HC nod for Jagan Mohan’s Hyderabad meet

By S A Ishaqui

Hyderabad, Oct 16: The Andhra Pradesh High Court on Wednesday upheld the right of people to hold peaceful public meetings when it granted permission to the YSR Congress to hold a public meeting at Lal Bahadur Stadium here after imposing certain conditions.

Justice Nooty Ramamohana Rao was allowing a house motion by YSRC general secretary K. Sivakumar challenging an order passed by the city police denying permission for the meeting.

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The city police denied permission for the meeting because Telangana employees, students and political parties had given a call for obstructing the meeting of the YSRC, and because of the prevailing law and order situation on account of the agitation in the Seemandhra region.

The judge observed that the reasons cited by the police were irrational.

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Hyderabad: Observing that the reasons cited by the police for denying the YSR Congress permission to hold a public meeting in the city were irrational, Justice Nooty Ramamohana Rao of the AP High Court said, “Having difference of opinion and ideology by the political parties is a common phenomenon in a democracy. If the petitioner’s party holds the public meeting for a cause (united state), the party leaders who are struggling for a separate state will definitely oppose it, and refusing permission on such grounds would amount to curtailing the freedom of expression.”

The judge made it clear that no one can curtail the rights of those who propose to organise meetings peacefully, and it was for the government to safeguard their interests and give protection from the rivals.

The government must take necessary measures for the smooth conduct of the meeting and ensure law and order.

Justice Rao said a balance must be maintained between protecting the rights of the citizens and the interests of society. The police have got the power to take action against antisocial elements who indulge in violence, he added.

The judge directed the police to permit the petitioner’s party to hold the meeting at LB Stadium from 2 pm to 5 pm, after taking an assurance from the organisers that the meeting will not result in arson or damaging public and private properties.

The judge also directed that the organisers have to give a written undertaking to the police that no provocative speeches will be made at the meeting.