Court asks who handled BRS women MLAs

The Telangana High Court has directed DGP C.V. Anand to identify police personnel allegedly involved in misbehaving with or manhandling women BRS legislators during a protest at the Assembly gate. The direction concerns allegations made by the BRS Legislature Party; it is not a finding that any officer has been proved guilty. (Webindia123; Times of India)

Justice T. Madhavi Devi reportedly retained an earlier direction that police could not prevent BRS legislators from entering the Assembly for proceedings. The court modified the question of disciplinary jurisdiction: if the alleged conduct occurred inside the Assembly precincts while police acted on the Speaker’s directions, the details should go to the Speaker. If it occurred outside, at the entry point, the DGP must report to the High Court. (The South First)

The court reportedly said the state had offered bare denials without satisfactorily explaining the treatment of the women legislators. The Congress government’s version, as reflected in the reports, remains a denial or defence of police action; no individual police response was found in the material reviewed. The DGP has been asked to identify the personnel. The names are still missing. (Times of India)