged by the office of the prosecutor, it is yet to be admitted.

Srinivas is also moving the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva, Switzerland, seeking justice for the farmers of Amaravati. He made the Prime Minister, Andhra Pradesh chief minister and the Director-General of Police (DGP), AP, as the respondents. He alleged in his petition that there was gross violation of rights of farmers including women agriculturists in Amaravati.

The Andhra Pradesh government, for its part has consistently maintained that Amaravati will remain as a legislative capital of the state and will house the assembly. Only the government offices and the high court are being moved to Visakhapatnam and Kurnool.

The case is before the International Criminal Court , part of the International Court of Justice. While disputes between nations is dealt by ICJ, private persons can knock at the doors of the International Criminal Court. This is perhaps the first time that alleged human rights violation in AP are brought to the notice of the ICC.

Srinivas said the petition was moved in the international court as the Government of India had “failed” to take action on the human rights violations and police “repression” on the farmers protesting against the proposed shifting of capital from Amaravati. Dileep Thalluri, a representative of Kaveti Law Firm in India, said though the National Women Commission sent a team to Amaravati no action was initiated on the violation of women’s rights.

Dileep said Srinivas had appeared before the office of prosecutor in International Criminal Court and presented his arguments. In a communication sent to Srinivas from the office of prosecutor, the head of information and evidence unit, Mark P Dillion said that they will inform in writing as soon as a decision is taken. On the other hand, Srinivas is also planning to lodge a complaint with the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva.

Srinivas, who holds five degrees in law from various institutions in India, Australia and USA is presently an international law associate with a law firm, Ramseyer and Associates in USA, and principal partner with Kaveti and Associates of the USA and United Kingdom (UK). Kaveti and Associates has branches in India, USA, UK, Australia, Middle East and Africa.

