Telangana HC Directs State’s Response on Residential School Teaching

Hyderabad: The Telangana High Court has sought the state’s response to a PIL challenging the timetable followed in Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Telangana Backward Classes Welfare Residential Educational Institutions Society (MJPTBCWREIS) schools and the deployment of teachers for hostel and other non-teaching duties.

A division bench comprising Chief Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh and Justice Vakiti Ramakrishna Reddy issued notices to the government and posted the matter after two weeks.

The PIL was filed by Madiri Shiply, who questioned GO Ms No.16 dated July 2, 2024, prescribing school timings from 8 am to 4.30 pm, with 2.30 pm to 4.30 pm earmarked for supervised study instead of regular teacher-led classes.

Petitioner’s counsel Barkat Ali Khan contended that the arrangement resulted in the loss of around 7,920 teacher-led periods in an academic year and was contrary to applicable educational norms and earlier court directions on teaching hours. He raised concerns over the shortage of wardens in residential schools, stating that teachers were being assigned hostel supervision and night duties in their absence. This deployment was alleged to be contrary to Section 27 of the Right to Education Act, which restricted the government from assigning teachers to non-educational duties.

Bar on benefits from other states ST community people: HC questions why restrictions when local certificate was issued

Hyderabad: The Telangana High Court has directed the social welfare department and Kaloji Narayana Rao University for Health Sciences to explain how they barred a Scheduled Caste community student from participating in the counselling for MBBS/BDS admissions as a local candidate, when the tahsildar had issued an ST community certificate and a residential certificate to her parents.

A division bench of Chief Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh and Justice G.M. Mohiuddin passed the interim order on a petition filed by Chawan Aarthi, who challenged the proceedings questioning her eligibility to claim the Telangana ST community category for locals for admission under the competent authority quota for the 2026–27 academic year. The bench directed the university and the social welfare department to file their counter-affidavits and posted the matter for further hearing on September 30.

The university argued that she was not entitled to the local ST community quota, following the communication and proceedings dated September 3 issued by the director of the tribal welfare which contained a list of candidates who had migrated from states like Maharashtra and Karnataka and were not entitled to the benefits in Telangana. The university argued that the petitioner belonged to the Karnataka ST community category.

Aarthi told the court that she was entitled to participate in the counselling as a local ST community candidate and sought permission to take part in all further rounds of the admission process.

The bench took note of the certificates issued by the tahsildar, Vikarabad mandal, certifying her father Chawan Shankar and mother Chawan Saritha Bai as belonging to the Lambadis-28 (ST) community recognised under the Presidential Order applicable to Telangana. The court considered a residence certificate issued by the tahsildar on June 4, 2026, showing Aarthi as the daughter of Chawan Shankar. Her parentage was also reflected in her SSC and Intermediate certificates. The court directed the university to permit the student to participate in the counselling process as a local candidate, making it clear that the permission was only an interim arrangement and would be subject to the final outcome of the writ petition.

Purification at KCR's farmhouse issue- HC directs police to follow the due procedure, instead of directly arresting the accused

Hyderabad: The Telangana High Court on Tuesday directed the police to follow due procedure while taking action against some persons accused of conducting a ‘purification’ ceremony at the farmhouse of former chief minister K. Chandrashekar Rao at Erravelli in Siddipet district, following a protest by activists belonging to the SC and ST communities.

Instead of arresting the accused, follow the procedure, the court said. The directions came in three writ petitions filed by the accused persons, who approached the High Court challenging the police action. The petitions, involving a total of 21 petitioners, were taken up as lunch motions.

The court directed the Markook police station house officer to issue notices to the petitioners under Section 35(3) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), which provides for issuance of notice to a person when the police did not consider immediate arrest to be necessary, and proceed in accordance with law. Following the direction, the court disposed of the three writ petitions.

The case related to the allegation that BRS leaders undertook ‘purification’ of the area used by Congress Dalit community activists to protest against Chandrashekar Rao, sprinkling turmeric water to mark the action.

The incident followed a protest organised by the Congress’ SC and ST community wings at Erravalli on September 9 under the banner of ‘Dappula Mota’. The protestors were demanding an apology from Chandrashekar Rao after BRS MLC Tata Madhusudan allegedly made derogatory remarks against Assembly Speaker Gaddam Prasad Kumar during the Monsoon Session of the Assembly.

Earlier, the police had arrested seven persons in connection with the alleged purification. Police in Siddipet district on Tuesday said a case under the SCs/STs (Prevention of Atrocities) Amendment Act, BNS and others was registered over the ‘purification’.

After perusal of photos, videos and other available evidence, 15 people were found to have been involved and seven were arrested in Vijayawada on Monday, police said.

They were produced before a court at Gajwel, which sent them to judicial remand. Investigation was underway to apprehend the remaining accused, a release from police said.