High Court restrains cops arresting man brandishing 'sword'

HYDERABAD: Justice K. Surender of the Telangana High Court restrained the police from arresting a businessman accused of creating panic through a social media reel featuring a 'talwar' (sword). The judge was dealing with a criminal petition filed by Shaik Saleem. The complaint, lodged by a constable, alleged that the reel, which featured a dubbed movie dialogue and showed the petitioner holding a sword, appeared threatening and had the potential to create fear and disrupt public order. Based on this, the police registered an FIR under the Arms Act and other laws. Counsel for the petitioner argued that the FIR was baseless as the sword used in the reel was a toy and the post was an attempt at entertainment. Counsel also argued that Instagram had become a platform for creative expression and career opportunities, and criminalising such content would be excessive. The judge directed the police not to arrest the petitioner for three weeks, granting him an opportunity to provide an explanation regarding the reel.

Plea taken up on ex gratia to farmers' kin

A two-judge panel of the Telangana High Court took on file a public interest litigation (PIL) challenging the inaction of the revenue department in constituting a three-member committee for verifying claims of ex gratia payments to families of farmers who died by suicide due to agrarian crisis. The panel, comprising acting Chief Justice Sujoy Paul and Justice Renuka Yara, was dealing with the PIL filed by social activist Bannuru Kondala Reddy. The petitioner highlighted the failure of the respondent authorities in implementing the GO dated June 10, 2004, which mandates the verification of claims of the families of farmers. The petitioner also pointed to the non-disbursement of ex gratia payments of `6 lakh per family, as per GOs dated September 22, 2015, and October 29, 2015. The panel directed the respondents authorities to file their response within four weeks.

State told to regularise jobs of 2 health assistants

Justice Nagesh Bheemapaka of the Telangana High Court directed the director of health and family welfare, and other authorities to regularise the services of two persons who have put in nearly two decades of continuous service. The judge issued the directions in favour of two multipurpose health assistants (male) working at the Dichpally community health centre. The judge was dealing with a writ plea filed by Singham Poshetty and G.Ganesh, who contended that despite 19 years of continuous service, their employment had not been regularised without any valid reason. The petitioners argued that the inaction of the respondent authorities was illegal, arbitrary, and discriminatory. The petitioners sought regularisation from the date of their initial appointment in 2000, along with the release of increments and consideration for promotion to the post of health supervisor on par with their batchmates. The respondent authorities, in response, admitted that the regularisation process was pending due to final calculations. Taking note of this, the judge allowed the writ plea and directed the respondent authorities to regularise the services of the petitioners with all consequential benefits.

Anticipatory bail for pvt. staffer in GST case

Justice J. Sreenivas Rao of the Telangana High Court granted anticipatory bail to a private employee in connection with an economic offence case involving alleged fraudulent GST refunds amounting to `23.78 crore. The judge was dealing with a criminal petition filed by Harsha Pandey. A case was registered against Vinardh Automobiles Private Limited and its managing director, along with other accused, for allegedly obtaining fraudulent GST refunds through forged documents, causing wrongful loss to the government. The petitioner was not initially named as an accused but was issued multiple notices based on the statement of her husband who is arrayed as an accused.

The petitioner also contended that she feared being falsely implicated and sought anticipatory bail.