Express News Service By

The AP High Court on Friday granted relief to the Bathini Mrigasira Trust by suspending the order of the AP Lokayukta in respect of distribution of ‘fish prasadam’ event.

A division bench, comprising chief justice Kalyan Jyoti Sengupta and justice NV Ramana, was dealing with a lunch motion petition moved by the trust, represented by 72-year-old Bathini Harinath Goud seeking suspension of the orders passed by Lok Ayukta on Wednesday.

The Lok Ayukta, in its order on a complaint filed by Balala Hakkula Sangham, ruled that the state government should not provide any special amenities to the Bathini family during the two-day event from next year onwards. It also ruled that the state fisheries department should not provide the fish as well, and that the Bathini family should procure the same by itself this year.

“As there is no legal sanctity or duty cast upon the government to do such things, the government of Andhra Pradesh is hereby directed not to enter into the picture for either sponsoring or conducting the meetings for administering the fish prasadam,” the order said.

The petitioner’s counsel urged the high court to direct the authorities concerned to proceed with the distribution of ‘Mrigasira Karthi prasadam’ event on June 8 and 9 by providing all facilities to the visiting public, including sale of fish at the venue as per the price fixed by the fisheries department. In 1997, the state government had taken keen interest in the event keeping the public interest in view and had requested the Bathini family to conduct the activity under its supervision. Accordingly, the event is being conducted every year at the exhibition grounds and necessary arrangements are being made to cater to the needs of lakhs of people.

However, the Lok Ayukta has passed ‘unilateral order’ in violation of principles of natural justice.

It has directed the government to withdraw all its support to the family for conducting the event. In fact, the fish prasadam event was not meant to gain any mileage for the family or with any profit motto, he added.

The bench, while ordering the interim suspension of the Lok Ayukta order, directed issuance of notices to the respondents - Registrar of AP Lok Ayukta, principal secretary to animal husbandry and fisheries, Hyderabad district collector, secretary to exhibition society and president of Balala Hakkula Sangham, and adjourned the case hearing.