The High Court on Friday sought an explanation from the Centre to state the reasons for not according Special Category Status to Andhra Pradesh. The HC asked the Centre why it has not given the status to AP when it was given to other states.
The HC issued notices to the Union government directing to file an affidavit in PIL over granting SCS to AP. As per reports, V Ramesh Chandra Varma, an advocate from Amalapuram moved the high court over the SCS issue.
Hearing the petition, a division bench comprising Justice Asnuddin Amanulla and Justice B Krishnamohan asked the Centre to reveal what were the guidelines for according special category status and why they did not apply to Andhra Pradesh.
Lawyer M Sri Rama Rao, appearing for the petitioner, said that the then Prime Minister had promised to give special status in the Parliament to support the AP. The Center has given status to the northeastern and Himalayan states. In the case of Andhra Pradesh, the promise has not been kept.
Assistant Solicitor General N Harinath, appearing for the Centre, said cases were pending in the Supreme Court in this regard. He said there was a difference between the special status states and Andhra Pradesh in terms of geography. The HC posted its next hearing to December 20.