Hyderabad, Sep 29 (IANS): The Telangana High Court on Tuesday directed the Director General of Police to identify police officials who allegedly misbehaved with women MLAs of the BRS during a protest at the Assembly gate on September 7.
The High Court issued the direction on a petition filed by the BRS alleging that police officers misbehaved with the women MLAs of the party during a protest at the Assembly gate.
According to BRS legal team, the High directed the Director General of Police (DGP), C.V. Anand, to identify the police officials involved and submit their details to Speaker Gaddam Prasad Kumar.
The High Court observed that the Speaker has the powers to take action against such officials under Assembly rules.
The incident had occurred on the first day of the Monsoon Session on September 7 when BRS legislators wearing black T-shirts with slogans were stopped from entering the Assembly premises.
A heated argument between BRS legislators and police had led to a commotion. The main Opposition party alleged that police officers misbehaved with its women legislators.
On September 8, the High Court had directed police not to stop the legislators from entering the Assembly, saying if there is any violation of the rules of the Assembly, it is for the Speaker to take action and not the police.
The petitioner’s counsel had submitted that one of the lady legislators was stopped and her saree was pulled, and the other lady legislator, who was a former Home Minister, was held by her neck. He submitted that other male legislators who were wearing black T-Shirts with slogans were also manhandled, and some of them received injuries.
The petitioner’s counsel argued that the police have no right to stop the legislators from entering the Assembly and if any action has to be taken for wearing T-shirts or not following the rules of the Assembly, then it is the Speaker who has to take action and not the police.
Following the incident, two cases were registered against BRS Working President K. T. Rama Rao, BRS Deputy Leader in Telangana Assembly T. Harish Rao and several other party legislators for allegedly obstructing women police personnel from discharging their duties, using abusive language and threatening them.
BRS alleged that police registered no cases on its complaint about alleged manhandling of its women MLA.
The BRS lodged complaints with the National Women Commission and the National Human Rights Commission. It also submitted a representation to Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla, seeking his intervention for a fair probe.
