Wednesday, August 1, 2007

List judicial probe terms

By S A Ishaqui
Hyderabad, July 31: The Andhra Pradesh High Court on Tuesday directed that the State government place before it on Thursday the terms and references of the judicial commission which is yet to be constituted to probe into the Mudigonda police firing.

A division bench of the High Court comprising Chief Justice G.S. Singhvi and Justice C.V. Nagarjuna Reddy, while dealing with a writ petition filed by Telugu Desam secretary P.N.V. Prasad on Mudigonda police firing in which seven people were killed and seven others injured, asked the State government to submit the terms and references of the probe.

The Chief Justice pointed out "why did not you (State government) arrest leaders of the movement to prevent this (firing), when the agitation for lands (Bhoo Poratam) had been going on for more than two months". After studying the reports of Khammam district session judge Jagannath Reddy and Director-General of Police M.A. Basith, the Chief Justice observed that prima facie the firing was unjustified.

At this stage, Advocate-General C.V. Mohan Reddy pointed out that the court can not make these observation till the completion of hearing and the court can express its opinion during the hearing. The Justice said "we are expressing only our opinion". The AG said even if it is an opinion it will hit the headlines tomorrow. The Chief Justice said "Press has freedom on what to and what not to report. Even some times they publish the orders which are not passed by the court".

Petitioner's counsel and senior advocate S Ramachandra Rao urged the court to put some sort of pressure on the police and the State government to prevent them from "killing innocent people". He wanted the court to withdraw from the police the power to shoot for some.

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