Subba Reddy moves HC against vigilance probe

Vijayawada: The high court on Monday directed vigilance department officials to give documents permissible under law to former TTD chairman and Rajya Sabha MP YV Subba Reddy within a week. The court also asked Subba Reddy to give a reply in three weeks.
The YSRCP leader moved the high court seeking to set aside the vigilance inquiry against him over alleged irregularities in TTD during his tenure as chairman.Arguing on his behalf, Y Nagi Reddy said the vigilance and enforcement department does not have the jurisdiction to probe alleged irregularities in TTD. It can only probe irregularities in govt departments, not TTD which is an independent body, he argued.
Nagi Reddy further said that the vigilance SP has issued seven notices to Subba Reddy seeking explanation for various irregularities, but when asked for relevant documents, it did not respond. He further said that TTD decisions are taken by its board, which also includes the principal secretary and commissioner of endowments department, and executive officer (EO) as members. The board's decisions cannot be attributed to the TTD chairman alone, he stated.
Arguing on behalf of the govt, the advocate general said vigilance and enforcement will only submit its findings to the department concerned. If there are any adverse findings in the report, the department concerned will initiate action against the persons responsible. He also objected to the argument of lack of jurisdiction, stating that the vigilance and enforcement department can conduct an inquiry in TTD with the powers conferred upon it under Article 162 of the Constitution. Considering the arguments, Justice B Krishna Mohan directed the state govt to file a counter affidavit on the jurisdiction aspect and posted the matter for further hearing to Nov 4.