Telangana High Court directs action over proposed Ambedkar book release

The Telangana High Court directed authorities to take action according to law over the proposed release of Kalpitha Nayakudu – The Fabricated Leader – Volume 1 on B R Ambedkar. The Government informed the Court that author Hamara Prasad was arrested and copies seized.

Legal Correspondent

 

---

Hyderabad: Justice T. Madhavi Devi of the Telangana High Court on Thursday directed the State authorities to take necessary action in accordance with law in connection with the proposed release of the book Kalpitha Nayakudu -The Fabricated Leader – Volume 1 on B.R. Ambedkar, scheduled for September 18, after the Government informed the Court that the author, Hamara Prasad, had already been arrested and that the books had been seized.

The Writ Petition before the Court by way of a lunch motion filed by journalist A. Gnana Chendren Mouli, who sought urgent intervention apprehending that the title, cover page and promotional material relating to the book, which concerns Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, could lead to protests and disturbance of public peace.

The petitioner sought a direction to the competent authorities to urgently assess the law-and-order implications of the proposed book release, including its disputed title and cover page, promotional material, proposed venue and digital dissemination, and to take lawful and proportionate preventive measures to prevent any breach of peace. During the hearing, the Court questioned the Government as to whether copies of the book available through online platforms, including Amazon, would also be removed.

The Government Pleader for Home informed the Court that the author, Hamara Prasad, had already been arrested by the police. The Government further submitted that he would be produced before the jurisdictional Magistrate and that the police would seek his remand in accordance with law. The Government also informed the Court that physical copies of the book had been seized and that necessary action would be taken with regard to the digital versions and online dissemination of the material.

The Court, after taking note of the submissions made on behalf of the State and the steps already taken by the authorities, concluded the hearing, expressing satisfaction with the action taken by the Government. The petition arose against the backdrop of controversy surrounding the proposed publication of Kalpitha Nayakudu, which has been promoted as The Fabricated Leader.