On Senior Advocate's Letter, Telangana High Court Initiates Suo Moto PIL Against Alleged Handcuffing Of Accused Produced Before District Court

Based on a senior advocate's letter who witnessed handcuffing of accused persons produced before a District Court, the Telangana High Court has initiated a suo moto PIL and sought the State's response within six weeks.

Senior Advocate L. Ravichander stated that he had been engaged to appear before a bench in the District Court of Kukatpally. After his appearance, when the counsel was walking out of the Court, he noted that 3 policemen had accompanied 3 accused persons by handcuffing them, clearly in violation of the orders of the Supreme Court in Prem Shankar Shukla vs. Delhi Administration.

It was further stated that upon inquiry the senior counsel was made aware that more often than not, the accused were brought to the Court handcuffed. The handcuffs were only removed at the door of the Court halls, before the accused is presented before the presiding officer, to make it seem as though guidelines laid down in the Prem Shankar Shukla judgment have been complied with.

“I pray that this issue be 'taken up' as a Public Interest Litigation and appropriate directions be issued to the concerned to ensure a proper balance between law and order on the one hand and human rights on the other,” the letter read.

The matter was taken up by a Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice Anil Kumar Jukanti.

“This petition has been directed to be registered on the basis of letter dated 30.03.2024 addressed by a Senior Advocate, in which a complaint has been made about serious human right violation in the premises of District Court at Kukatpally, Ranga Reddy District. A direction has been sought to Police Officers in the State of Telangana to ensure that no violation of human rights takes place and the order of Supreme Court in Prem Shankar Shukla v. Delhi Administration [(1980)3 SCC 526] is followed and also to ensure proper balance between law and order on one hand and human rights on the other hand,” Court's order read.

Case no.: TUWP(PIL) 4/2024

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