Patricide Convict Aspires to Become Lawyer

 Hyderabad:  A two judge panel of the Telangana High Court comprising Justice Moushumi Bhattacharya and Justice B.R. Madhusudhan Rao permitted a 23-year-old convict, presently lodged in Cherlapally Central Prison, to pursue her second-semester LL.B. course from within prison using such technological means as may be available and permissible under the applicable framework of the law. The panel was hearing a writ petition filed by Priyanka Sula, who sought a direction to the authorities of Dr. VRK College of Law, Mehdipatnam, to accept her examination fee and application form for the upcoming second-semester LL.B. examinations scheduled later this month. The petitioner also initially sought one-month bail to attend the examinations physically. The petitioner would contend that the law college was unwilling to accept the examination form or fees, citing mandatory physical attendance and a minimum 60% attendance requirement as per university norms. The counsel urged the Court to issue a direction to the college to waive these requirements, which the bench declined, observing that it would not interfere with institutional rules or academic regulations. The counsel relied on a Kerala High Court judgment where online legal education from prison was allowed. Responding to this, the Court observed that “Needless to say, there cannot be an embargo, in law or equity, from preventing the appellant to pursue her LL.B. course from inside the prison precincts,” and held that the appellant would be at liberty to coordinate with the college and make use of available infrastructure for pursuing her studies virtually. The Court further directed the authorities to explore the availability of necessary technological infrastructure within the prison and at the college to facilitate online learning. The petitioner along with her siblings is undergoing life imprisonment following their conviction in August 2024 for the murder of their father. According to the prosecution, the trio allegedly assaulted their father to death in connection with a pension dispute.

Justice K. Lakshman of the Telangana High Court dismissed a writ plea filed by a local resident challenging the construction of a toilet complex at Zilla Parishad High School, Undavelly Village and Mandal, Jogulamba Gadwal District. The judge was dealing with a writ plea filed by B. Nutan Kumar Reddy, declaring the ongoing construction of 15 toilets as illegal and arbitrary, alleging it violated the fundamental rights of nearby residents. He claimed that the construction site lay adjacent to his residential house and borewells, posing a risk of contamination of drinking water due to disruption of the drainage system. The Government Pleader submitted that the school, in operation since 1964, catered to the educational needs of 365 students, including 250 girl students, and occupied 7 acres of land. The construction of toilets represented a necessary step to provide basic sanitation facilities for the students. The petitioner, an agriculturist and resident of the village, stated his four-storey house stood adjacent to the school and raised environmental concerns. However, the judge found no compelling evidence to support the allegation that the construction would contaminate drinking water or cause irreparable harm to the residents. Emphasizing the need for proper sanitation facilities in schools, the judge dismissed the writ plea, thereby permitting the school authorities to continue with the construction.

  HC takes up plea in Kollur land fraud

Justice T. Madhavi Devi of the Telangana High Court took on file a writ plea challenging the inaction of state government authorities in investigating alleged large-scale land fraud by the Industrial Employees Cooperative House Building Society, Bandlaguda, in respect of land in Kollur, Sangareddy district. The judge was hearing a writ plea filed by 15 individuals, including retired employees and businessmen, seeking a direction to the state to act upon the recommendations of a committee headed by retired IAS officer S.K. Sinha and to initiate a separate, independent investigation into the fraudulent alienation of land parcels. The petitioners alleged that despite submitting a detailed representation in June 2024, the authorities failed to act on the findings of the task force committee or probe the alleged collusion between government officials and third parties in facilitating unlawful transactions. They contended that this inaction violated their rights under the Constitution and left them without remedy. The petitioners also sought a direction for the appointment of an independent agency, such as the CBI or the state CID, to conduct a full-fledged inquiry and to ensure implementation of the committee’s findings relating to the subject property. After hearing preliminary submissions, Justice Madhavi Devi directed the respondents to file their response.

 Transporter alleges obstruction in coal lifting

Justice Pulla Karthik of the Telangana High Court disposed of a writ plea filed by Global Associates, whose coal transportation operations were allegedly obstructed by local Lorry Owners’ Associations, despite holding valid delivery orders from the Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL) for lifting washed reject coal from RKP Coal Washery, Mandamarri. The judge was dealing with a writ plea filed by its managing partner, Sayyad Khaja Mohiddin, who sought police protection to execute two delivery orders issued by SCCL in June 2025, covering approximately 9,000 metric tons of washed coal rejects. It was alleged that lorry owners’ associations from Mandamarri, Srirampur and Mancherial, along with their affiliates, were unlawfully preventing the petitioner’s vehicles from lifting the allotted coal. After hearing the matter, the judge directed SCCL to consider the petitioner’s representation and to take appropriate legal steps, including providing necessary protection.