The Andhra Pradesh HC on Tuesday issued notices to former attorney general Mukul Rohatgi who has been hired by the state govt to argue in the HC in the matters challenging the proposal of the trifurcation of the capital.
Hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) moved by Rachamanti Sivaji & Mantri Sai Praveen Kumar challenging the GO 1 issued by the planning department to pay Rs 5 crore as fee to Rohatgi, the High Court asked the govt to file a reply & issued notices to Rohatgi as the petitioner had made him a respondent for commercialising the legal profession. The petitioners argued that Rohatgi violated the Bar Council of India rules, 1975, in accepting the brief & fee from the Andhra Pradesh govt.
They argued that paying a salary in excess of the salaries being paid to President of India, governors, Chief Justice of India, Top Court judges & judges of HCs was illegal & in violation of Article 14 of the Constitution.
They sought directions from the High Court to the planning department & other officials to recover the excess amount paid to Rohatgi.
The High Court issued notices to Rohatgi & the state govt & posted the matter for further hearing after three weeks.
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