Criminal charges dropped against Telangana students over 2023 recruitment protest

The Court observed that the allegations were vague and unsupported by independent witnesses, and that peaceful demonstrations cannot be criminalised merely based on administrative inconvenience.

By Legal Correspondent

Hyderabad: Justice K. Lakshman of the Telangana High Court on Tuesday quashed criminal proceedings against a group of student protestors booked during a demonstration at the ICCC building in Banjara Hills last year, observing that the continuation of the case would amount to an abuse of the process of law.

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The petition was filed by eleven students, who were among the accused in the case registered at the Banjara Hills Police Station.

The FIR was filed after students staged a protest on February 3, 2023, against the Telangana government’s revised police recruitment policy, particularly over changes relating to physical efficiency tests.

According to the police, the protestors raised slogans and blocked access near the ICCC building, leading to disruption of traffic and the obstruction to public officials. A charge sheet was later filed invoking Sections 143, 149, 341, and 353 of the Indian Penal Code.

Appearing for the petitioners, Advocate K.L.N. Raghavendra Reddy submitted that the students were exercising their democratic right to protest peacefully and there was no evidence of wrongful restraint or assault on public servants. He further argued that the protest did not meet the essential ingredients of the offences charged.

Justice Lakshman, after examining the materials on record, noted that the charge sheet failed to disclose any concrete allegation of obstruction or use of force against public officials.

The Court observed that the allegations were vague and unsupported by independent witnesses, and that peaceful demonstrations cannot be criminalised merely based on administrative inconvenience.

The Court held that the case was fit for quashing. Accordingly, criminal proceedings were quashed in respect of the petitioners. However, the Court made it clear that the proceedings may continue in respect of other accused.