A division bench of the Andhra Pradesh high court on Thursday expressed concern over the continuance of Housing Minister P Rama Subba Reddy in the state Cabinet even though a criminal case is pending against him.

The bench, comprising Justice Bilal Nazki and Justice K C Bhanu, observed: "Though there is no prohibition under the Representation of People's Act or any other law prohibiting the continuance of a tainted minister in the Cabinet, it is a matter of public confidence and faith that such persons be not allowed to continue in the Cabinet."

Rama Subba Reddy is facing prosecution in a case relating to the murder of two Congress activists at Shadnagar in Mahbubnagar district several years ago. A relative of one of the deceased filed an application in the high court seeking the transfer of the trial from Mahbubnagar to Hyderabad.

Justice C Y Somayajulu transferred the trial, keeping in view the safety and security of the kin of the deceased who could be examined in the case. The then AP Congress Committee president M Satyanarayana Rao, in a media conference, alleged that the case was transferred to help the minister.

Thereupon, Justice Somayajulu initiated suo motu contempt proceedings against Satyanarayana Rao and the newspapers that had carried his statement. Subsequently, the newspaper editors and reporters apologised in the court and the judge dropped the contempt proceedings against them.

The judge referred the case, where Satyanarayana Rao was the contemnor, to a division bench. On July 17, Satyanarayana Rao tendered an unconditional apology before the division bench.

Pronouncing the orders closing the contempt case against Satyanarayana Rao, the division bench cautioned him against making such comments in future. The bench also expressed concern over the continuance of Rama Subba Reddy in the Cabinet.