NIA opposes bail to terror accused
Hyderabad: A two-judge panel of the Telangana High Court comprising Justice A Rajasekhar Reddy and Justice Dr Shameem Akther on Thursday partly heard the bail cancellation application filed by the National Investigation Agency (NIA). Earlier the NIA court, Hyderabad granted bail to Menchu Sandeep and Madiletti Krishna of Telangana Vidyarthi Vedika and Nalamasa Krishna of […]
Hyderabad: A two-judge panel of the Telangana High Court comprising Justice A Rajasekhar Reddy and Justice Dr Shameem Akther on Thursday partly heard the bail cancellation application filed by the National Investigation Agency (NIA). Earlier the NIA court, Hyderabad granted bail to Menchu Sandeep and Madiletti Krishna of Telangana Vidyarthi Vedika and Nalamasa Krishna of Telangana Praja Front.
Counsel Vishnu Vardhan Reddy representing NIA vehemently opposed the grant of bail by the lower court contending that the accused are having links with the Maoist organisation and that they are capable of influencing the witnesses and tamper evidence. It stated that the accused are working in the frontal organisations of the banned Maoist party and that they have organised rallies, protests being in communication with the Maoist party members to throw away the democratically elected governments.
Senior counsel Pattabhi Vemulapati appearing for accused Sandeep, pointed out, not a single evidence or act is shown in the charge sheet filed to show that the accused has committed a Terrorist Act to attract offences under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) or Public Security Act. Neither there is any recovery nor there is any act or intention to attract offences of a Terrorist Act. Moreover, the re-registration of the crime multiple times is prohibited under the criminal procedure the Senior Counsel stated. Referring to various Supreme Court judgements he argued that being a member of a banned organisation without committing any act would not attract any offence.
He pointed out that the accused was from Mahabubnagar district where undeniably the influence of communist ideas is prevalent and he could well be inclined with such ideas. But the organisation Telangana Vidyarthi Vedika is recognised by the government until it was banned recently. It was also argued that conducting rallies and protests on students issues and for the welfare of people does not fall in the definition of a Terrorist Act. Pointing out to the speech of DY Chandrachud, Supreme Court judge on how terror laws should not be used to suppress the dissenting voices in a democracy and also the Supreme Court judgements on how governments are tempted to borrow totalitarian state measures to suppress the dissent he buttressed his argument that the accused are being falsely implicated without any terrorist act having been committed. The panel will continue to hear the case on Tuesday.
Bail cancellation plea
Justice G Sridevi of the Telangana High Court on Thursday reserved verdict in the bail cancellation applications relating to Hemanth Kumar’s honour killing case.
T Swetcha, Counsel appearing for C Avanthi, wife of Hemanth Kumar, vehemently opposed the granting of bail to the D Archana, who is also the mother of Chintha Avanthi, on the grounds that in exceptional cases like honour killings, bail may not be granted. In 2020, Late Chinta Yoga Hemanth Kumar and Chintha Avanthi’s property was trespassed by the accused persons, after which they were kidnapped and eventually, Hemanth Kumar was murdered over caste issues.
It was observed that the families of Avanthi and Hemanth Kumar knew each other well, however when Avanthi’s family learnt of the marriage between Hemanth Kumar and her, they vehemently opposed on the grounds of difference in caste. The matter has been reserved for orders.
Journalist accreditation
A two-judge panel of the Telangana High Court comprising Chief Justice Hima Kohli and Justice B Vijaysen Reddy on Thursday posted a batch of writ petitions filed by the Telangana Urdu working journalists union and another to September 10, 2021. The court was hearing a writ filed by journalists of Telangana challenging the allocation of accreditation cards to journalists based on languages. The counsel for the petitioner brought to the notice of the court that the impugned order was discriminating journalists language-wise and preference to Telugu and English languages and journalists of other languages were ignored thereby resulting in loss of associate benefits of the journalist.
Physical hearing of cases
A full judge bench of the Telangana High Court comprising Chief Justice Hima Kohli, Justice M S Ramachandra Rao and Justice A Rajasekhar Reddy on Thursday summarily rejected complaints of the High Court Bar Association on the physical hearing of cases and of the functioning of the High Court. The Panel assembled for grant of extension of all interim orders earlier May. The newly elected Secretary of the High Court Bar Association, Srujan pointed to the court that the entire staff of the court was not working and there was a need for a physical hearing by the High Court. The Court rejected the statement of the staff and stated that the entire staff has been working since July 6. The Panel also did not take seriously the plea that interim orders were not being made available. The Panel directed the matters to be listed afresh on July 19 for consideration.
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