Hyderabad: A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) has been filed in the High Court of Hyderabad challenging the Andhra Pradesh government's decision to allocate the Assembly coverage rights to 'Advanced Telecommunications.' The petition was filed by YSRCP MLA Alla Ramakrishna Reddy on Tuesday.

Responding to the petition, the High Court directed the state government to file a counter within two weeks. Notices were also served to the company — 'Advanced Telecommunications'.

Speaking to media persons, Ramakrishna Reddy said that the state government had violated rules by allocating the coverage rights without calling for tenders. The rights were given to the company on the behest of Speaker Kodela Sivaprasada Rao, he alleged.

Responding to the RTI application filed by Ramakrishna Reddy, the officials said that the rights were given to the the 'Advanced Telecommunications.' Alla Ramakrishna Reddy had said that he has shown evidence that the company is owned by Vemuri Radhakrishna's son Vemuri Aditya. With a view to suppressing the voice of the YSRCP legislators in the Assembly, the ruling government has allocated the rights to the ABN network, Ramakrishna Reddy said. "There is quid pro quo involved in the deal," he alleged.