PIL Filed In Andhra Pradesh High Court Against Alleged Violence Targeting YSRCP Supporters Amid Govt Transition

A public interest litigation has been filed in the Andhra Pradesh High Court seeking directions to curb heightened violence against the supporters and sympathizers of YSR Congress Party, amid the government transition to Chandrababu Naidu led Telugu Desam Party.

The petition filed by MP Yerram Vankata Subbareddy alleges the State functionaries have displayed "clear laxity" to prevent the violence and urges that directions be issued to the Union Home Ministry to take stringent action in the matter.

"It is necessary to point out here that, the volume and intensity of the targeted violence and attacks have increased in past 4 days. The perpetrators continue to exploit the period of Government transition in order to escalate their organized violence and attacks. The perpetrators are not only threatening the people with dire consequences, but, are also coercing them to leave their ancestral homes and villages under the threat of physical harm and even death," it is alleged.

The plea also seeks directions to ensure that the State machinery is prompt in response, provides police protection to all victims, registers FIRs and initiates appropriate legal proceedings against the violators. It further seeks formation of a SIT to identify the perpetrators and a judicial Committee to fix responsibility.

The plea alleges that even vulnerable groups such as Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Backward Classes, women, and children are being targeted, purportedly escalating "political tension" in the State.

“The organized violence targeting a specific group of people having specific political affiliation and any inaction by the police authorities against the perpetrators demonstrates that the State has not only completely failed to protect its citizens but has also failed to maintain public order in the State of Andhra Pradesh…and if not halted effectively and immediately, the same will have disastrous consequences upon the social and political fabric of the country,” the plea states.

Case title: Yerram Venkata Subbareddy vs. UoI

Case number: WP(PIL) 114 of 2024

Counsel for petitioner: V.R. Reddy Kovvuri