Telangana HC Directs DGP to Identify Cops Accused of Misbehaving with BRS Women MLAs

The Telangana High Court has directed Director General of Police C.V. Anand to identify police personnel accused of misbehaving with women legislators of the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) during a protest at the Assembly gate on September 7 and submit their details to Assembly Speaker Gaddam Prasad Kumar.

The direction was issued on Tuesday while hearing a petition filed by the BRS over the alleged manhandling of its women MLAs during the incident, which occurred on the opening day of the Monsoon Session of the Telangana Assembly.

According to the BRS legal team, the High Court observed that the Speaker has the authority to initiate action against the police personnel concerned under the rules of the Assembly.

The controversy erupted when BRS legislators wearing black T-shirts bearing slogans were stopped from entering the Assembly premises. The incident triggered a heated exchange between the legislators and police personnel, leading to a commotion.

During the hearing, the petitioner’s counsel alleged that one woman MLA was stopped and her saree pulled, while another woman legislator, a former Home Minister, was allegedly held by the neck. The counsel also claimed that several male legislators wearing black T-shirts were manhandled, with some sustaining injuries.

The BRS counsel argued that the police had no authority to prevent elected representatives from entering the Assembly. Any action over violations of the House’s dress code or other rules, the counsel maintained, fell within the Speaker’s jurisdiction.

On September 8, the High Court had directed the police not to obstruct legislators from entering the Assembly, reiterating that the Speaker, rather than the police, was responsible for dealing with any breach of Assembly rules.

The dispute has also led to police cases against BRS Working President K.T. Rama Rao, Deputy Leader in the Telangana Assembly T. Harish Rao and other party legislators. They were booked on allegations of obstructing women police personnel from performing their duties, using abusive language and issuing threats.

The BRS has alleged that despite its complaints over the alleged manhandling of its women MLAs, no cases were registered on its behalf. The party has approached the National Commission for Women and the National Human Rights Commission, besides submitting a representation to Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla seeking his intervention for a fair investigation.

The latest direction places the responsibility on the DGP to identify the police personnel allegedly involved and provide their details to the Speaker for consideration of further action.