Info sought on plea for permissions

The Hyderabad High Court on Tuesday directed the TS police to file its counter affidavit by Friday explaining the details of applications received seeking permission to hold rallies and protest meetings so far and rejection of those applications in view of the ongoing Assembly Sessions.

Justice S.V. Bhatt was dealing with petitions by TJAC chairman M. Kodandaram seeking directions to the police to grant permission to hold a public meeting in the name of Koluvulakai Kotlata on October 31 in the city and another petition by TJAC seeking permission to take out Amarula Spoorthy Yatra, a roadshow in the districts.

The judge was also dealing another petition by one Venkat Reddy, seeking permission for the ‘Koluvulakai Kotlata’.

S. Sharath Kumar, special counsel for the government, informed the court that the Rachakonda police had rejected permission for the public meeting on October 28, following which Prof. Kodandaram had made a statement that the public meeting will be organised on the day in the city “at any cost”.

Reacting to the submission, the judge asked counsel for Prof. Kodandaram how he could make such a statement when the matter was before the court.

When counsel said that the petitioner did not make any such statement, the judge said that he had witnessed the statement on television.

The judge told counsel for the government to explain in the affidavit whether the permission was denied on political and religious grounds or on account of the ongoing Assembly session.

With regard to Amarula Spoorthy Yatra, government counsel submitted that the organisers have made a fresh application.

The judge asked counsel to file the counter affidavit in this case by Monday.