Survey of criminals stopped: Government to HC

Hyderabad: The Telangana State government has informed the High Court at Hyderabad on Monday that the circular issued by its Director General of Police for conducting a comprehensive survey of criminals has “ceased to operate.” A fresh circular, asking all the police officers across the State to not take any action on the basis of the earlier circular was produced before the Court.

Telangana Advocate General D Prakash Reddy submitted the same before Justice A V Sesha Sai. Recording the submissions made by the Advocate General and taking on record the fresh circular produced before it, the court disposed of the two Writ petitions filed challenging the conduct of such comprehensive survey of criminals.

Former corporator and Greater Hyderabad TDP Backward Classes Cell President Chirraboyina Badrinath Yadav and another person Abdul Hafiz filed two separate Writ petitions, challenging the action of the police in harassing them and seeking personal details in the name of this survey. 

During the previous hearing the judge found fault with survey for seeking irrelevant details of persons labelled as criminals. They were asked to state who was their advocate and who were their concubines, etc. 

In the latest hearing on Monday, the AG informed the judge that the circular calling for conduct of such survey has ‘ceased to operate’ and a fresh circular was issued directing not to act as per earlier circular. 

He submitted a copy of the same to the judge. The counsels for the petitioners requested that the data already collected by the police must be returned. The AG objected to this request. The judge disposed of the two petitions giving liberty to the petitioners to approach the court once again if the police acted in violation of the rules in future.

By Legal Correspondent