Hyderabad: Justice Surepalli Nanda of the Telangana High Court intervened in a tender worth Rs. 260-crore for school uniform cloth, directing the State to revise conditions that kept handloom societies out and to allocate 25–30% of the procurement to cooperative weavers in line with its policy.
The judge was hearing a writ petition filed by Huzurabad Handloom Weaver’s Co-operative Society challenging a tender notification issued on April 2 by the State for supply of uniform cloth.
The petitioner contended that the tender imposed onerous conditions such as high turnover requirements, prior large-scale experience, and substantial financial guarantees, thereby shutting out handloom cooperative societies from participation.
It was argued that under a government order of March 2024, the state specifically resolved to procure handloom products through cooperative societies in order to protect the livelihood of traditional weavers. The society further submitted that production activities already commenced pursuant to an earlier work order for supply of uniforms to nearly 19.7 lakh students for the academic year 2026–27.
During the hearing, the state informed the Court that instructions were issued to accommodate handloom societies to the extent of 25–30% of the total procurement. Taking note of the submission, Justice Nanda held that the policy decision must be implemented in a meaningful manner and not remain merely on paper.
Accordingly, the judge directed the respondents to enforce the government order in letter and spirit and ensure that the petitioner society and other similarly placed handloom organisations are accommodated to the extent of 25–30% of the total procurement.
A two-judge panel of the Telangana High Court acquitted a woman convicted of murdering her husband, holding that the “last seen” theory was not established and the chain of circumstantial evidence remained incomplete.
The panel comprising Justice K. Lakshman and Justice B. R. Madhusudhan Rao was hearing a criminal appeal filed by Chendi Chittemma challenging the judgment of the Sessions Court, Mahabubnagar, which convicted her under provisions of the Indian Penal Code for the alleged murder of her husband.
The appellant contended that the case was based entirely on circumstantial evidence and that the prosecution failed to establish a complete and consistent chain linking the accused to the crime.
The Court noted serious inconsistencies in witness testimonies and observed that key witnesses, including neighbours, were not examined. It also found that the “last seen” theory was not proved, particularly in light of evidence suggesting that the accused was not present at the scene at the relevant time. Further the panel held that the recovery of a knife, axe, and bloodstained clothes, even if accepted, could not conclusively establish guilt in the absence of corroborative evidence.
The Court reiterated that mere suspicion cannot replace proof in criminal cases. Concluding that the trial court findings were perverse and unsupported by evidence, the panel extended the benefit of doubt to the accused and acquitted her of all charges.
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