Union Minister for Power and Renewable Energy RK Singh has stated that the case regarding the electricity dues owed by Telangana to Andhra Pradesh is currently being heard in the Supreme Court. The next steps will be taken based on the court’s decision.
In response to a question from YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) Rajya Sabha member V Vijayasai Reddy, RK Singh explained that Andhra Pradesh had filed a special leave petition in the Supreme Court challenging the High Court’s verdict in favor of Telangana regarding the payment of electricity dues.
RK Singh further explained that after the state’s bifurcation, from June 2, 2014 to June 10, 2017, Andhra Pradesh Power Generation Corporation Limited (APGENCO) supplied power to Telangana discoms. In August 2022, the Union Government issued orders to the Ministry of Power stating that Telangana must pay the arrears of Rs 6,756.92 crore within 30 days, as per the Andhra Pradesh State Bifurcation Act, 2014.
The Union Ministry of Power then ordered Telangana to pay Rs 3,441.78 crore as principal and Rs 3,315.14 crore as late payment surcharges to Andhra Pradesh. Telangana Government challenged these orders and filed a writ petition in the Telangana High Court. The High Court ruled on October 19, 2023, striking down the orders issued by the Central Power Ministry on August 29, 2022, regarding the electricity dues owed by Telangana to Andhra Pradesh.
In other news, Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Dr Bharti Praveen Pawar announced that the National Medical Commission has released new curriculum guidelines for MBBS students on August 1. These guidelines include a “Family Adoption Programme-Achievement of Objectives” in the first year of professional education, which requires students to understand rural conditions in their respective areas.
The Union Minister also mentioned that the guidelines for this new curriculum, known as Competency Based Medical Education, can be found on the National Medical Commission’s website.
