Petitioner's interpretation challenging AP's move to have 3 capitals 'shallow': Centre

Countering a petitioner's contention that the phrase "a capital for the state of Andhra Pradesh" connotes that the AP Reorganisation Act mandated a single capital city, the Centre said that in all Central Acts and regulations, "unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context," words in the singular "shall include the plural and vice versa."

Amaravati (Andhra Pradesh): The 'a' in the phrase "a capital for the state of Andhra Pradesh" might also be taken in plural, and not necessarily in singular, in accordance with the General Clauses Act, 1897, the Centre averred on Thursday.

It said the interpretation made by a petitioner, challenging the AP government's move to have three capitals for the state, was "shallow."

The Centre also said the "repeated objectionable and uncalled for aspersions against the Union of India" in the rejoinder submitted by the writ petitioner was condemnable.

The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) made this assertion in an additional affidavit filed in the state High Court in the ongoing litigation against the state governments move to have three capitals for AP.

The high court is currently hearing a batch of writ petitions filed by various stakeholders seeking that the AP Decentralisation and Inclusive Development of All Regions Act, 2020, be declared as ultra vires to the Constitution of India.

The court, while ordering a status quo on the implementation of the Act and also the AP Capital Region Development Authority (Repeal) Act, 2020, posted the case for further hearing to September 21.

The MHA referred to the petitioner's contention that the phrase "a capital for the state of Andhra Pradesh" under Section 6 and Section 94 (3) and (4) of the AP Reorganisation Act, 2014, read with the 13th Schedule, connotes that the Act mandated a single capital city. Countering it, the MHA cited the General Clauses Act, 1897, saying as per Section 13 in all Central Acts and regulations, "unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context," words in the singular "shall include the plural and vice versa."

Read:Gadkari, Andhra CM to launch various projects on Sept 18

"Thus, it is made amply clear that the interpretation of the petitioner on the above issue is shallow," the Centre said.

It also said the notification of Presidents Order on the constitution of a separate High Court for AP, with the principal seat at Amaravati, could not be construed as the Central Governments decision to declare Amaravati as the Capital of the state.

The principal seat of High Court need not necessarily be in the Capital city of the state, the Centre maintained.

The Union Ministry of Home Affairs already filed a counter affidavit last month stating that the AP government vide an order on April 23, 2015, notified that the capital city be named as Amaravati.

"It may be further mentioned that the capital city of the state is decided by the respective state government.

The Central government has no role in it," the Centre had said in its counter-affidavit.

"Section 94 (3) and (4) of the AP Reorganisation Act, 2014, only provides for financial assistance by the Central government to the state of Andhra Pradesh for creation of essential facilities in their new capital and to further facilitate de-notification of degraded forest land, if necessary, for the same."

The provision only talks about providing financial assistance by the Centre for the new capital as chosen by the state and not for deciding a capital by the Central government, the MHA averred in the additional affidavit.

"The Government of Andhra Pradesh had earlier chosen Amaravati as the capital of the state and had notified the same vide their Government Order dated April 23, 2015.

Read:AP deploys over 1000 ambulances amid Covid surge

Based on the said notification, Survey of India incorporated Amaravati as capital of Andhra Pradesh in the latest political map of India (English 9th Edition 2019 and Hindi 6th Edition 2020)," the MHA added.

The Centre said, "In pursuance of Article 214 of the Constitution and in exercise of powers conferred under provisions of the AP Reorganisation Act, 2014, the President, vide an order dated December 26, 2018, constituted a separate High Court for the state of Andhra Pradesh from January 1, 2019 with the principal seat at Amaravati.

Notification of the Presidents Order on the constitution of a separate High Court cannot be construed as the Central governments decision to declare Amaravati as the Capital of Andhra Pradesh," the MHA asserted in the additional affidavit.

(PTI Report)