NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Tuesday relaxed the bail condition prohibiting former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu from organising or participating in political rallies or meetings.
The court, however, issued notice to him on the state government's plea challenging the regular bail granted to him by the High Court in a case related to alleged scam in setting up the skill development centre.
A bench of Justices Bela M Trivedi and Satish Chandra Sharma said, in its order, "Issue notice. Returnable on December 8. All the conditions imposed by the November 3 order by the high court shall continue except the condition of organising or participating in public rallies or meetings".
The court put the matter for further hearing on December 11.
During the hearing, senior advocate Ranjit Kumar for the Andhra Pradesh government, insisted that the respondent should make no statement in public domain about this case.
Opposing the contention, Naidu's counsel claimed that officers of the department are still making public statements with reference to issues, which are pending before this court.
"If there has to be a restraint, it ought to apply to both sides, he said.
The AP government, however, said that restraint applies to an accused, it can't apply to the government.
Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, also for the state government, asked the court to issue notice in the matter.
While issuing notice, the court directed for the continuation of a bail condition ordering Naidu to refrain from speaking about sub judice matters arising out of this case in the public domain.
However, the apex court declined to impose the other bail condition prohibiting him from organising or participating in political rallies or meetings.
The court then deferred the proceedings until after the delivery of the judgment on Naidu's plea seeking the quashing of the FIR in this case.
The Andhra Pradesh High court had converted Naidus four-week interim medical bail into absolute bail. It had ordered release of the former chief minister on bail, in view of his age, ailments, non-flight risk and other reasons.
The Andhra Pradesh government moved the Supreme Court challenging the Andhra Pradesh High Court order granting bail to former Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu in the skill development program scam case.
