Telangana: Court orders transfer of data to T-Wallet
Hyderabad: Justice T. Madhavi Devi of the Telangana High Court, sitting in the vacation court, granted anticipatory bail to the directors of a payment service operator in the T-Wallet dispute case, after recording their undertaking that they would transfer customer data and wallet balances relating to nearly 16 lakh users to the government within a week. The judge was hearing a criminal petition filed by Srinivasa Rao Katuri and Kiran Kumar, who were facing allegations of cheating and criminal breach of trust arising out of operations of T-Wallet, the state government-owned e-money wallet platform.
According to the petitioners, their company was previously engaged by the government for operation of T-Wallet and the dispute arose after the government appointed a new operator and sought transfer of customer KYC details and wallet funds. The petitioners contended that Reserve Bank of India regulations prohibited transfer of customer funds and sensitive KYC data without obtaining consent from customers and that any such transfer without legal protection would expose them to serious regulatory consequences. It was submitted that the petitioners were willing to transfer the customer data and monies provided appropriate protection and directions were granted by the court. Opposing the plea, the public prosecutor contended that similar assurances were been furnished earlier by the petitioners but the customer data and wallet balances were still not transferred. It was submitted that the matter involved nearly 16 lakh customers and that custodial interrogation and cooperation of the petitioners were necessary for effective investigation. During the hearing, the judge specifically queried the petitioners regarding the time required for completing the transfer process, to which the petitioners sought two days. Recording the undertaking furnished before the court, Justice Madhavi Devi directed the petitioners to transfer the customer data and wallet funds to the government within a week and cooperate with the ongoing investigation. The judge granted anticipatory bail to the petitioners subject to conditions.
A two-judge panel of the Telangana High Court sitting in the vacation court issued notices to the land acquisition officer and other authorities in an appeal arising out of land acquisition proceedings for the NH-163G Mancherial–Warangal greenfield corridor project in Jayashankar Bhupalapally district. The panel comprising Justice T. Madhavi Devi and Justice G.M. Mohiuddin was hearing a writ appeal filed by Anandapu Tirupathi and other agriculturists challenging the order of a single judge, which relegated them to avail the statutory remedy under the National Highways Act in disputes concerning compensation and acquisition proceedings. The appellants contended that their agricultural land situated in villages falling under Chityal, Mogullapally and Tekumatla mandals of Jayashankar Bhupalapally district were acquired for the four-lane greenfield highway project undertaken by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). According to the appellants, they became aware of the proposed acquisition only in April 2021 through notifications issued for acquisition of land in nearly 10 villages. They alleged that the notifications disclosed only survey number-wise extents without furnishing pattadar-wise particulars, thereby depriving affected landowners of a meaningful opportunity to submit objections. The appellants contended that despite filing objections opposing the greenfield alignment and suggesting widening of the existing highway instead, the authorities failed to conduct any effective hearing. Before the vacation court, counsel for the appellants argued that the writ court failed to appreciate serious procedural irregularities and denial of statutory safeguards in the acquisition process. It was further contended that the challenge raised by the appellants was not confined to adequacy of compensation, but extended to the legality of the acquisition proceedings themselves, particularly on the ground that pattadar-wise details, standing crops, trees and structures were omitted from the notifications, thereby frustrating the statutory right to object. After hearing the submissions, the vacation panel issued notices to the respondents and posted the matter for further consideration.
Court slams Sanathnagar cops for interfering in civil dispute
Justice G.M. Mohiuddin of the Telangana High Court came down heavily on the authorities of the Sanathnagar police station for interfering in civil disputes while granting interim protection to a 55-year-old man embroiled in a family property dispute. The court cautioned law enforcement authorities against compelling parties to arrive at settlements in matters
