Telangana High Court Directs Police Commissioner To Permit Farmers' Rally In Hyderabad On Republic Day

The Bench of Justice K. Lakshman was hearing the plea of Telangana Rashtra Rythu Sangam (TRRS) and a social activist who stated before the Court that they wish to organize a protest in solidarity to the farmers' protest in Delhi.

They also submitted that the petitioners made an application dated 21^st January 2021 to the state authorities with a request to grant permission for parade (by providing all the relevant details).

It was further stated that despite receiving and acknowledging the, the state authorities neither rejected nor accorded the permission. Therefore, the present Writ Petition was filed before the High Court.

On the other hand, the Government Pleader for Home submitted that the Joint Commissioner of Police, HFAC Central Zone, Hyderabad City, had rejected the application of the petitioner vide order dated 25^th January 2021 on several grounds including the ground that the proposed route is very close to the venue of Republic day parade function i.e., Public Garden.

It was further stated that such a rally on the arterial road during the peak traffic hours with large gathering will throw the traffic out gear and cause traffic jams.

To this, the counsel for the petitioners, gave alternative route from Saroornagar Indoor Stadium, L.B.Nagar to Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium, Uppal.

It was further submitted that only two wheelers and four wheelers will participate and no tractors will participate in the parade.

Therefore, the petitioners prayed before the Court to pass orders directing the Commissioner of Police, Rachakonda Commissionerate to grant permission for the said parade on 26^th Januray 2021 from 2.00 pm to 5.00 pm on imposition of certain conditions and the petitioners will abide by the same.

Court's Order

Having heard the parties, the Court disposed of the petition by granting liberty to the petitioners to make an application to the Commissioner of Police, Rachakonda Commissionerate with a request to accord permission to conduct parade on 26^th January 2021.

The Court further directed,

"On receipt of such application, the Commissioner of Police, Rachakonda Commissionerate, is directed to consider the same and accord permission to the petitioners to conduct parade on 26.01.2021 from 2.00 pm to 5.00 pm from Saroornagar Indoor Stadium, L.B.Nagar to Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium, Uppal, on imposition of certain reasonable conditions."

The Petitioners have been directed that specifically mention, in their application, about the undertaking to the effect that they will take responsibility in the event of any untoward incident during the parade and that they will not permit the tractors to participate in the parade.

With the said directions, the Writ Petition was disposed of.

In related news, the Allahabad High Court on Monday (25^th January) asked the Uttar Pradesh authorities to explain why Sub-Divisional Magistrates issued notices to farmers with tractors to furnish 'exorbitant personal bonds' in the wake of farmers protests.

A division bench of Justices Ramesh Singha and Rajeev Singh passed the order in a PIL filed challenging the notices issued under Section 111 of the Code of Criminal Procedure on January 19 asking farmers to furnish personal bond in the range of Rs 50,000 to Rupees 10 lakhs and two sureties for the like amount citing apprehension of breach of law and order amid farmers protests.

It may be noted that a large group of farmers have been protesting near Delhi borders since November 26 demanding the repeal of three controversial farm laws passed by the Parliament last year.

The protesting farmers unions have announced that they will hold a tractor rally in Delhi on the Republic Day.

Ahead of the tractor rally, there were reports that the UP administration has asked fuel stations in all districts to not provide diesel for farmers' tractors. However, the UP police later said that such notices have been withdrawn.