The High Court reserved its verdict on the petition filed by the TVROs Association opposing the ‘Telangana Abolition of the Posts of Village Revenue Officers (VROs) Bill, 2020’ and ‘GO No: 121/2022.’
The High Court, while reserving its verdict on Thursday gave a chance to the advocates of VROs and the government to submit their written arguments written before April 28.
Telangana Village Revenue Officers (VROs) Association President Golconda Sathish had filed a petition in the High Court last year on behalf of the Association opposing the Telangana Abolition of the Posts of Village Revenue Officers (VROs) Bill, 2020 and ‘GO No: 121/2022.’
It may be recalled that the High Court stayed the Abolition of the Posts of VROs Act and GO Number 121/2022 on August 8, 2022, but the stay is applicable only to VROs who did not join in the new posts allocated by the government.
However, arguing on behalf of VROs on Thursday, senior advocate PV Krishnaiah said that the abolition Act is not valid and urged the Court to take back VROs into the Revenue Department.
Krishnaiah argued that the Abolition Act goes against the Constitution. He said that the Telangana government issued predated GOs to hide its mistakes and that the Telangana Assembly has no authority to abolish the VRO system.
He said that the Telangana government introduced the VROs Abolition Bill contradicting Article 371D without taking the consent of the President.
Krishnaiah brought to the notice of the High Court that Village Revenue Assistants (VRAs) lost the right to promotions due to the abolition of the VRO system.
He urged the High Court to pay Rs 1 lakh to each VRO to compensate for the mental agony they underwent due to the CM branding them as corrupt in the Assembly.
Krishnaiah argued that the posts of VROs were created during British rule. The Revenue Department’s operations got stalled due to the sudden abolition of the VROs system, Krishnaiah said, stressing the need of utilizing the services of VROs in the Revenue Department.
Criticising the government’s argument that it abolished VRO posts as land records have been computerized, Krishnaiah explained the job of VROs. The VROs jobs are not limited to land but they also provide other services, Krishnaiah said.
After hearing arguments, the High Court reserved the verdict. The HC stated that it is giving a chance to the advocates of both the VROs and the government to submit their written arguments written before April 28.
VROs JAC leaders Golconda Sathish and Pallepati Naresh urged the government to continue VROs in the Revenue Department as the services of experienced VROs are needed only in the Revenue Department.
