Rai Bhaskara Rao v. The State Of Andhra Pradesh

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT HYDERABAD

FOR THE STATE OF TELANGANA AND THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH **** WRIT PETITION NO.9425 OF 2015 DATED 8th DECEMBER, 2015 Between:

Rai Bhaskara Rao .. Petitioner and The State of Andhra Pradesh rep. by its Principal Secretary, Home Department and others .. Respondents

THE HON'BLE SRI JUSTICE SANJAY KUMAR WRIT PETITION NO.9425 OF 2015

O R D E R

The grievance of the petitioner is with regard to opening of a rowdy sheet in his name by the police authorities.

Learned Assistant Government Pleader for Home informed this Court that normally rowdy sheets are extended from time to time in keeping with the calendar year and therefore review would be undertaken of the necessity to continue with the

rowdy sheet during the month of December, 2015. If that be so, it is wholly unnecessary for this Court to adjudicate the matter on merits when the police authorities concerned can as well apply their mind and take a decision in the matter. It would therefore be open to the petitioner to make a detailed representation to the concerned police authorities seeking closure of the rowdy sheet opened in his name by setting out the relevant grounds. The same shall be duly considered in the course of the review.

In this regard, it would be relevant to note that this Court had occasion to deal with this issue in W.P.No.18142 of 2012 and the case law on the subject was also adverted to at length in the order dated 24.08.2015 passed therein. The police authorities would therefore have to be mindful of the law laid down by this Court while considering the issue of continuing the existing rowdy sheets on the files of various police stations. The police authorities would also take into account the relevant Police Standing Orders in this regard and exercise their discretion judiciously. This exercise shall be completed expeditiously and in any event, not later than the end of January, 2016. In the event the police authorities decide to extend the rowdy sheet in the name of the petitioner for a further period, the decision in this regard shall be communicated with appropriate reasons to the petitioner.

The writ petition is disposed of accordingly. Pending miscellaneous petitions, if any, shall stand closed in the light of this final order. No order as to costs. ______________________ SANJAY KUMAR, J 8th DECEMBER, 2015 PGS